I’m glad I have this habit of going back and reviewing images taken one year ago “today”.
1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I photographed this female Belted Kingfisher at a local pond exactly a year ago, on March 12, 2017. I didn’t post this photo back then because my first impulse was to dislike the twig seeming to come out of the back of the bird’s head. How silly of me. On review I’ve decided that I love the sweeping curve of the perch that wouldn’t be complete without that part of the twig. In fact I now like the photo as it is better than I would if the twig were shorter and didn’t emerge from the back of her head.
In the interest of full disclosure I’ve cloned out two small and out of focus flying insects from this photo that looked almost like dust spots. If the bugs had been sharp I’d probably have left them in the image.
I have to be careful not to become blasé about my kingfisher photos. Until relatively recently Belted Kingfishers were one of my two primary nemesis species (the other one was the Golden Eagle) but since then I’ve been able to get many quality images of them.
Two years ago I’d have given my shutter finger for a kingfisher shot like this.
Ron
Marvelous photo! As the taker of the photos, you will be the biggest critic of them; the rest of us are happy to admire anything that you and Mia email our way!
“As the taker of the photos, you will be the biggest critic of them”
Isn’t that the truth!
Great shot, glad you decided to post it!
Charlotte
Me too!
I like the way the twig curves and serves as a perch for the beautiful bird. Great shot Ron!
Thanks, Jean.
Marty is right. Your shutter finger is precious. Though I suspect that photography is so much a part of you now that you would find another way.
Love that ‘do’, and the curve of the perch is stunning. It almost looks as if she is hugged by it.
I probably could find another way (or another finger) that works for me but I’m such a creature of habit I’d probably keep trying to use the finger that no longer exists and miss a lot of shots! Thanks, EC.
I am always delighted by Mrs. Kingfisher’s hair style, be it wet or dry. I am glad that she makes you so happy. We all can use some of that.
Thank you, Ron
Yeah, that hairdo is often quite dramatic in this species. Thanks, Alice.
That curved twig is pretty neat in and of itself. I’m so glad you used a shot of Mrs. Kingfisher. I’ve missed her! She’s such a pretty little thing.
BTW, you should never “bet” your shutter finger — your “delete” finger may be another story. 😉
For me those two fingers are the same one, Marty – losing it would be a double whammy.
Pic looks good Ron. It’s fun to look back and see how we’ve changed in our tastes of what “good” looks like. BTW – the Kingfisher is so high (#1) on my nemesis list that I won’t even attempt to photograph it anymore. If I had a repeatable Kingfisher that was close, I might put the time in to learn it and try again, but not sure…very frustrating bird. I’d kill for a photo like this as well 😉
Yes, my tastes in many things have changed significantly over the years. Thanks, Zaph.
That twig is almost like a visual “embrace” of the Kingfisher—I’m glad you’ve re-thought your prior judgement.
“That twig is almost like a visual “embrace” of the Kingfisher”
Good way to put it, Kris. I agree.
She’s like one of the, what were they, Gibson Girls from the 1900s, in a velvet swing? I love her. Glad you do too!
Your Gibson Girls reference brought back memories that have been in cold storage for a long time, Sallie.
I would still give my shutter finger for a shot like that…They are tough little birds to capture on film…(whoops showing my age there) I think the
twig definitely adds to the photo. Once again great shot!
Thanks, Steve. Ha, at this stage I can barely remember shooting film. Don’t miss it either.
Very nice photo Ron, and yes, the twig looks great. Had you not mentioned it I would never have even thought of it. I have taken a few good Belted Kingfisher pictures here, but using a bridge super zoom camera I have to get much closer than you do with your equipment, and these Kingfishers are so elusive it is really hard to sneak up on them.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
Agreed, Everett – kingfishers are one of the hardest species to get close to.
Maybe not my shutter finger, but perhaps my pinky.
🙂
This is a beautiful shot Ron! She looks like a satisfied female with the catch-light in her eye and the content, but wary look to her. Love the whole shot, as others have said, the circular twig that almost surrounds her adds to the art of the picture, at least to me.
I’m glad to learn that others like that curved twig too, Dick. Thanks.
I like the way my eye follows the twig then back around. It’s a nice circle for me.
Me too, Arwen. Thank you.
It’s a beautiful photograph – I love the way the twig curves around the bird’s body! So glad you chose to show it.
I am a big fan of twigs, buds and all sorts of flora in bird pictures. Not only to show the bird in it’s environment but because a twig or leaf is beautiful in it’s own right and if it’s situated in a serendipitous location it can really enhance a bird portrait.
That’s the hard part though… location, location, location! I have taken many intricate images of beautifully sharp tangled vines surrounding a blurry little bird. 🙂 I always try though, and I’ve managed to get a few good ones.
“I always try though, and I’ve managed to get a few good ones.”
That’s always the key, Joanne – we just have to keep plugging away! Thanks.
I agree with you Joanne-environmental elements often add alot to a bird photograph. The tightest portraits are not always the best way to go. It is a challenge though when the surrounding area is cluttered, to get sharp focus on the bird. Particularly with autofocus, which gets fooled at times. I have more or less given up on focusing manually though, as my camera is usually more accurate than I can be at this point. I guess the key is getting that focus point on the right spot in the frame!
Ron, I really enjoy your blog-photos and comments! I like your views as a purist, preferring not to modify your images (what you see is what you get). Also, living on the east coast, it is great to see the species you are capturing that we do not see on this side of the country! Thanks for sharing your work.
Nice! 🙂 The twig “fits” – always interesting how our perspective on these things changes…;) Good thing we keep on growing rather than getting totally “locked in” on what works………. 🙂 She looks like she might have had a recent swim?
Judy, I’m known for being relatively set in my ways (hard to believe… 🙂 ) but even I can make some adjustments sometimes…
Yes, she’d been diving for fish and was almost constantly wet.