Blue on blue (apologies for the Bobby Vinton earworm).
Cold snowy settings can look blue. Especially in low light. Three days ago those were the conditions when I found a female Belted Kingfisher fishing from a high perch in the early morning. She wasn’t particularly close and light was so low I almost didn’t even try to get any shots of her. But in the end I cranked up my ISO to get more shutter speed and concentrated on getting diving shots.
I got several but I liked this one best, even though it’s a little… unusual.
1,2500, f/5.6, ISO 3200, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Her dive was unusually steep, which gave me a flight posture I like. She’s kind of small in the frame but she’s sharp and I have light in her eye, despite the low light. Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the photo is how the lighting conditions turned everything blue – which may not appeal to everyone. But I kind of like it so, typical of me, I made no color adjustments while I was processing the photo.
Then there’s a little thing that I really like. Notice how we can tell exactly where she’d been perched on the twig at upper left because her presence there had knocked all the frost off the twig at that spot. There’s frost above that spot and below it, but not where she’d been perched.
You know me and the “little things” in my photos.
Ron
While I love the bird’s dive and the symmetry of its wings, the color’s really amazing. It reminds me of certain times when I’ve found the light taking on a green or yellow cast from the trees or flowers around me. It’s a strange and wonderful experience: as though the light itself has substance.
Shoreacres, I’ve always thought of light as having its own personality. Apparently you’ve experienced something similar.
Thanks for helping us be better observers. I love the blue!
You’re very welcome, Kathryn. Thanks.
Marvelous shot, Ron! I really like the position of her wings and tail. Kudos on that catchlight.
It’s nice seeing “cool and frosty,” as not far to the north and west of me is on fire. We’re safe here, but I have friends and family who have had to evacuate or have lost everything. The winds have been unreal!
Marty, I just watched a long report about those fires on ABC News. I feel so badly for those folks losing their homes and businesses.
She’s beautiful! And like Michael, the color difference on the branch registered subconsciously – thanks so much for pointing out why it happened. My mind can now rewind and see her sitting there 😊
“My mind can now rewind and see her sitting there”
Carolyn, I actually thought about posting a photo of her perched before she dove. Maybe I should have.
She’s got it all — the form, the color and the environment — she’s a Blue Angel! ❤️
Blue Angel works for me, Chris. Thanks.
That’s a really beautiful action photo, Ron. I just can’t get enough of your kingfisher shots. And thanks for pointing out details in the photo – things that I often miss myself.
” I just can’t get enough of your kingfisher shots.”
That’s a good thing, Bill – since I’ve posted quite a few of them lately. Thank you.
The little things are huge in my world. My ever loving family told/tells me small things for small minds. I poke my adult tongue out at them.
And LOVED this shot.
Good for you for sticking your tongue out, EC. And thanks.
WOW !!!!! Outstanding shot. Hard enough just getting a shot on a branch, but a diving shot like this is super.
Really showing my age here – Little Things Mean A Lot – Killy Kallen 1953
Everett, I was only six years old when Killy sang that song but I do remember it. Barely.
Wow, all that blue makes it look so cold. (And that made me wonder about what happens to these birds when things freeze over…) All that AND a catch light! Terrific shot, Ron. Thanks.
“made me wonder about what happens to these birds when things freeze over”
Ellen, when we have hard winters and everything freezes over, most or even all of our kingfishers head south. But in less severe winters, at least some of them stick around.
Love that your powers of observation are coupled with an inquisitive mind and a dedication to sharing your findings. You make my dwindling world (I’m getting pretty old) a more interesting place. Thanks.
“You make my dwindling world a more interesting place.”
Good. That means a lot to me, Burrdoo.
I’ve never been able to catch one of these little buggers !! Closest was out your way several years ago !! Maybe I should come back ?
“Maybe I should come back?”
You may be too late, Gary. I found her in the same area every day for over two weeks but for the last two days she’s been a complete no-show. She may have flown the coop.
Definitely “different”, but beautiful! 🙂 I like the “blue on blue”, the steep angle of her dive and the “little thing” of where she’d been perched – not a very sturdy perch it seems!
Thanks, Judy. That perch is flimsy but it’s one of her favorites.
Funny. That color difference on that branch caught my eye, but I did not appreciate why it was that way. Very nice shot.
” That color difference on that branch caught my eye, but I did not appreciate why it was that way.”
Michael, that’s why I think those little things can be so much fun. They help to make photos, and life, a little more interesting.