MOTIF: Kingfisher Weathering the Storm

Posted by ajhand on Tue Dec 02, 2003 10:28 am

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Got this last year during one of our many storms. This male was a winterlong subject, and tough as nails. I have one (technically rotten) shot of him with an icicle hanging off his chest. Last year's heavy ice cover forced him to fish near a side road where I could use my truck as a blind.

Canon 1D, 500 w/2x, ISO 400, 1/160 @ f/8

aj

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by E.J. Peiker on Tue Dec 02, 2003 10:30 am

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An outstanding shot! A very small shot of flash would add a little more definition to the plumage and add a catch light.

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by Alan Melle on Tue Dec 02, 2003 10:36 am

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This is a great shot! Rarely ever see images of KF's in the snow.

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by Jerry Merrell on Tue Dec 02, 2003 10:40 am

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AJ

I think this is a very nice shot. I have tried using flash to light belted kingfishers and find that the light scares the bird away. I have also had this problem with ducks. When I see an image of skittish birds using fill flash I often wonder if that was the last image of the series.

Jerry Merrell

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by Bill Whala on Tue Dec 02, 2003 10:49 am

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Awesome shot!! The falling snow combined with the grayishness (

) gives this a really cold feel. I like it as is.

Bill Whala

"Aves of similar plumage tend to converge with one another"

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by ajhand on Tue Dec 02, 2003 10:49 am

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Jerry Merrell wrote:AJ

I think this is a very nice shot. I have tried using flash to light belted kingfishers and find that the light scares the bird away. I have also had this problem with ducks. When I see an image of skittish birds using fill flash I often wonder if that was the last image of the series.

That was my thinking, too. I often start off with no flash just to be cautious, and then turn it on after I think I have something. I was also thinking of a warning from Jim Zipp about using flash during a heavy snow: It can burn out any flakes between you and the subject.

aj

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by Carol Clarke on Tue Dec 02, 2003 10:52 am

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Great shot! I think there is enough light in the eye without flash and this is a very sweet image.

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by Jim Zipp on Tue Dec 02, 2003 10:55 am

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aj, I think this is the best of the bunch from this bird last year. The snow adds drama to the scene, Great shot.

Jim Zipp
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by Sandy Mossberg on Tue Dec 02, 2003 11:03 am

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a wonderful, moody shot, AJ. Excellent composition.

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by Cliff Beittel on Tue Dec 02, 2003 11:13 am

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Great catch, nice composition.

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by RichardMittleman/Gon2Foto on Tue Dec 02, 2003 11:18 am

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by AlexC on Tue Dec 02, 2003 11:26 am

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A first for me!!!

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by Matt Cox on Tue Dec 02, 2003 12:17 pm

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Tremendous shot, AJ -- you've taken a very difficult bird to photograph, but him perfectly framed on his perch with clean background, and added fresh snow, no less. Really great work.

Matt Cox

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by BrianS on Tue Dec 02, 2003 1:00 pm

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Love this image -- you can almost feel how cold it must be facing that wind.

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by Alan Murphy on Tue Dec 02, 2003 1:23 pm

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I can actually feel the cold with all these blue/grey tones. Great photo.

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by Doug Rodda on Tue Dec 02, 2003 4:37 pm

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Could have taken this great shot today! Starting to feel like last Winter.

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by Ken Newcombe on Tue Dec 02, 2003 5:02 pm

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AJ,

A nice shot of a difficult bird to approach, the snow storm adds an element to the composition.

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by Jim Urbach on Tue Dec 02, 2003 5:32 pm

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AJ,

Just fantastic. I see these in Florida on every wire, but never have associated them with snow. Wonderful capture.

Jim

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by Bruce Sherman on Tue Dec 02, 2003 7:07 pm

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AJ,
One of the best KF shots I have seen. I don't believe I have seen one of these guys in a snowstorm before.

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by Bob Ettinger on Tue Dec 02, 2003 7:34 pm

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AJ,

Really nice one. Hope he comes back.

Bob Ettinger

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MOTIF: Kingfisher Weathering the Storm

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