Woodland Kingfisher

[Chris van Rooyen]

The Satara rest camp in the Kruger National Park offers unrivalled opportunities to get close-up portraits of this spectacular species. I used my Manfrotto 055CL tripod with a Manfrotto 501 fluid head, which is my standard gear when I do flash photography on foot. Flash exposure was set at -1/3. the subject was in the shade and the background sunlit, which is a situation that I like to use for fill flash photography. The sunlit background ads some sparkle to the image IMO. All comments welcomed.

Camera Model: Canon EOS-1D Mark III
Date/Time: 2008:02:07 11:41:32
Shutter speed: 1/250 sec
Aperture: 7.1
Exposure mode: Av
Flash: On
Metering mode: Multi-segment
ISO: 400
Focal length: 700mm

[Alfred Forns]

Excellent set up Chris !!! Natural looking fill flash Love the pose and fine detail I'm undecided on the little branch sticking out It sort of balances the space and the bird is so strong it does not grab my attention !!! Bg is very complementing !!! Big Congrats !!!

[Fabs Forns]

The best situation for flash use, as you mentioned. well done, the background glows. I like your composition, with the branch providing balance. I'd get rid of the little greenery in the lower right, though.

[Glenn Bartley]

Just lovely. I really like the BG. I would definitely clone the green stuff in teh lower right.

[Grady Weed]

May I ask how much of a crop this is? I ask because it appears as if the subject is not as sharp as it could be for such a setup. Pehaps F8 might have been better. I would not toss it, just asking. I agree with the little bit of cloning, not often do I say that.

[Philip Lombard]

I down loadsed the pic and hit it with selective sharpening and it saharpens up nicely, and excellent shot, great exposure, bg and comp

[Daniel Cadieux]

Agree with comments above, but I will also mention the blue half circle between the twig and the branch...it is not ugly but it seems to pull my eye away from the bird too often for comfort. Still a very beautiful photograph :-)

[Roman Kurywczak]

Hi Chris,
Possible corrections mentioned........but my vote is to leave the branch in as balance.....greenery gone,
Roman

[Chris van Rooyen]

Thanks for the suggestions guys - appreciated. I have implemented them and I agree there is an improvement for me:) .

[Isak Pretorius]

Stunning portrait Chris - my favourite bird. Composition and colours are amazing!

[Mike Tracy]

I like the repost and would be thrilled to call this my own. Probably could lose the spider web but it does add another element.

[Robert O'Toole]

Beautiful image Chris. Repost is better.

I think the origional looks sharp, I would say oversharpened in some areas actually, like the upper edge of the perch.


Robert

[Doug Brown]

Another excellent photo Chris. And I love the stories you attach to your photos; many forum members have not had the good fortune to photograph birds in South Africa and you make us feel like we are there.

[Gayle Clement]

This is so beautiful, Chris. Your implementation of the the suggestions was very nicely done.

[Chris van Rooyen]

Thanks guys:). Agreed Robert - I thought it was adequately sharp to start with.

[Raymond Barlow]

excellent shot, and great use of the fill flash, well done.