Belted Kingfisher

A rare opportunity for me, after waiting patiently for almost an hour. Shot against a hazy sky giving a high key look to the image.
D300 + Nikkor 600mm VR + TC14E-II; ISO 400, f/8, 1/400 sec, -0.3EV, Spot Metered

Attachment 115518

Nice over-the-shoulder pose and a great job with the high-key exposure. The darks of the head could go a teench lighter. Nicely framed too. Were you concealed? What did you spot meter?

I have yet to befriend a kingfisher. This image after an hour's wait is great luck, I'd say.
I love the high key effect, the exposure, the DOF and the nice details.
I'd have liked a little more head turn, but I'd take this in a heart beat.
Very nice image, TFS.

nice one,sharp,good details,nice pose and perch.thanks.

I always find Kingfishers so very hard to get near, you have donhe very well indeed, the high key look works nicely too, lovely pose and details

Nicely done. I like the comp, pose and the high key effect.

TFS,
Rachel

Great finding and excellent shot of this hard to approach bird, Richard.

Vey nice image of a very difficult subject, one who still eludes me with a good image. I love the high key effect, the perch and pose but mostly I love the wonderful detail in his freathers, I could count them!
Gen

Hi Arthur and thanks very much for taking the time to stop by. Checking my RAW file, focus point was just aboe the eye, so the bright background may have influenced the metering. I ended up bossting exposure by almost 1/2 stop in Capture NX and protecting shadows. Agree, face could be a touch brighter, I could add a control point in Capture NX to brighten. I has sitting on the ground behind a trr trunk sitting a couple of feet of the ground, no blind, but I did remove my photovest and covered the legs of the tripod and concealing my legs.

Thanks Richard. You did well!