Diving Pied

I havent posted a take off image of a Pied Kingfisher for a while, and every time I visit the Pilanesberg National Park, I always manage a couple. Not all have the greatest wing positions, but I chose this one from a visit in december during my holidays.

The BG is a distant mountain.

Canon 1D Mark IV
100-400 @ 400mm
1/4000
F/6.3
ISO 800

Manual exposure
Hand held

Great action shot Stuart, and the background is lovely!
Cheers, Greg

Nice image, it looks like a dagger is coming down :)
lovely bg and a nicely captured bird

Hi Stuart,
Nice capture of this Kingfisher. Exposure is perfect and the detail is great. I like the inclusion of the perch and the BG is very nice. I tried getting a good shot like this while I was on the Nile in Egypt in October. There were allot of them there but I couldnt get one to work the same perch for long. Not as skittish as our local Kingfishers but still pretty skittish. Well done.

I'd probably kill someone for a shot of a belted like that! Love your kingfisher shots! Nice wing position, very sharp, whites look a little hot on the far wing and posterior neck.

Lovely green BG Stu.
I like the perch but would take a bit off the RHS of the frame to exclude the heavier part. I think It would tighten up the composition.
I might add a couple of points of blacks to the blacks as the colors seem a bit gray on the bird.
Gail

I like the take-off pose and the perch, and the BG is sweet. I do find everything pretty high in the frame and for that reason I would crop away about 25-30% of the empty space below.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Daniel Cadieux

I do find everything pretty high in the frame and for that reason I would crop away about 25-30% of the empty space below.

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Thanks Dan. Looking at the image again, I have to agree that the space below is sort of wasted. :w3

Thanks to everyone else for your feedback and comments.

Wonderful capture Stu...these guys are fast...agree about taking some space off bottom...

Nice take off shot, Stuart. Love the pose and the perch showing. Thew background looks good but it is a little cold.

I like the pose, perch, sharpness and BG. Some good crop suggestions above. Well done Stuart!

Stuart Sir:
Very very sweet image.Love it.

Regards,
Satish.

Thanks a stack for the feedback and comments everyone. Always appreciated.