Hovering Pied Kingfisher

[Stu Bowie]

This has always been one of my dream shots. These guys are always hovering against the sky, and fairly high up. On this day, it was very windy, and he had taken off fairly close to me. When I realised how close he was, I positioned myself to capture him against a foliage BG. The BG was as shot. Taken in the Pilanesberg National Park a little while back.

Canon Mark IV
100-400 @ 400mm
1/1600
F/7.1
ISO 800

Exp Comp +0.33
Hand held.

[Shawn Zierman]

Stunning image in every regard.
Congrats on achieving the dream! I like the subject placement too, with all the space below
the kingfisher for the impending dive.

[PhilCook]

Well done Stuart !...stunning photography indeed, congrats on achieving a goal. I might suggest a very slight tweak with brightness, but maybe simply monitor variations.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Excellent Stu, action frozen well and focus is spot on. Good detail in the plumage, I see you gave +0.33 presumably to get detail in the blacks at the probable expense of the whites, would you have done this with the 50D or not? I ask because I am hoping to produce similar images before too long...with a 50D

[Miguel Palaviccini]

Very nice Stuart! What's the next dream?!

[HadiAnsari]

Very nice Stuart. I like the subject placement too, with all the space below

[Karl Egressy]

Nice howering pose captured against great looking background, Stuart.

[Satish Ranadive]

Stuart Sir:
Gorgeous creation.Love it.

Regards,
Satish.

[Stu Bowie]

Good detail in the plumage, I see you gave +0.33 presumably to get detail in the blacks at the probable expense of the whites, would you have done this with the 50D or not? I ask because I am hoping to produce similar images before too long...with a 50D

Thanks Jon. This was one of my first outings with the Mark IV, so I was still getting used to the various settings. I do now however shoot a lot in manual, and did most of my shooting with my 50D in manual which gave me excellent results.

Thank you everyone else for your feedback.

[Corey Hayes]

Sharp shot with a nice soft background, great work.

[jack williamson]

Awesome image Stuart, great exposure on the blacks and whites, beautiful BG.

Jack

[gail bisson]

An eye level shot of a kingfisher! Awesome and against a great BG.
Well done and congrats on the goal achieved!
Gail

[nrohrbacker]

Great shot, beauty of a BG. I like the contrasting colors with the fall BG, really makes it pop.

[gareth thomson]

Wow. What else is there to say?You can sleep now w/ this dream shot in your bag.

[Jon Rista]

Amazing work! Perfectly framed, superb background, great detail. Congrats on experiencing your dream!

[MohsenVahedipour]

Excellent hovering pose & composition. Congratulation for this capture.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

I shot I would like to have as well. Well done Stuart.

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks a stack for all the feedback and comments.

[Nico Steenberg]

Well exposed and outstanding IQ Stu. A super IMG !

[Robert Holguin]

WOW!! Superb image Stuart. Excellent flight pose, amazing feather detail, and very wonderful background and light.
Very well done.

[Frank Schauf]

Very nice flight pose and bg colours.

[Tony Whitehead]

I can see why you're pleased with this one, Stu. Great to have foliage BG, highlight in the eye and eye level view of the hover. That mkIV is working well in your hands!

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks a stack guys.