Canon 7D Canon 500mm f4 L IS ISO 800 -0.3 1/2500 sec f6.3
This image was captured on the Marakissa river in The Gambia. This was one of three pied kingfishers who were fishing and feeding one another using this piece of bamboo as a viewpoint.
All C&C welcome.
A great action pose Jon, looking very agressive with mouth wide open and wings raised. Good sharp image and I like the backlight illuminating the wings. Unfortunate though the face is shaded. A flash would have been handy but probably not an option under the cicumstances.
I've never had luck photographing Kingfishers. They always seem so skittish.
I agree with John that a fill flash would have helped. Another option is to do localized brightening in Photoshop.
With this revised image I applied a curves adjustment layer in Photoshop and did a huge amount of brightening. One surprise is that it brings out the red inside the mouth.
Hi Jon, I like the pose with the raised wings and open beak, and I also like the backlighting through the wings. I would lighten the head, but not as much as Henry's - looks a bit unnatural.
Great sense of action here with the pose. I like the backlighting, but the head does scream out for a touch of fill flash. I agree it can be brought up somewhat in post, but a subtle touch to keep it believable looking. Not much snow there for fill reflection I suspect!
Thanks everyone, I appreciate the comments, I was a little afraid of putting too much Photoshop fill light, I did in fact brighten the head and especially the eye but I agree a little more is called for, I have other shots to submit and will bear this in mind.
Pied kingfisher calling
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