Diving Pied

[Stu Bowie]

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

[Greg Oakley]

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

[vishaljadhav]

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

[David Salem]

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.

[Lyle Gruby]

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.

[gail bisson]

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

[Daniel Cadieux]

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.

[Stu Bowie]

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.

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

Thanks to everyone else for your feedback and comments.

[Sachin Saraf]

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

[Karl Egressy]

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

[Jim Crosswell]

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

[Satish Ranadive]

Stuart Sir:
Very very sweet image.Love it.

Regards,
Satish.

[Stu Bowie]

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