Juvenile Malachite Kingfisher

[gail bisson]

November 2014
Botswana
Canon 1DX 600mm II and 2 x converter
F 8 SS 1/1600 ISO 800
The beak is not completely red yet as it would be in an adult.
Would have loved a bit more of a head turn. I didn't even know I had this frame until I reviewed my images that night. The wings up pose was so fast, that the frame preceding and following this image have the wings completely down on the body.
Moderate crop to 65% FF, NR to BG. levels, Softened the edge of the OOF yellow stalk near the beak using cloning tool at 30%, DE to bird at 2% and USM to JPEG
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays and a Happy and Healthy New Year!
See you all in 2015,
Gail

[Bill Dix]

Gorgeous bird, great wing position, beautiful BG. Sure, a bit more head turn would have been nice, but I'd love to have this one.

A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, Gail. Wishing you good health and good light in 2015.

[Jim Neiger]

Love the colorful bird, perch and bg, Gail! Happy Holidays and a healthy New year to you too!

[Karl Egressy]

Great looking bird, excellent wing position, Gail. Happy Holidays to you too.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Beautiful colorful bird, nice perch and background. A little more head turn towards you would have brought it over the top. Happy Holidays to your and your loved ones Gail.

[Jim Crosswell]

The wing position is what makes this image for me. I also like the angled perch, clean BG and composition. A bit of a head turn would have been nice but its a beauty as presented. Happy Holidays to you and your family.

[Dumay de Boulle]

I love the wing position. You are so right about them flapping their wings so fast. Great color and detail on a perfect perch and a BG to die for.

[Satish Ranadive]

Excellent image.Gail.
Spectacular pose with full up wings and fanned tail feathers,beautiful colors. nice details, BG and composition.

Regards,
Satish.

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Perfect image design imo. Love the slanting perch, the super bg and the iridescent feathers. The wing up pose trumps lack of eye contact for me. A keeper for sure.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you as well Gail.

[William Dickson]

Very nice Gail. Lovely colours, a wee bit more head turn would make this image even better Well done

[David Salem]

The BG, the pose, the colors, the details, the perch and the techs. All killer and a solid look back at you would have been over the top. Still a beautiful frame though. Nice work Gail