Diving Kingfisher

[Stu Bowie]

Most times, these Kingfishers take off away from the perch, but in this frame, this fellow decided that dropping straight down would be a better option. This shows us the perfect 'arrow stream lined pose ' they achieve to dive into the water. Taken in the Pilanesberg National Park. Due to the angle, Ive added the catchlight. Also tried to bring out more detail in the eye - just wasnt possible. Cropped to vertical.

Canon 1D Mark IV
Canon 300mm F/2.8 +2X TC = 600mm
1/3200
F/6.3
ISO 640

Manual exposure.

[Colin Driscoll]

Great capture, did it get what it was after?

[Randy Stout]

Stu:

He really does look like a yard dart, ready to impale his prey. Because of the pose, the centered comp with more space below is just right. Well exposed, perfect timing.

Well done Stu.

Cheers

Randy

[christopher galeski]

very nice Stu,good timing,nice BG,the pose looks quite lethal,well done.

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Stu - Great diving pose and excellent time. Nice job on the exposure too. Love these Pilanesberg bgs.

TFS,
Rachel

[Shawn Zierman]

Arresting pose!, I enjoy your use of space in regards to composition and the vertical presentation....I would have guessed that the catchlight was added without you mentioning it, (thanks for mentioning it btw)...and it's pretty decent anyway...looks like a flash catchlight....great stop action work.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Pretty neat pose, very streamlined and "arrow-like" as you point out. Bummer about the light angle as I would have preferred the face better lit, but this image is all about the pose anyhow so it is successful in that regards. Good call adding a catch light, but I think I would not make it as pure white as it is now...perhaps a pale grey would work well.

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks a stack everyone.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Great timing and capture. Definitely looking like a lawn dart. Thank you for sharing, Stu.

[Satish Ranadive]

Spectacular pose, great timing.
Love the frame, Stuart Sir.

Regards,
Satish.

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Stu..........
Very well done , mate !!!
Your shooting point was closed when i was there last year , guess this was taken at Madikwe
Great job .

TFS Andreas

[Stu Bowie]

Your shooting point was closed when i was there last year , guess this was taken at Madikwe
Great job .

Thanks Andreas. I think you meant Mankwe. That is the name of the large bird hide in the Pilanesberg National Park. Madikwe is a totally different Game reserve, which Ive never been too yet.

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Just love the streamlined pose, I guess they barely feel any resistance by the time the body enters water. Perfect exposure and sharpness. I was going to ask if the catchlight was installed before I read your comment about it.
Perfect comp and silky smooth, beautiful BG. Nicely done Stu and looking forward to more.

[Andreas Liedmann]

OOPS yes Mankwe ,sorry Stu

[William Dickson]

Beautiful image Stu. Killer pose

Will

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Very, very cool Stu! I love it.
My first question to myself was indeed the catchlight.
Not sure if you could leave the eye natural and pull a little more detail out selectively.
Killer pose mate!
Love it! (said that already I think)
Well done
TFS

[David Salem]

This looks like a living dart!! Awesome pose, perch and BG. Very cool and unique KFr frame Stu. Well done. P.S. I think the catchlight just needs to be a bit bigger and then a bit softer using very little hardness in the clone tool PS. 5% or so. Just a suggestion :)

[gail bisson]

Killer pose Stu! Love everything about it and agree with dave and others about the catchlight.