Forest Kingfisher Todiramphus macleayii
Visiting one spot regularly has its advantages.
Especially when its a place like Hastie Swamp.
Some bird activity changes from day to day, other birds stick to a regular pattern of activity.
This Forest Kingfisher is one of the latter. During the early part of the year one of his favored perches was just outside the permanent bird hide.
I was able to set up camera/lens on a tripod and mount 2 flash units on the structure of the hide.
Although the bird seemed unperturbed by human activity within the hide I chose to prefocus (manual focus lens) and use an electric cable release from a slight distance.
Flash unit power set to illuminate the subject but not match background light.
Biggest regret is the day I packed my gear away only to have the kingfisher and his mate sit on the perch, both with fish in their bills. Always next time.
Lesson learned, I now have a camera ready up until the very last minute.
Pentax K200D
Beroflex 500mm f8 (manual focus, manual aperture) plus extension tubes
ISO 400
1/30 sec
2 x flash units
Aperture unrecorded. (set via test shots)
Processed in Lightroom.
Spot removal.
Highlights, Shadow, Clarity, Vibrance adjusted ,other settings left on default.
Self Critique:
Curved branches behind bird distracting. (planning on trying a different angle next year).
Out of focus waterbirds on left need blending in.
Leaf stabbing into top of frame needs removing.
Tilted water/bank interface in background could be distracting.
Solid mass of tree trunk in bottom RHS distracting.
There seems to be a lot of softness in the image, could be the nature of his feathers or my choice of lens or just insufficient DOF.
By the looks of the log I have focused a bit behind the bird, at least beak and eye are in focus.
Of two minds about removing the two catchlights from eye. One would be better.
Eye seems to blend in a bit without catchlight.
Happy with the setting and clarity of the bill.
Comments appreciated
Paul.
Last edited by Paul Gobert; 12-05-2015 at 01:38 AM.
Reason: Upload more appropriate sized file, hopefully
Beautiful bird Paul! You have touched on most of the areas you thought could be improved. Probably the two OOF limbs you mention I might try to clone out but in a natural habitat these are tough things to avoid. The only other suggestion I would have would be to try and lighten up the darkest areas of the bird just a smidgen so the eye shows up a bit more and I might try cloning out the two flash catchlights and lighten the natural reflection in the eye a bit more.
Thanks Warren.
I'm only new to Lightroom and Photoshop so just working on the basics at the moment. Will use your suggestions when I get deeper into it.
Here is another photo taken just before the last. The "portrait" framing and crop at the top reduced the interference of the background a bit at the expense of the tail.
The site doesn't seem to be too "portrait" friendly. Photos in that format have to be reduced to fit.
Bane of my existence as 90% of the photos I take are in "portrait" mode.
Even have one monitor set up in that mode permanently.
Paul.
What a lovely bird. We have the sacred kingfisher here, down the bottom of my paddock. I've planted so many trees, I don't have the room to take any shots! I need to work on the weed species (chinese elm and camphor laurel) to make a bit more room.
You certainly have done a great critique job on your own. Warren has mentioned the same things as I would suggest. If the two OOF branches behind disappeared it would be a big step in the right direction. I would prefer to see all of his tail and a bit more looking toward me.
[QUOTE=Paul Gobert;1096724]Thanks Warren.
I'm only new to Lightroom and Photoshop so just working on the basics at the moment. Will use your suggestions when I get deeper into it.
Here is another photo taken just before the last. The "portrait" framing and crop at the top reduced the interference of the background a bit at the expense of the tail.
The site doesn't seem to be too "portrait" friendly. Photos in that format have to be reduced to fit.
Bane of my existence as 90% of the photos I take are in "portrait" mode.
Even have one monitor set up in that mode permanently.
Paul.]
I noticed that about portrait as well. Not sure why you can't save the same size in Portrait as in Landscape, you would think 1000 X 800 would be OK in either orientation. This one actually looks a bit sharper on the bird, it may be the downsizing. Love the iridescent feathers on the back!!
Hello Glennie,
The Sacred Kingfisher is a pretty bird too. Perhaps you could set up a pond with a couple of sacrificial fish and an appropriately placed perch.
I know what you mean about vegetation getting in the way. This year as the water has receded at Hastie Swamp the weedy vegetation has followed it down obscuring the view of the shoreline waders.
As you say tail in frame and head turned would be an improvement.
Warren, perhaps the portrait shooters amongst us could start a movement for full size posting.
Yes the iridescent feathers on the back are a great feature. I think a photo from behind with the bird looking across its back would be worth getting.
The Azure Kingfisher also visits the swamp at times, if only that one would use this perch.
Paul.
Ooh....sacrificial fish??!! I hadn't thought of that. I have done a really quick and dirty branch removal on your kingfisher, if you would allow me to post it?
Yes Glennie I would be most intertested in the modification. Please post.
Instead of sacrificial fish I had planned to make a flashing LED light to submerge to attract the Kingfisher to the camera.
Something that looked like a fish turning in the water and catching the sun.
Then I read that the Forest Kingfisher didn't usually eat fish.
However this pair haven't read the book either and readily dive for fish and crustaceans.
Paul.
As said before Paul, this is quick and dirty. I have cloned and painted out branches. I could have cloned out the dust bunnies. There are other ways you could do this. I didn't make him extra tail. But what others have said...try to get it right in the capture. No amount of PP can equal a well caught image in the first place.
Thanks Glennie, thats a big improvement on the original. Really brings attention to the bird. Lot of improvement for a "quick and dirty" effort.
Noticed you removed the white spot behind the eye. That was present in all the photos I took of this bird that day. Not sure if it was something he picked up or a "white hair" in his plumage.
Also the reduction of catchlights in the eye has made a difference.
Baby red claw would be an interesting catch to capture.
Red claw aren't the native maron around here but Tinaroo Dam nearby has been stocked with them.
Did you know that they have a stone in their head to aid ballance?
Paul.
Yep. The white spot annoyed me a little. I'm pretty sure it was a white feather. The Red Claw here are a real problem. I can't imagine anyone stocking a dam intentionally with them. I didn't know they have a stone in their head. Is that something they do...pick up a stone and somehow it migrates to their head?? or just a big piece of bone?
Glennie I have spent the last 3 hours trying to find the reference to the stone/bone in the Red Claw head. Think it must be back at the High School where I worked and kept Red Claw in a tank.
Cpouldn't find any mention of it Googling either.
Seem to remember that the stone/bone is surrounded by fine hairs which register movement.
That will teach me to make statements I cannot easily back up.
Paul.
Forest Kingfisher
