Malachite Kingfisher

[Bill Dix]

This is the smallest of the six KF species we saw in Botswana. (Five of them posed nicely; the Giant KF only gave us a distant view with his back turned.) This was shot from a Mokoro giving us good eye-level looks at this cutie. Gotta love those tiny feet.

D500, Sigma 150-600C @ 600mm; ISO 1600, 1/2500s @ f/6.3 manual. HH. Posted at 1100px vertically to replicate the true size of the bird.

[Randy Stout]

Bill"

What a cutie! Nice high key effect, like the double reed perch, head angle , catch light, vivid colors.

For personal taste, I would crop down a bit from the top, about half way down to the top of the reed as it exits the frame.

Cheers

Randy

[Geoffrey Montagu]

What beauties these little birds are, and you have a wonderful capture, Bill. Great high key, and like the double reed perch too.

Geoffrey




http://500px.com/geoffreymontagu

[David Salem]

Very nice high key image Bill. Good details and I like the pose and HA. I would move the bird up in the frame a bit if you have it. Well done.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Bill, lovely pose, and the colours look spot on. I like the diagonal reed perch through the frame, and the high key works well.

As I get to see a lot more of these tiny jewels than you will, I have to agree, that people probably wont realise how actually small these guys are. They are also extremely fast flyers.

[Bill Dix]

Thanks guys. Yes, Stu, I would have loved to capture one in flight. They are indeed small and fast.