Giant Kingfisher (South Africa)

[Dorian Anderson]

This bird, the world's largest kingfisher, was perched on a concrete dam near Lower Sabie Rest Camp in Kruger National Park. I didn't want the man-mad element in the frame, so I inched the vehicle forward for the desired headshot. The bird cooperated throughout, and I had time to close down to f/9 (and correspondingly up the ISO) to maintain depth-of-field. The high-key background is the reflection of gray sky on water below the bird.

Canon 600mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x III on EOS R5
1/320 at f/9, ISO 2500
Processed in LR CC and Topaz. Nothing added or cloned.