Dream Shot

[Daniel Belasco]

Belted Kingfisher
canon 1dMIIN 500mm f4 @f5.6 w/1.4 1/1250 sec iso 800

I know I have a lot of problems here, but I'd been dreaming about a shot like this for years. I see Belted Kingfishers maybe 2-3 times a month and I see them dive after fish maybe 3-4 times years, so the odds were against me. The Kingfishers around here don't hoover in the air then dive in the water, but sit about 25 feet high in Palm trees, most of the time with their back to the water, and make their dives. I swear they can see 360 degrees and hate the sight of humans 100 yards away!
I have waited and waited for them to strike and they'd be in and out of the water while I still hadn't pressed the shutter and they never strike the same place twice.
This particular day I saw a Kingfisher hit the water twice in one spot. So I set up hoping he'd strike again. This was also the best light I'd ever seen the Kingfishers in--just before sunset. To my surprise he struck again and I got 4 good shots coming out of the water. 2 shots in the water, but mostly just a splash.
Hope you like it.
Please remember the circumstances.

[Andy Nguyen]

Daniel,
Please allow me to be the first to congratulate you on moving one step further to getting the shot you wanted.
I'm sure others here could fill a list under "if things were ideal..." but I can understand your excitement. I, for one, have had experience with the BKF many times last year so I know how skittish the darn bird can be. :)
Congrats!!
Andy

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Agreed with Andy. You really ought to see if you can set up a deep tub with some fish the bird would naturally eat, with the rim of the tub just above the water line and then wait in a hide. That's how people often take those amazing KF images. Of course, you need to be careful with the depth of tub, and also check whether it is a legal way to obtain your photograph. I was chastized on an English forum for suggesting this and people said the bird could injure itself if it hit the bottom. I have seen my local KFs often dive from anywhere in the vicinity of 4 feet to 25 feet into water that is not much deeper than about 1 foot. So they do know how to judge depth. Anyway, just a thought. :) Well done.

The best thing to do is to observe their behavior for quite some time and see how they fish. I know my idea would work locally on my Australian species, but you must observe how they dive, how deep the water is etc. I did see footage on Attenborough's The life of birds where they had footage from BELOW the water showing your species diving in, catching fish, so I presume it is a safe idea. :)

[Ashutosh Sinha]

Daniel congrats on getting your dream shot. Hope you get better shot next time without using any unethical means suggested by Akos :-). Till you get your dream shot you can look at few kingfisher shot I found on Flickr for inspiration http://www.flickr.com/photos/naturewind/. You can also look at some insane photographs of Osprey by Miguel Lasa for inspiration http://www.miguellasa.com/gallery/10...09849723_6DJF4.

Akos it's very bad idea to use baiting to get photographs, please don't put any wrong ideas in peoples head :-). In Friendship.

Ashutosh

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Ashutosh,
I am terribly sorry I am not up to your standard when it comes to ethics. I think you should look through the Avian Forum for any baited shots of Owls especially and start spreading your unethical comments in more appropriate places. As long as the practice is not illegal then people will do it and if you don't like it then that is your choice. I would appreciate if you refrain from referring to what I say as unethical. Face it, people do bait to get a shot. I personally don't and never did ever before, however, the idea has crossed my mind.

By you walking towards the bird you are photographing, thus disturbing it is equally as unethical if you think about it. But what do I know. :D

I believe the awesome shots in Finland by Miguel Lasa are taken at a trout hatchery if I am correct.

[Daniel Belasco]

Hi Ashutosh--I have some pretty good Osprey shots myself. All taken in the wild and not near know feeding areas or parks.
I like my series of Kingfishers. People have told me about going to fish raising ponds etc to photograph Kingfishers; but I'm a real believer in being natural all the way. I don't like digitally modifying an image except maybe a very distracting leaf or twig.
I also believe it should be noted if photographed is in a Zoo or other captivate area. I would still enjoy those photos, but it takes a little something off it.
I ALSO STRONGLY DO NOT BELIEVE IN USING ANY BAIT, I.E. BAITFISH to attract the birds. That teaches the birds to rely on humans for food and not to be afraid of humans. To me that is destroying nature the same as shooting the bird with a gun.

Akos
Thanks for the bathtub mention. I have seen a lot of great Kingfisher shots, especially in Asia as they have a lot more Kingfishers than we do here in the Americas. I'm not saying they use your method, but it's something to look for. I didn't take your idea serious anyway, but nice-to-know-information. I've read from people that worked at Popular Photo, and Field & Stream, and other nature magazines of the tricks that were used in the past, so I'm not unaware of these tricks.

I'll post one of my Ospry shots next and people can judge that shot over the open ocean as opposed to a confined fishing stream/area shot.
regards
dan

[Morkel Erasmus]

interesting discussion. I do not believe that 'baiting' is the same as Akos' tub idea. After all - you are not putting a piece of dead fish out so that the bird can get used to you feeding them. You are merely encasing some fish inside the water to give yourself a predictable area where the bird will most likely strike - I doubt that if you do it before sunrise for example the bird will know it's a set-up. This method will not deter the bird from keeping on fishing for food. Not that I've done it - but as long as we're discussing the 'ethics' of it I will weigh in my 2c.

Many people will disagree but that's how I see it - I agree with Akos the 'photography ethical' line can be drawn even to where we invade their space - and then it would exclude anyone who doesn't own a 600-800mm lens plus converters to actually ever get a shot they would be proud of. And let's be honest many people have to make this call: huge lens or house for my family (at least in non-first-world countries like mine that is!) :)

Regarding your shot Daniel, I can imagine your excitement! I don't even have a nearly sharp shot of a KF diving. I like the light and angle in your shot as well as the droplets frozen. Here's to nailing the perfect one soon!

[Erich Stevens]

Hi Daniel,

I understand your excitement in getting this shot. Sure, it's far from perfect but I'm glad you shared it with us. I am hoping I will see some BKF this winter in my area. Hopefully I'll come away with at least one image I can be proud of.

By the way, this discussion on ethics is very interesting. You can draw that line anywhere based on your beliefs, then stay behind it or cross it based on how desperate you are for "that shot". I am a beginner. I've been shooting burrowing owls mostly. They're easy to find, don't move much, and those huge yellow eyes are a cinch to focus on. But I feel bad for invading their territory and always leave wondering if I had in some way caused any damage. I have even made kissing sounds like I do when I play with my lovebirds to get the owl's attention for that great eye contact shot. You may call that crossing the line. I have never tried bating... I am not nearly advanced enough yet to attempt a diving for fish shot. Anyway, in regards to the burrowing owls, I always feel a great appreciation to them for allowing me to come so close to their home and letting me take pictures. I wish there was some way I could give back to them, but obviously the best thanks I or anyone can give is to disturb their lives the least amount possible, watch their body language, and be respectful of the entire area in which they live and hunt or fish.

[David Fletcher]

Agreed with Andy. You really ought to see if you can set up a deep tub with some fish the bird would naturally eat, with the rim of the tub just above the water line and then wait in a hide. That's how people often take those amazing KF images. Of course, you need to be careful with the depth of tub, and also check whether it is a legal way to obtain your photograph. I was chastized on an English forum for suggesting this and people said the bird could injure itself if it hit the bottom. I have seen my local KFs often dive from anywhere in the vicinity of 4 feet to 25 feet into water that is not much deeper than about 1 foot. So they do know how to judge depth. Anyway, just a thought. :) Well done.

The best thing to do is to observe their behavior for quite some time and see how they fish. I know my idea would work locally on my Australian species, but you must observe how they dive, how deep the water is etc. I did see footage on Attenborough's The life of birds where they had footage from BELOW the water showing your species diving in, catching fish, so I presume it is a safe idea. :)

Good for you Akos. darn knows why the English are like that....lived with them long enough, :), being one and it never ceases to amaze me the depth of sentiment when it's been fairly well known as common practice in the film days by most leading professionals and certainly BBC camera men. (Aaaahhhh understanding. Of course, it was the Health and safety committee). Know of a very well known Brit, living in the US that uses tubs. After all, KF dive into all sorts of water, shallow and deep as you mention. Haven't done it myself yet: (dived into tubs, :)), and use the observe method as Akos says too, but that is because I don't have access to private land so haven't even come across that issue yet: :). Good sound advice given IMV.

Well done for your milestone. Major important stuff. Congrats.

[Daniel Belasco]

Hi Erich
Your sentiments towards photographing birds sounds very reasonable. Thanks for sharring.
I'll look at your owls. We have them here in the Bahamas but I can't find them. I see them flying after dark, but can't find where they hang out. I haven't looked that hard. We have a lot of loose dogs around here and the pond banks where I think them should burrow they're not found.

I shoot mostly from my car at 2 ponds close to my home and there are about 6-8 other ponds that I can drive to. My main pond I'm at 4-6 times a week in winter and 1-2 times in the summer. The birds don't find the car as the main road is close also. I can drive back and forth to try to get good angles. Since this dicussion started last night I tried to think of 1 time during the last year that the birds flew off from me being there and I could not think of it happening once. All of my posts here have been from one pond--where I find the great light.