Malachite mirror

[Chris van Rooyen]

This Malachite Kingfisher provided us with a lot of fun. For a few weeks it was a regular visitor to the Marievale Bird Sanctuary near my home in Johannesburg. It gave me several opportunities to try and capture it as it dove in and out of the water catching its tiny prey. I finally got lucky and managed to capture it emerging from the water. The reflection was a bonus. All comments welcomed.
P.S> Would have preferred a better head angle, but I guess you can't always have your cake and eat it.. :)

Camera Model: Canon EOS-1D Mark II
Date/Time: 2007:02:21 0793
Shutter speed: 1/1250 sec
Aperture: 8
Exposure mode: Av
Exposure compensation: -1/3
Flash: Off
Metering mode: Multi-segment
ISO: 400
Lens: 500mm
Focal length: 500mm

[Tony Whitehead]

Amazing, Chris. It's hard to be picky when you catch a moment like this. Great light and colours, the water splash, reflection and tadpole are icing on the cake

[John Ippolito]

Heck of a nice moment you captured here. Turning more towards you would be nice, but it will be hard to beat this beautiful malachite KF in action. Excellent.

[Mike Dale]

Wonderful image. Perhaps a touch less sharpening on the head.

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

This is an incredibel capture with superb timing. As mentioned a slight head turn would be nice and a touch less USM but hey I would be so proud to have captured this image Chris. Wonderful work and thanks for sharing.

[Grady Weed]

Having just captured this one would be nice. No nits from me.

[Gary Dumer]

A real tribute to your skills Chris

Extremely well done!!!

[Fabs Forns]

Excellent action captured, stunning looking bird. As mentioned, you need to go back in the sharpening. The top of the head, wing and water drops look frozen.

[Chris van Rooyen]

Thanks for the comments guys:-). Fabs, not sure what you mean with the "the top of the head, wing and water drops look frozen".?

[Jody Melanson]

Awesome job on this, love the colours!

[Fabs Forns]

Thanks for the comments guys:-). Fabs, not sure what you mean with the "the top of the head, wing and water drops look frozen".?

That's what it seems to me when over-sharpened :o

[Manos Papadomanolakis]

Superb timing,great details,colors and light!

[susanschermer]

Magnificent. Bravo. Makes me want to go to South Africa. Our local kingfishers hate us and aren't as colorful.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great timing and splash. Adding to the other comments, it seems to need a bit CW rotation.

[hal bruce]

Uitstekend, Chris. Jy kan werklik trots wees op hierdie foto !
eland

[Dan O'Leary]

Another beautiful image. I agree about the sharpening and rotation.

I can now recognize your images without even seeing the name.