Make My Mother Proud

[Danny J Brown]

Hey Guys:

No comments necessary on this kingfisher that you've already seen a couple of times, but I wanted to let you know that the first image I posted (with the flopping fish) made National Geographic's Daily Dozen. I've tried five times over the years to crack their photo editor's shell in that contest, to no avail. See the attached link and if you are really bored, click on "Voting Machine" and help me to make my mother proud by getting the image in the magazine. Thanks again for all of your wonderful comments and suggestions.

P.S. I hadn't planned to post this information but the guruji suggested that I should.:)

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Sharpness, crop, head angle and raised crest look very good. The whites are a bit overexposed, though.

[Danny J Brown]

Sharpness, crop, head angle and raised crest look very good. The whites are a bit overexposed, though.

Thanks Axel. The bird was backlit on a cloudy day so I brightened it too much to account for shadows on the face. In response to your comment, I darkened the entire image and then went in LR II and brushed a little more exposure on the head and face. Hope it looks a little better. As always, thanks for the good instruction.

[Danny J Brown]

Wow - just looked back at the original post - all milky. Sorry about that folks. Wish I could delete it, but its a learning experience for everybody!!!!!!!!

[kenn threed]

Hi Danny,

First, congrats on your NatGeo recognition. I don't find the "attached link" you mention, but I'd be glad to vote to help you get your image published. We were recently honored with a 2-page spread in the North American Bluebird Society's Fall Journal, featuring our Family Blue with 7 photos. What a thrill!


The repost does look better to me here btw. It's a pet peeve of mine that even the best photographic gear avail often fails to capture the dynamic range of even cloudy day wildlife.
Congrats again on your Kingfishers.

Kenn

[Tony Whitehead]

Repost is a good improvement, Danny. You could maybe do some work to minimise the impact of the parallel lines in the BG from OOF branches.

[Danny J Brown]

Wow - Kenn is right - forgot to post the thread. The absent-minded professor at work again.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/your-shot/your-shot

[Danny J Brown]

Hi Danny,

First, congrats on your NatGeo recognition. I don't find the "attached link" you mention, but I'd be glad to vote to help you get your image published. We were recently honored with a 2-page spread in the North American Bluebird Society's Fall Journal, featuring our Family Blue with 7 photos. What a thrill!


The repost does look better to me here btw. It's a pet peeve of mine that even the best photographic gear avail often fails to capture the dynamic range of even cloudy day wildlife.
Congrats again on your Kingfishers.

Kenn

I've said the same thing many times, Kenn. I've wondered for years why our new cameras (computers), which can already recognize hot highlights, can't make onsite corrections if given permission to do so by the user. Maybe the photoshop people pay the camera companies not to release that technology.:) Congrats on the bluebird spread - very exciting! My wife and I were just talking about you guys today as we were watching nine bluebirds getting water at the same time on the heated bird bath on our deck. I told her how you guys could tell yours apart and we don't know one from another around here. Take care.

[Guy Germain]

Hi Danny,

Just one word.
Jealousy !

Guy

[Danny J Brown]

I doubt that - I've seen enough of your killer portfolio, starting with that shot you just posted, to know you aren't jealous of anybody.:)

[James Salywoda]

I like the vertical composition Danny really a great series of shots you have gotten with these Kingfishers.

[paul leverington]

Sweet. sweet. sweet! Somewhere between the two posts is my vote Danny. Wonderful shot! I like that the perch has some interest too with the bark peeling.

Paul

[Lise De Serres]

Hi Danny,

Great post-treatment with your second image, the kingfisher stands out a lot better and the whites are much better!! Going to vote now!! :)

[Danny J Brown]

Hi Danny,

Great post-treatment with your second image, the kingfisher stands out a lot better and the whites are much better!! Going to vote now!! :)

Thanks Lise!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Congratulations Danny !!! Beautiful image and well worth the honor and recognition. I am off to vote too !!!!

[denise ippolito]

Congratulations Danny! Another great image. Love the raised crest and beautiful BG.

[Malcolm Benn]

Fabulous image, congratulations.

[Jim Buescher]

My vote's in Danny, I can see why the editor chose your image. This one is a great capture also (nailed it with the repost).

[Doug Brown]

Congratulations Danny! The repost is excellent.

[Steve Canuel]

Great shot Danny. BG colors compliment the KF well. Nice details, colors, pose, and subject. Repost looks real good.

[Danny J Brown]

Thanks to everybody, especially those who've voted and put me neck and neck with the growling lion. Merry Christmas, my friends.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/your-shot/your-shot

[Danny J Brown]

As of 9:00 PM Sunday my photo is ahead of all the other 180 photos for the first three weeks of December. Thanks for voting!!!!!!!!

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/your-shot/your-shot

[Harshad Barve]

Man , I must say you have some amazing images of Belted KF
Yet another loveky image and repost looks great
TFS

[Raymond Barlow]

well done Danny., sweet image.

[Danny J Brown]

Thanks Ray: Have wonderful Christmas, my friend, and hopefully a snow white one!