Malachite Kingfisher - keeping balance

[Albert Froneman]

I made this image during a recent trip to the Okavango River. Slightly overcast weather so I used a little fill flash -0.7.

NIKON D3
Shutter speed: 1/250 sec
Aperture: 5.6
Exposure mode: Manual
ISO: 640
Lens: 500mm VR + TC14E II

Post Processing in NX2 - sharpening and web preparation in PS

All comments welcome :)

[Tony Whitehead]

Great to see you posting again, Albert. Lovely colours and BG and I like the sharpness of the head and blur of the wings. Was the wing movement as response to the flash? - I find the pre-flash of can provoke this some times.

[Albert Froneman]

Thanks Tony ;) I doubt that the wing movement was as a response to the flash as this was not the first in the series and the bird did kind of battle a bit too keep his/her 'perch' on the reed stem...

[Danny J Brown]

Absolutely spectacular shot with brilliant color. This bird continues to be one of my all time favorite species.

[Nevil Lazarus]

Great light illustrates so well the reason for its name..! The colours are spectacular. I think the slight overcast worked in your favour. Really lovely.

[Harshad Barve]

Beautiful pose and excellent techs , One of my dream KF's
TFS

[RAM MALLYA]

Lovely Bg,sharpness and focus on the birds eyes. And great action captured

[Albert Froneman]

Thanks for the kind comments folks :)

[Gerrie van Vuuren]

Lovely image Albert! Bird well exposed against a great BG. Well done!:)