Pied with Catch 6000th

[Stu Bowie]

I thought I would celebrate my little milestone with one of my favourate subjects, a Pied Kingfisher. Notice how the perch below his feet is covered in fish scales. They slam the fish against the perch to soften it before swallowing it down in a couple of gulps. Taken in the Pilanesberg nature reserve in December 2008. I remember this trip was in overcast weather.

Canon 50D
100-400 @ 400mm
1/500
F/8
ISO 400

Exp comp 0
Hand held.

[Scott Frye]

Congratulations on the 6k posts. Great Kingfisher picture -- I like the perch and the catch makes it special

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Stuart, congrats on 6K. I really appreciate all the insightful critiques you do. Good catch by both the fish and you.

[Jim Crosswell]

Congratulations on your 6k Stuart! I would like to have an image like this in my files.

[Grace Scalzo]

Congrats, Stuart on the image and on your milestone! The pretty background is perfect for your subject(s).

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Congratulations on the milestone! I like the sharpness, soft light and BG. The fish adds to it. I wish there a bit head turn toward you and that chest and perch would not merge.

[Mark Dumbleton]

Awesome image Stu. Love the fish in beak and the BG. I do however, notice a slight green cast on the bird - that being on my laptop monitor, so might not be a 100% valid comment.

[Doug Brown]

You've passed me up Stuart! Congrats on your 6,000th post! I've always enjoyed your Kingfishers. Do wish for the same things that Axel mentioned, but a nice frame nonetheless.

[arash_hazeghi]

Another nice shot Stuart, like everything here, I would clone out part of the perch that is merging with the chest, otherwise perfect!

Congrats on 6000th post :)

[Bill Dix]

Wonderful shot. Love the perch, fish and pose. BG is beautiful. Might have wished for the eye to be a bit brighter; and next time have him turn the fish around so we can get some fisheye contact as well. Congrats on your milestone! Looking forward to more kingfishers.

[Danny Laredo]

That is some big fish he's got there. Wonderful male Peid image.
only wish the fish itself would be in our direction.

[Myer Bornstein]

excellent picture, interesting subject and congardulations on 6k posts

[Sid Garige]

Well deserved catch for 6K Stuart.

[Markus Jais]

Great capture. The fish is fantastic. One wonders how he swallows such a big fish.
I like the soft light and the BG.

Markus

[Tony Whitehead]

Congratulations, Stuart. Nice to see a KF in celebration. All the points have already been mentioned. Keep up the good work.

[Vida van der Walt]

What a wonderful image to celebrate the 6000th Stu! Stunning shot and I love the catch, detail and beautiful bg.:)

[Stu Bowie]

Thank you all so much for the kind words. Much appreciated.

[Harshad Barve]

Stuartbhai , congrats on milestone and perfect image to celebrate
TFS