Early Catch

[Gerrie van Vuuren]

Captured this female Giant Kingfisher in early light with her first catch for the day upon perching. Taken from the walkway at the Mankwe hide in the Pilanesberg National Park.

1D MKIV
600mm f/4
ss 1/2500
f/5.6
ISO 2500

[Aidan Briggs]

Nice light, exposure, and fish. I think compression has taken its toll on IQ here.

[Doug Brown]

Like the prey, early morning light, and wing position.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Gerrie, Mankwe sweet light always produces, and I like the overall colours in this. The lady has caught herself a fair size breakfast. Im trying to work out which perch this is.

[Harshad Barve]

Mighty fine image
TFS

[Nico Steenberg]

What a catch and pose Gerrie. IMG is well exposed with great colours and light. Well done !

[Hendri Venter]

Splendid image Gerrie. Such good light and a great pose.

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Gerrie, gorgeous light and a sweet moment captured. Could this do with a tad more sharpening?
Best,
Nicki

[Colin Knight]

Agreed with sharpening....seems a bit short on detail as well. Great catch, both of you!

[arash_hazeghi]

nice wing positions, pose and light, it seems there is a problem with IQ however , perhaps too much compression(?) image is only 70KB.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Cool pose, very good eye contact, BG and the fish adds to it. If it is not a heavy crop then sharpening the bird more would make it even better. I would also tone down the brightest highlights.

[Gerrie van Vuuren]

Thank you for viewing & commenting everyone. Only now noticed the image exceeded the filesize (368kb) when uploaded. Was it compressed by the BPN system?

[Tony Whitehead]

Lovely light and I like the raised wings and prey, Gerrie. Not sure how BPN server currently manages a file which is too large. Previously if I have inadvertently tried one too big it just won't upload and I get a message that it exceeds the size limit.

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Wow what a catch for you both. Awesome timing in beautiful light. Great pose and composition Gerrie.

[Gal Shon]

Only now noticed the image exceeded the filesize (368kb) when uploaded. Was it compressed by the BPN system?

I belive so, it happened to me as well today.
Light, catch, pose and eye contact are excellent.

[Gerrie van Vuuren]

Thank you for viewing & commenting Judy & Gal. It is much appreciated.

[Kiran Poonacha]

Loved the light and pose here Gerrie.. the fish adds well..

[Arthur Morris]

Yes to the fish and the raised wings but also yes to big problems with the IQ as presented here. It looks as if it is either a huge crop or as if it was a not quite sharp ORIG that you have attempted to bring back. Please post the full sized ORIG image :)