Malachite Kingfisher

[Chris van Rooyen]

I captured this image early one morning last year from a boat on the Okavango River. I removed some clutter from the background.

Camera Model: NIKON D3S
Date/Time: 2010:09:25 07:22:29
Shutter speed: 1/1250 sec
Aperture: 7.1
Exposure mode: Manual
Exposure compensation: -1/3
Flash: Off
Metering mode: Multi-segment
ISO: 2800
Lens: VR 500mm f/4G with 1.4 TC
Focal length: 700mm

[Chris van Rooyen]

Sorry don't know what happened with the date/time, should read

Date/Time: 2010:09:25 07:22:29

[Chris van Rooyen]

Oh no...

Lets try again: 25 September 2010 at 07:22:29

[Chris van Rooyen]

I give up...

[Tony Whitehead]

Lovely warm light on the MK, Chris. The warm greys of the BG work well. Perfectly sharp and DOF covers the bird well. Love the sunrise reflected in the eye.

[Norm Dulak]

Hi Chris.

I think Tony's comments are spot on, and I like this image very much as you have presented it. But I wonder how it might look as a vertical crop that would eliminate some of the negative space on the left, and more on the right.

[arash_hazeghi]

lovely Chris, love the light and details

[Arno Ellmer]

Superb capture ,Chris , with magic light on subject.It stands out superbly from the bg.

[Pieter de Waal]

Colours are spot on Chris, like the detail and shine on the wing and crest feathers. Like the comp as is.

[Ofer Levy]

Lovely shot Chris! Missed your beautiful photography in here...

[Chris van Rooyen]

Hi guys, thanks very much for the comments! Norm, I guess it could work as vertical crop, but these days I am gravitating towards larger more expansive canvasses - just a personal thing.

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the sharpness, lighting and details. Nice image Chris!

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Chris, this one has the light that is a signature of your images. Loved this one a lot....bird pops out so nicely from the BG. great colors.

[Norm Dulak]

Hi guys, thanks very much for the comments! Norm, I guess it could work as vertical crop, but these days I am gravitating towards larger more expansive canvasses - just a personal thing.

Thanks Chris, for your beautiful image and for your comments here.

Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder and in the eye of the provider of beauty, and what works for each photographer is absolutely what is most important!

But in case anyone else wonders what a more vertical crop might look like, I've posted one possibility here. It really is a matter of personal taste, but I think the vertical crop better showcases this remarkable bird.

Norm

[Stu Bowie]

Chris, the colours of the malachite really stand out against the dark grey BG. Super pose, and I do like your OP.

[christopher galeski]

great shot chris,sharp,nice BG,good colors,and I prefer your crop,no offence Norm.thanks.