10000th Malachite Kingfisher

[Stu Bowie]

Its been a fun journey getting here, and Ive learnt a lot along the way, and still more to learn as I continue.

I thought I would share my favourite species from my favourite location - a Malachite kingfisher from the Pilanesberg nature reserve. This guy was flittering between perches, and they dont give you much chance to get the perfect shot, as here, he is looking slightly away. The blue of the BG is water.

Canon 50D
100-400 @ 400mm
1/1600
F/6.3
ISO 640

Exp Comp +0.33
Hand held

[arash_hazeghi]

great shot and a great way to celeberate. nice BG, my prefrence is a vertical

[Doug Brown]

Congrats on 10,000 Stuart! That's quite a milestone! Excellent detail and such incredible color! I could see this as a vertical but it also works as presented.

[Troy Lim]

Congrats on 10K post.

[Dan Brown]

A great bird, image and milestone! Congrats, Stuart!

[Ofer Levy]

Congratulations on the 10,000 !!!
This is lovely! Great light, colours, exposure control, pose and BG. Sharp with nice detail too. I see why Arash thinks it will work as a vertical and this was my first reaction. However, I actually like it as presented.

[Steve Canuel]

Congrats Stuart! And a very nice post to mark the occasion. Works as presented by as others have mentioned, would probably look good as a vertical. I really like the transition of colors from brown to blue in the BG.

[Craig Brelsford]

Congratulations on your 10,000th post, Stu! The Malachite is beautiful and I support all the choices you made.

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks so much guys. Strangely enough, I have also created another frame in vertical, but chose this one first.

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Stuart,
Congratulations! 10k is a huge milestone.

Nice background. I like the composition. Lovely colours. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

[RakeshDhareshwar]

Congrsta on the 10k milestone . Great achievement . The colours in the image , the light , pose and the BG ...just awesome . Should be brilliant in a vertical crop too .

[Dumay de Boulle]

Congrats on the milestone mate...Thanks for all your valuable input. This is great, love the colors and BG. Just to get close enough to these guys to get a image is hard enough.

[gail bisson]

Congrats Stuart! This little guy is also one of my favorites. I am going to SA and Namibia and Botswana this fall and I have 2 goals- 1. To get an LBR in flight and 2. Get a beautiful shot like this of a malachite. I love everything about this. Beautiful "eye candy". I would love for you to repost it as a vertical just for fun. Love the BG and crispness of the bird.
Gail

[Humberto Ramos]

Congrats Stuard...

For me it's great with this composition, I think in vertical you needed to had some canvas or the bird would be very tight in the image, I this composition it works great with the open space in front of the bird so he could "breathe"...

[noelle zaleski]

Wonderful image!

Congrats

[Nick Palmieri]

Congrats Stuart! Great image. Do you remember your first post?

[Chad Caswell]

Congrats Stuie

And a very nice image to go along with your mark!

Chad

[Randy Stout]

Stuart:

Congrats on your milestone and the fine image! I appreciate all the effort you put into BPN and positive attitude you bring!

I could see a 'fat' vertical crop, but the colors are so beautiful here, it works as is too.

Cheers

Randy

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Stuart, congrats on this huge milestone and here's to many more
Fantastic image. The colors are off the chart. Love the bird and the bg. I like the comp as is. Just wish for some more head turn.

[Stu Bowie]

Thank you all so much for the kind words. For those who suggested a vertical comp, here it is. This is just a quick crop. I would still like to do a proper comp 800 high.

[Tom Redd]

Another Congrats Stuart. This is one heck of a shot!!! I have to add a vote for the vertical crop. I think the BG would be nicer since the brown goes to the top of the frame on the left side. You may have to add canvas in front of the bird, but I don't think much. Doing this would give a nice "layered" background. Love the colors and details here. Again, a BIG CONGRATS! on both the milestone and the photo.

[Tom Redd]

You posted while I was typing! Love the repost!!!

[Daniel Cadieux]

Way to go Stuart!! 10,000 is quite an accomplishment...and you've done it in fine form. Thanks for all your great posts and positive participation

I like the comp as is (vertical works too, but like the extra room of the OP). Beautiful colours. I see Sidharth beat me to it...but I'll say it too: A better HA would have been great

[Arthur Morris]

Mazel tov on 10K and thanks a stack for your help here :). In situations like this I find myself either praying or talking to the bird begging it to turn its head.... Otherwise killer light, BKGR, colors, and bird. I like the HORZ.

[Brendan Dozier]

Wow, beautiful image Stuart, and congrats on 10,000. You have a great eye, and always enjoy your captures!

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Stuart, just like in cricket, now u are in the elite 10K group :-) big congrats and thx for all the help you've provided. And sharing all such wonderful shot...this one is stunning. colors, bokeh, sharpness....your usual high standard.

[Grace Scalzo]

Another beauty, Stuart. Congrats on 10K and thank you for all that I have learned from you.

[Marina Scarr]

My hat is off to you for your 10K. That takes a lot of work and dedication.

I prefer the horizontal of this one. The BG and colors are just killer, and the perch works just right.

[Arno Ellmer]

Yes Stuart,well done and congrats!Quite an achievement to be proud of !
Another fine image from you !!

[Nico Steenberg]

A super IMG !

[Indranil Sircar]

Congratulations Stuart on 10K post... outstanding image!

[Gary Esman]

Congrats and one super image!

[Dave Leroy]

Congratulations on the milestone Stuart. Quite the achievement.

And a very lovely photo to mark the occasion. Both are fine photos, and I prefer the additional room in the op.

Good for You.

Dave

[Karl Egressy]

Congratulations to a milestone, Stuart.
The original post is great. The repost is fantastic!!!!!

[Dudley Watson]

Superb Image ...Congrats on your milestone Stuart

[Harshad Barve]

Congratulations on the milestone Stuartbhai . I would love to have either of them in my files ,
TFS

[Stu Bowie]

Thank you all so much. Much appreciated.

[Sachin Saraf]

Stunning shot...love the colors on this one.