The Halcyon Bird
Male Common Kingfisher.
"It was the rainbow gave thee birth,/And left thee all her lovely hues" William Henry Davies.
Have spent probably 10 years attempting to photograph Kingfishers - with mixed success - it is one of those birds that you just can't get enough of. It has been difficult even gatching a glimpse of one recently with most of the viewing hides closed (this was not taken from a hide).
Have very rarely managed any decent flight shots and even fewer with a fish. I would like to say this was me tracking the bird as it emerged bullet like from the water - but my skills with a 600mm lens at close quarters don't reach that level.
This chap had just caught the fish (his biggest of the morning), perched and then did a little horizontal flight in a circle to return to the same perch facing the other way. Luckily I managed to track him doing this.
However my aim for the morning (afetr getting a few perched shots in the bag of course) was to try and come away with something a bit different, ideally in flight - so I deliberately chose the 5D Mark IV for its AF abilities over the higher res. 5DSr and also left of my trusty 1.4 extender - to have the best chance with the servo tracking.
The Halcyon Bird
Male Common Kingfisher.
"It was the rainbow gave thee birth,/And left thee all her lovely hues" William Henry Davies.
Have spent probably 10 years attempting to photograph Kingfishers - with mixed success - it is one of those birds that you just can't get enough of. It has been difficult even gatching a glimpse of one recently with most of the viewing hides closed (this was not taken from a hide).
Have very rarely managed any decent flight shots and even fewer with a fish. I would like to say this was me tracking the bird as it emerged bullet like from the water - but my skills with a 600mm lens at close quarters don't reach that level.
This chap had just caught the fish (his biggest of the morning), perched and then did a little horizontal flight in a circle to return to the same perch facing the other way. Luckily I managed to track him doing this.
However my aim for the morning (afetr getting a few perched shots in the bag of course) was to try and come away with something a bit different, ideally in flight - so I deliberately chose the 5D Mark IV for its AF abilities over the higher res. 5DSr and also left of my trusty 1.4 extender - to have the best chance with the servo tracking.