Belted Kingfisher Food Playing

Thanks for viewing/comments! ... it took the 500mm + 2X III to barely

make this 3 shots in 1 image. I've seen this Kingfisher for the last 3

years and only now can catch him since he's always out of range.

Outstanding series TM! Very interesting to watch him reposition the food. You got some really nice detail and light. And handheld, wow! You've got some heavy weight to handle for this shot. I know these guys are very hard to get close to. Very nice work.

Thanks Phil! I've seen him for 3 years and got this on Saturday morning (barely). Yesterday (Sunday) morning I've seen him again but I am still too far to get better details. A 600mm + 2X III probably would have done it better. Yes, I barely can hold on to to this setup of 1D III + 2X III + 500mm F4 IS but the new 600mm F4 is the same weight as this 500mm, hence, I am going to start writing a letter to Santa and drop some hint :-)

Now there is a tough shot to get!  A bit far, but still a kewl shot..

Thanks Monte! 

Very nice capture and processing buddy.  They always want to set it into a head first position to swallow the thing... but you already knew that.

Thanks Steve! Good to hear from you :-) ... it's almost time for the Fish & Game department to put trouts in the lake at ED.

I always enjoy your images and am amazed by your handheld captures.  Good luck at Christmas ;-)

A very nice image well realized, I like the diagonal composition, ciao Giangiorgio

like the posters before me, I too am always amazed at the images you attempt to capture, and the presentations you post here. This one is no exception.

At first sight, one thinks "what the heck?" yet it is in the equipment you use and the thought-process for these types of images that I believe keep you thinking and working outside the square and shooting shots like these. You are one of the PN photographers who's work I never take on face value... I always visit your exif/camera data.... there is always something to learn.

Thanks for sharing this one..............

Best regards

ps: hope that makes sense ?

Thanks Dominick! ... I somehow run accross your coffee shop photo and it looks great.

 

Grazie Mille Giangiorgio! Greetings from a sunny SoCal!

 

Thanks Grayham! Nice to hear from Down Under  :-) I always make decision on SS & F-stop when I shoot and for this one I had though F8 is good enough for Depth-of-Field but the 1/2000 is barely making it since this bird is relatively fast .. the shot is at max. distance and the image is 100% expanded, therefore, I put 3 of them in one to show the sequence intead of going for details here. :-) - I shoot manual for this one since I need to control both SS & F-stop.