(JABS-Just Another Bird on a Stick) Once getting to them in the wild, these Kings are "reasonably" easy to photograph when on a branch, however the eye, which is solid black and lies inside a black mask of feathers is very hard to get separation from those feathers. Mostly the eye is invisible in photographs.
A day of waiting and timing the light to get this shot with that eye/feather separation and smooth BG... Image is un-cropped (Original 4928px) but re-sized to 960px with some Curves and a little Topaz Labs DeNoise 5 applied to the background which is dry veld (grass) about 400 meters behind the bird.
Here's one in flight:
Taken during a long weekend wildlife photo-shoot in the magnificent Pilanesberg Nature Reserve, a Big 5 (Rhino, Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Buffalo) Game Reserve about 2 hours drive North West of Johannesburg. We stayed at the Bakgatla Campsite in the North of the reserve which was busy due school long w/e but sufficient and affordable. It was hot, in the late 30's and early 40's C(90-110 F) It is a popular destination for wildlife enthusiasts particularly birders.
Any comment or critique; complimentary or critical are welcome and appreciated.
Questions about gear, technique etc. also welcome.
I don't know how I missed this one either, Harvey. It's quite lovely - especially with that golden background to set off his sharp black and white coloring. Nice capture.
Not sure how I missed this one, because I try to comment on everything....
In fact, I remember looking at the image and commenting. Maybe I forgot the post button. Anyway....
Nice job getting such a great close up of the bird. I love the sharpness of the bird and the buttery background. I take it that the spot on the wing is a little blown spot?
Very nice Harvey. The eye and face is spot on.
I like the BG a lot. Just that little bit of variation in colour really does it for me. And looking at detail, the small lichen on the branch is a nice touch too :-).
Amazing image, really love this one: his posture, sitting on that branch (noce DOF on the branch as well) and I do like the background colour in this one, the Kingfisher really stands out. And the reflection in his eye makes is complete.
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