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Carine Wildlife Gateway

5 août 2014

Eurasian kingfisher and photography

 Alcedo atthis
  Coraciiformes - Alcedinidae

It is not that simple to take the images we'd like with those kingfishers. That is... to have it on a nice-looking perch, in the grazing morning or evening light and/or in flight or fishing action. 
Most of the time, it's not bad to manage 2 out of the 3 conditions but it is still quite frustrating especially as I have a precise idea of what I want to achieve!
In such cases, one must be ready to spend much time and even then, nothing is won.
Pending on the image that will make me happy - or not since I am a perfectionist never fully satisfied!!! - here are some attitude pics:




If the lake is in background, it is necessary to set the perch so that the water does not reflect the white of clouds: the cell will have problems analyzing the light, and the subject will have great chances to come out quite dark. Compensating with the settings is not a solution, the result will be too grainy.
At mid-day between 10:00 am and 5:30 pm or so, the sun beats down, the light is too hard and the shadow dropped by the beak literally cuts the bird's breast. A cloudy sky will decrease the light on the plumage and it will lack sharpness; it is somewhat the case here... Oh yes!




We are dealing with two youngsters here, the legs are still blackish instead of bright red as with adults; also the plumage isn't as richly colored. Bright hair-like feathers (filoplumes*) run down the back covering the tail.



It can appear turquoise-green or turquoise-blue like with this adult male photographed in 2012.







* Filoplumes are attached to nerve endings and help the contour feather to get back into place after a flying
or preening.

7 commentaires :

  1. Really beautiful images Noushka.
    Cheers.

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  2. Great pictures Noushka. I know what you mean about never being satisfied with pictures, but I don't think you need to worry! I have never even managed to get close enough to get more than a picture with a blue dot in the middle!

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  3. Dear Noushka,
    I would love to see a kingfisher this way. Beautiful pictures!
    Best regards, Corrie

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  4. Hi Noushka,
    Really great pictures of the kingfisher!
    Intersesting to read how you deal with the lightconditions. But I think many photographers will already be satisfied taking pictures like you did under less good conditions.
    Greetings, Kees

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  5. Wonderful photos, Noushka! These are all really great.

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  6. Maravillosas.. Un placer contemplar a estas joyas de la ribera.. Buen trabajo..

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