Pied kingfisher calling

Jonathan Ashton · Dec 11, 2012

Canon EOS 7D
EF500mm f/4L IS USM
ƒ/6.3
500mm
1/2500s
ISO 800
Flash not fired
Sun, 25 November 2012 3:32 PM
Jon Ashton ARPS
Adobe Photoshop CS6 Windows

Canon 7D Canon 500mm f4 L IS ISO 800 -0.3 1/2500 sec f6.3

This image was captured on the Marakissa river in The Gambia. This was one of three pied kingfishers who were fishing and feeding one another using this piece of bamboo as a viewpoint.
All C&C welcome.

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John Cooper · Dec 11, 2012

A great action pose Jon, looking very agressive with mouth wide open and wings raised. Good sharp image and I like the backlight illuminating the wings. Unfortunate though the face is shaded. A flash would have been handy but probably not an option under the cicumstances.

Henry Domke · Dec 11, 2012

The Face is too dark

I've never had luck photographing Kingfishers. They always seem so skittish.
I agree with John that a fill flash would have helped. Another option is to do localized brightening in Photoshop.
With this revised image I applied a curves adjustment layer in Photoshop and did a huge amount of brightening. One surprise is that it brings out the red inside the mouth.

Nick Palmieri · Dec 11, 2012

Real nice pose and nice BG. The lighting isn't the best. I just wish I could see the eye a little better.

Stu Bowie · Dec 11, 2012

Hi Jon, I like the pose with the raised wings and open beak, and I also like the backlighting through the wings. I would lighten the head, but not as much as Henry's - looks a bit unnatural.

Randy Stout · Dec 11, 2012

Jon:

Great sense of action here with the pose. I like the backlighting, but the head does scream out for a touch of fill flash. I agree it can be brought up somewhat in post, but a subtle touch to keep it believable looking. Not much snow there for fill reflection I suspect!

Cheers

Randy

Satish Ranadive · Dec 12, 2012

Jonathan:
Excellent pose with out stretched wing captured.Nice composition too.Agree about head lightning.

Regards,
Satish.

Jonathan Ashton · Dec 12, 2012

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the comments, I was a little afraid of putting too much Photoshop fill light, I did in fact brighten the head and especially the eye but I agree a little more is called for, I have other shots to submit and will bear this in mind.

Pied kingfisher calling

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