Author Topic: A Rarity in the Bird World  (Read 5690 times)

Nikkor Shooter

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A Rarity in the Bird World
« on: September 22, 2018, 21:15:30 »




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Peter Connan

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Re: A Rarity in the Bird World
« Reply #1 on: September 28, 2018, 19:29:11 »
Such beautiful birds. Their South African cousins really know it too. They act like true divas around the camera.

But I do wish you could have gotten rather closer.

Nikkor Shooter

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Re: A Rarity in the Bird World
« Reply #2 on: September 28, 2018, 19:33:15 »
But I do wish you could have gotten rather closer.
Yeah… the closest they ever came was +/- 60 m.
so these are severe crops!
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MILLIREHM

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Re: A Rarity in the Bird World
« Reply #3 on: September 29, 2018, 23:44:50 »
Whether a bird is rare and or hard to shoot unfortunately does not influence whether a picture is good nor does it make it better. If it is not good then this is not good - Full stop. Not any bird photo needs to have the bird fill the format but you are just not close enough. The out of focus highlights in the first image have some interesting touch but though heavily cropped it is still too wide for a convincing composition.  #2 appears to be tele- flashed which makes the impression very unnatural. That might also work with a closer crop if you want to give the whole thing a less natural but more abstract touch - for me it does not work with this ensemble - too much of a dark background.

It is very hard but it is possible to get closer to a Kingfisher. Either people use a hide, some colleagues even built outdoor studios with multiple flashes. Despite that it can be possible to get as close to several meters without a hide. (Don't forget that not disturbing this protected bird is more important than the shot  a general rule btw). Kingfishers repeatedly use the same points to sit, just be patient and spend a lot of time. If the location does not allow to get closer than 60 meter try to find another one (as you appear to shood in south- eastern Austria there are lots of Kingfishers in the north-east) . If you dont already know - getting familiar with their call is helpful as well.
Wolfgang Rehm

Nikkor Shooter

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Re: A Rarity in the Bird World
« Reply #4 on: September 30, 2018, 03:01:07 »
#2 appears to be tele- flashed which makes the impression very unnatural.

The light source here was a hole in the canopy…
had it landed in the shade, it would not be seen.
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Jim Covello

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Re: A Rarity in the Bird World
« Reply #5 on: September 30, 2018, 19:01:08 »
The bird stands out well enough that I don’t mind it being small in the frame. I do think that the top of the frame is too much dark space, however; I would try a horizontal crop if you can, with less space  at the top and more space  at the left. This will emphasize the bird and thin light branches and their reflections against the dark foliage.


Nikkor Shooter

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Re: A Rarity in the Bird World
« Reply #6 on: September 30, 2018, 19:07:48 »
The bird stands out well enough that I don’t mind it being small in the frame. I do think that the top of the frame is too much dark space, however; I would try a horizontal crop if you can, with less space  at the top and more space  at the left. This will emphasize the bird and thin light branches and their reflections against the dark foliage.

Thanks Jim… will try that! :P
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Nikkor Shooter

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Re: A Rarity in the Bird World
« Reply #7 on: September 30, 2018, 19:41:13 »

Light is free… capturing it is not!