NikonGear'23

Images => Nature, Flora, Fauna & Landscapes => Topic started by: elsa hoffmann on July 22, 2016, 21:05:56

Title: The Dive
Post by: elsa hoffmann on July 22, 2016, 21:05:56
I have 3 of these playing around in my front garden every day. A bit hard as I am mostly shooting into the direction of the sun at the best of times.
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: ColinM on July 22, 2016, 21:08:46
Lovely focus, definition and above all, lovely sense of flowing movement Elsa.
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: John Geerts on July 22, 2016, 21:19:40
Beautiful action !
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: Fons Baerken on July 22, 2016, 21:24:17
splendid
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: chris dees on July 22, 2016, 21:26:13
Great image!
Beautiful kingfisher.
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: Tom Hook on July 22, 2016, 21:48:53
Nice shot Elsa!
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: Akira on July 22, 2016, 22:14:53
Very dynamic!
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: JohnBrew on July 22, 2016, 22:47:51
Nice catch, Elsa. Do you know the type of bird? Doesn't appear to be something we see around here.
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: BW on July 22, 2016, 22:49:23
Your garden birds are lukcy to have portraying them :) Very nice Elsa!
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: basker on July 22, 2016, 22:58:56
Elsa,

The kingfisher image was very interesting for about 12 minutes, then it started getting even better. It is actually enthralling, I checked my dictionary.

Sam
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: Anthony on July 22, 2016, 23:45:16
Dynamic!
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: Jakov Minić on July 23, 2016, 00:00:15
I love you Elsa.
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: stenrasmussen on July 23, 2016, 00:11:48
Oh Elsa....
10.0 - 10.0 - 10.0 - 10.0 - 10.0
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: elsa hoffmann on July 23, 2016, 03:01:34
Thank you guys for such great comments and compliments!
Photographed with the D800 & Nikon 200-500 f5.6
The pied kingfisher is a water kingfisher and is found widely distributed across Africa and Asia. Its black and white plumage, crest and the habit of hovering over clear lakes and rivers before diving for fish makes it distinctive. (wiki)
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: John G on July 23, 2016, 06:41:53
WOW! Kingfishers in your front garden, I want one.
Stunning images with a sense of motion rarely captured. 
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: bobfriedman on July 23, 2016, 10:07:19
if kingfishers are the same in your part of the world as mine.. they are a very difficult shot.. fast movers and quite erratic at times..  hence quite challenging shots..

good work on catching these guys.. really like that feeling of speed in #1
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: atpaula on July 23, 2016, 10:54:29
Awesome shots and what a beautiful bokeh!
I really love #2.
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: elsa hoffmann on July 23, 2016, 11:07:35
Thank you peoples.
Yes it is a challenge to get that damn thing in any pose but sitting (which I am bored with by now) as you can hardly get the speed up high enough without excessive noise at times. But I keep trying. I am sure I can improve!
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: Randy Stout on July 23, 2016, 15:06:50
Elsa:

Very well captured.  Kingfishers are one of my nemesis birds, as they won't allow you to approach them in my area, you have to shoot from a blind(hide).  Strong sense of motion, and exposure well handled with the strong backlighting.

Did you prefocus on the area you expected it to fly through, or just track him from the perch? 

Cheers

Randy
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: MFloyd on July 23, 2016, 15:41:12
Very nice pictures 😎
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: elsa hoffmann on July 23, 2016, 15:56:42
Thanks Randy for the comments. I can get about 4m from the bird when perching in my tree.  I have very little space as I try and shoot with another tree in the background. They are quite used to activity here. I focussed on it and was lucky to get a shot off before he was out of the frame. I can get several shots of the bird just sitting - but that gets boring so I waited for it to move. Not so easy as it can sit for 20 min on the perch before moving. I was actually hoping to track it into the water to snap it while actually entering or exiting the water - but that seldom happens. I was a bit optimistic as the D800 is slow in these situations.

Thank you Mr Floyd :)
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: ColinM on July 23, 2016, 19:26:59
You can get within 4m of the Kingfisher????

Now I'm really jealous!

Maybe if you sat next to a small pile of fish, you could get them to fly right up to you...... ;)
Seriously though, these are beautiful creatures and this is a wonderful opportunity - great results Elsa
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: elsa hoffmann on July 23, 2016, 20:05:23
Thanks Colin - I live in a very bird rich area - and the Cape as a whole is very bird - rich :)
I sometimes photograph birds while sitting on standing in my lounge :)
view from my lounge (cell phone pics)
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: armando_m on July 24, 2016, 02:25:06
Terrific images Elsa

which function of the camera is slow? continous high rate?
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: elsa hoffmann on July 24, 2016, 06:41:26
Terrific images Elsa

which function of the camera is slow? continous high rate?

yes, frame rate is slow, lens is not the fastest and I AM SLOW - I do realise my reactions are not nearly as fast as I would like it
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: armando_m on July 24, 2016, 14:44:55
I used to think my 70-300 was mediocre for shooting birds until I used AF-C D51, then af becomes like magic

Swinging that 200-500 at small bird just a few meters away shouldn't be easy for anyone

your results are fantastic, and you have a bunch of jealous guys following your thread
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: FredCrowBear on July 24, 2016, 15:07:03
Very impressive!!!
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: elsa hoffmann on July 24, 2016, 17:12:00
Thanks Armando and Fred.
Armando - ye lifting the lens is one thing - but you know - my problem comes in with pressing the button. I hesitate for some reason. I wont make a good (gun) shooter - the blooming PERP would be gone by the time I fire a shot. I am trying to work on it :)
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: Peter Connan on July 24, 2016, 20:06:16
That first one is magnificent Elsa!

Now it's time to bolt one of those speedlights you hate so much to the top of your rig. That should solve most of the issues related to shooting into the sun...
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: elsa hoffmann on July 24, 2016, 20:19:58
That first one is magnificent Elsa!

Now it's time to bolt one of those speedlights you hate so much to the top of your rig. That should solve most of the issues related to shooting into the sun...

Okey - we both know I have learned a lot from you - and I never take what you say lightly.
but

FORGET!  ;D ;D
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: HCS on July 24, 2016, 21:53:24
Elsa, you give many "real" birders a run for their money. This is one stunning shot.

Also, it must hurt you very much to live where you live  :D :D :D
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: elsa hoffmann on July 25, 2016, 06:59:29
haha thank you.
I live in a holiday resort I think :)
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: tommiejeep on July 26, 2016, 05:11:09
Elsa, great image.  It is the BG that does it for me.  I also like the fact that you were able to capture the browns, normally the whites make it difficult to see the brown.  I tried for years to catch the entire hoover, dive , strike and departure with/without fish, with a long lens.  Finally dropped the focal  length and shoot high speed on the D3S.  Gave up the detail for the bird's  behaviour  :) . Had to do the same thing for Paradise Flycatchers flitting out of bushes for bugs.
Thanks for sharing
Tom
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: elsa hoffmann on July 26, 2016, 06:26:32
Thank you Tom. I must admit that all the comments made me even more determined to keep shooting that darn thing.
Thanks also for noticing the browns - it was something I immediately picked up on too.
Soooo when are you buying a D5  ;D ;D
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: Fanie on July 26, 2016, 13:48:57
Thank you Tom. I must admit that all the comments made me even more determined to keep shooting that darn thing.


It gets addictive............
Title: Re: The Dive
Post by: elsa hoffmann on July 26, 2016, 19:42:50
It gets addictive............

yup - a hobby turned into a habit :)