The Dive

[bobfriedman]

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

[atpaula]

Awesome shots and what a beautiful bokeh!
I really love #2.

[elsa hoffmann]

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!

[Randy Stout]

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

[MFloyd]

Very nice pictures 😎

[elsa hoffmann]

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

[ColinM]

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

[elsa hoffmann]

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)

[armando_m]

Terrific images Elsa

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

[elsa hoffmann]

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

[armando_m]

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

[FredCrowBear]

Very impressive!!!

[elsa hoffmann]

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

[Peter Connan]

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...

[elsa hoffmann]

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!