Poor quality kingfisher photo for advice please

[colincurry]

Every picture of a kingfisher is a triumph. I have lost count of the times that I have missed out on seeing one.

I echo the sentiment about the luck of being in the right place at the right time - and then siezing the moment and making the best of whatever kit you have.

Just think, you had a kingfisher to yourself for 20 minutes - my max is about 30 seconds.

Look forward to seeing future shots.

Colin

[Geoff F]

I suspect your camera has metered the exposure from the background not the bird. Sometimes using spot metering can help, but in this case I think the bird is too small for that to work.

Unfortunately you can't tell the camera 'meter the bird not the background' although I often shout at my camera, with little effect. The only option is exposure compensation. If the subject is lighter than the background, underexpose. If it is darker, overexpose. One stop should be ample, probably less.

The trouble is realising that you need some compensation before pressing the shutter; and too often, by the time I think over or under and how much, the subject has flown away. Now, I tend to take the first shot on semi auto then have a think about correct settings. That way, I usually have something in the camera while I am thinking, and a slightly imperfect image is better than no photo.

[geordie graham]

Spent three days on the trot for 3 hours at a time trying to get a photo of the resident Kingfishers on a perch just outside the hide at my local reserve.Saw them several times flying about and two of them flew in formation past the hide.Could have sworn I saw them smirking at me.Then two days later I see a wonderfull photo of said kingfisher on said perch on my local bird club site and apparently it sat there for approx 20 mins.It`s called sods law and all part of bird photography.Any photo of such a wonderful bird is to be cherished.A lot of people have still to see one let alone get a photo.Have fun and one day a better opportunity will turn up.

Graham