Fishing at first light (Kingfisher)

[JeffH]

Here's one from my continuing quest for 'different' Kingfisher images.
Head-on shots of Kingfishers (or indeed any bird) don't normally work for me but I feel the fish gives this one an important added element.
It was taken (from a hide) at a nest site situated in deep shade and where the parent birds typically used this natural perch on 1 in 3 of their feeding visits.
Having visited the site on numerous occasions - always arriving during total darkness before dawn - I knew that as the sun came up each day (but only for a very brief period of time) a thin ray of sunlight illuminated this branch.
As we all know, wildlife rarely does exactly what we want/hope it to do and I had to wait for several mornings before one of the birds turned up at the right place at the right time.
This is the image I had been waiting for - I have added some vignetting and have left the slightly blown highlights on the feather on the left side of the image in order to try to emphasise the lighting conditions to the viewer.
I'm aware that the image may appear a little over-sharpened for web viewing but does it work compositionally?
All c&c most welcome.
Taken with Canon EOS 30D and Canon 70-200 L IS lens at 200mm, f/8, 1/250th sec, ISO400, Ev metering with -1/3 exp comp and autoWB



Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers, Barn Owls & Avocets)

[Red Squirrel]

I like this picture very much. It's atmospheric and also has an air of mystery and it's rare you see a shot like this.

We all know that it's difficult to get a decent picture of a kingfisher so to get one as good as this is great. Well done.

[stevecn]

you nailed it! well done..

[PMG]

At first glance Jeff I was going to say it didn't work but when I blew it up and could see (and not see!) some components I realised it does work and I didn't want to change anything! The fishes eye stops the viewers eye from going further down and out and the clever darkening of the branch on the left side also stops the viewers eye leaving!

I like it - very much - cos it shouldn't work in some respects - yet it does!

[Tobyh]

I wasn't sure either.

Reading Pauline's comments whilst looking at the image I can see that she's spot on although I do find my eye wandering the right side up the branch a little too.

I really like the feel and the lighting. I'm getting a sense of bushes and foliage around even though I can't see them which is quite strange.

Part of me wants to see slightly more of the left side of the bird's head but I think you may then start to lose the depth of the image as it creeps towards another "side shot" (not that I tire of looking at them I should add!) and then I look again and like it more each time I do. It's an unusual shot and the position and size (scale) of the fish in the image makes it work in my opinion.

Kudos for getting this shot with a 200mm lens, shows what can be achieved with planning and patience.

Well done!

TobyH

[nightshade]

Jeff, nice portrait! I noticed for the first time the Kingfisher only appears to have two toes forward facing is this normal?

[FUDGEY]

Works for me Jeff and I like how you are looking for different images now. What species of fish is that? looks like a Roach or a Rudd?

[Stephen Raff]

Loving the low key look Jeff.

Judging by the mouth angle I'm going to go with a Rudd.

Stephen

[nigel_b]

Excellent shot, really good technically, artistically and wildlifely.

[Jim Ford]

Is everybody viewing it on uncalibrated (and consequently overbright and contrasty) LCD monitors? It looks too dark on my calibrated CRT monitor, and I have to hit the 'superbright' button to bring out the detail. What I can see looks good though.

Jim