Todays outing my first Kingfisher!!

[Badllarma]

Well managed a good few hours today and took my first Kingfisher images taken through a Sigma 120-400 OS HSM Plus a 2x converter so everything shot at 800mm leaning on wood F11 (the lowest f stop for the lens with the converter on) at 1/250 when I was lucky. Manual focus as well.

I really need to start using the tripod as I lost A LOT of images today through camera shake
















One thing that really got me today was there was alot of people with some great gear coming to the same spot I was in and only hung around for 15-40 mins how these people expect to get any images is beyond me Took me approx 6 hours to get these, not bad for a a first attempted IMO

[ron1863]

Nice set of pictures, worth the wait just to see it.

[ellen h]

Well done,nice shots!!
ellen

[Ollie]

Some very nice images, your perseverance paid off.
Roger

[jay37]

i bet your chuffed,i would be
jay

[JeffH]

Nice work Badllarma

Congratulations on getting your first K/F images (and for having that most essential ingredient - lots of patience )

Jeff

[sleipnerofasgard]

Nice of someone to put that new perch at the Rufford hide eh? with the bird that close i reckon you would have got an even better picture without the convertor on and a little bit of cropping,but i was there this afternoon and it didn't appear once,it's very difficult to get a good picture when the beggars don't turn up

[Badllarma]

Firstly thanks all for the kind comments

I was wondering about cropping to be honest but did not know how the people on the forum viewed such things so everything I've shot so far is full frame

sleipnerofasgard as we seem to be on the same page, or in the same hide I was told by a friendly bloke who was there before I started and was still there when I left That after 3pm is a waist of time. He been spending quiet a bit of time there recently by all accounts from what he said.

The closest perch is fantastic BTW if you had anything to do with it my hats off to you Although I had a major issue with the plants directly in front of the hide causing a pink glow to quiet a few images (very out of focus blowing with the breeze). That was sorted out for the next trip though

A Sparrow Hawk put the mockers on for a few hours and then the K/F returned back for a short visit. I left around 2 ish BTW Hopefully we may bumping each other at some time in the future.

I'll take on board the advice about taking the converter off and cropping for the next time.

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by Badllarma

Firstly thanks all for the kind comments

I was wondering about cropping to be honest but did not know how the people on the forum viewed such things so everything I've shot so far is full frame

Hi Badllarma.

I wouldn't worry about cropping photos. I know there are some people who regard cropping as a no no but there are more who crop than don't and I for one regularly crop my images.

As long as the photo is sharp and well focused at full size I see no reason not to crop to bring the subject a little nearer and to get rid of any distractions in the background.

I look forward to seeing more of your images cropped or not.
Roger

[BillyPilgrim]

Originally Posted by Ollie

Hi Badllarma.

I wouldn't worry about cropping photos. I know there are some people who regard cropping as a no no but there are more who crop than don't and I for one regularly crop my images.

Roger

I didn't even know that cropping police existed

I don't think I've ever posted a photo on here without it being cropped.

Crop away Badlarma and good luck with the Kingfishers.

I just installed a perch after waiting many months for them to come close to my hide. It took a couple of weeks but they're now using it. Went down 3 days last week and a Kingfisher obliged every time. Posing away for a minute or two before catching a fish and flying off to eat it.

[kriipsujuku]

hi badllarma

just seen your shots of the kingfisher.....looking good

how are you finding the lens?

i hope you are getting on well and having fun with yours.

take it easy, cheers, mark

[DOXHOPE]

[quote=Badllarma;321589]Firstly thanks all for the kind comments

I was wondering about cropping to be honest but did not know how the people on the forum viewed such things so everything I've shot so far is full frame



Hey mate, dont matter how people on here view cropping, or anything else for that matter..There your pics, do with them what you want....

[glsammy]

You can crop all you like,just so long as the quality of the finished image is OK.
If cropping wasn't allowed, my gallery would shrink by about 95%..

[GME]

Well done on the pics - hopefully see you in there sometime. Though I've probably sat next to sleipnerofasgard in those hides many a time and not even realised so you never know!

[sleipnerofasgard]

I am by no means an expert but i have learned a lot from the good people on here and from my own experiences particularly at Mere Sands Wood,i know the exact spot to get the very best picture of a Kingfisher and the perfect time of day to take it but they are notoriously fickle birds and don't play by the photographers rule book and i would say that the perch in the water is just out of my 300mm range but now that the other perch on the bank has been put there(not by me but i would think it more likely to be a ranger) it certainly makes a very good setup and the earlier in the day the better as the sun rises from the right.
When i was there the last couple of weeks it was appearing and displaying quite well after 5pm although the light was not perfect but that was before the new perch appeared so if anyone's interested in meeting up for a Kingfisher session i think i'll put in a few hours next saturday morning in the Rufford hide
incidentally that was not the perfect spot i was alluding to but the nearest i have come to it was this picture which again was late on when the light was very bad



iso was 800 shutter speed was1/90 so a better shot than i expected

[KeenTeen17]

Originally Posted by sleipnerofasgard

Nice of someone to put that new perch at the Rufford hide eh? with the bird that close i reckon you would have got an even better picture without the convertor on and a little bit of cropping,but i was there this afternoon and it didn't appear once,it's very difficult to get a good picture when the beggars don't turn up

what nature reserve in the NW were these taken?

great photos! with my camera I would only manage to get a blue dot on the horizon! even with a converter

[sleipnerofasgard]

Originally Posted by KeenTeen17

what nature reserve in the NW were these taken?

great photos! with my camera I would only manage to get a blue dot on the horizon! even with a converter

That was Mere Sands Wood not too far away from Martin Mere

[Badllarma]

sleipnerofasgard cheers for the info I was just going off what I had been told about the 3 pm BTW

Right well I'll be up for a meet next Saturday morning at the Rufford BUT I'll have come straight off nights so will not be staying too long. It will be nice to meet another forum member anyway.

And you never know our luck MAY be in

REALLY nice image btw

[sleipnerofasgard]

Should i carry a copy of the daily mirror under my right arm

or i may have a slight scots accent(not a pretend one)

[deer boy]

Nice shots Badllarma hope you & Frank get lots next weekend

[Badllarma]

He he sleipnerofasgard , I'll be the one with the bags under my eyes and snoring in a very worn camo jacket In fact I'd watch as you come in if I'm there already as you may trip over me a sleep

Thanks deer boy for the comments

Andy

[Pam_M]

A great set of photo's of the Kingfisher! Well done Andy!

[shei111]

Lucky you , you got nice shot there. shei

[Davy Crockett]

I have been using sigma lenses for 20 + years now, but on old slidy film and found them to be top notch get intouch with JeffH he is the Daddy on KFs