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.