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The last drop... Full Frame


The last drop... Full Frame
Photo Information
Copyright: Elroyie David (elroyie) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 394 W: 104 N: 1519] (6403)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-08-12
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF100-400 IS L, Kenko Pro 300 1.4x Teleconvert
Exposure: f/8, 1/640 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Kingfishers, _Fotos adicionadas por 5 ou mais membros, Alcedo atthis, The predator with the Prey, Favorite Kingfishers [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-08-18 14:52
Viewed: 3426
Favorites: 14 [view]
Points: 70
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
First I want to thank you all for the your words on my former post, Thank you.

As I promissed in my former post The last drop... this is the full frame of that picture, well, almost the full frame.

Descriptive notes.

The smallest of the kingfishers to be found in most of its range, has a long bill, and is blue-green above and orange below. 15-16 cm, 19-26 g, wingspan 23-25 cm.
The flash of iridescent blue as this Kingfisher flies along a river is an exciting experience. Male nominate race rufous loral spot, black eyestripe, rufous ear coverts, white neckstripe.
Crown and malarstripe barred blue and black. Upperparts and tail brilliant azure-blue, wings dark greenish-blue with paler blue spots. White chin and throat, rufous underparts. Bill black, gape red, iris dark brown, legs and feet orange red.
Distinguished from similar small Alcedo species by rufous ear coverts. Female like male, but lower mandible orange-red with black tip.
Race bengalensis smaller, brighter and ispida slightly larger, bluer crown, darker rufous underparts.
Race taprobanasimilar in size to previous, but upperparts bright blue, and floresiana darker blues on uppperparts, some blue feathers on rufous ear coverts.
Race hispidoides ear coverts blue, purple tinges on hindneck and rump and salomonensis ear coverts blue, more extensive purple-blue upperparts.

Habitat.

Usually still or gently flowing water with plentiful small fish, and with reeds, rushes or shrubs on the banks for perches, are essential aspects of the habitat.
Small rivers, streams, canals and ditches preferred to open waterbodies, but sometimes uses lakes, ponds and flooded gravel pits. In winter becomes more coastal, frequenting also estuaries, and rocky seashores.

Food and Feeding

Main diet based on fish, include roach, trout, roach grayling, barbel, carp and many other species. Also takes aquatic insects, also flies, butterflies, amphibians, crayfish, prawns, shrimps and isopods in winter. Very occasionally feeds on berries and stems of reed.
Perches for long periods, usually 1-2 m above the water, periodically turning around and bobbing head and body to gauge distance when food sighted. Dives steeply and catches prey below water to maximum depth of 1 m. Using its buoyancy and flapping the wings.

Breeding.

Monogamous, solitary breeder. Territories defended by calling in flight and by displaying from perch, where sits quietly, crouches and stretches, swaying body from side to side, bill agape and wings drooping, before chasing off and intruder.
Nest usually in sandy, stone-free streamside bank, quarry, sandpit, peat catting or earth bank, occasionally in hole in wall, rotten tree stump. Both sexes excavate, taking 1-2 weeks, tunnel straight usually 50-100 cm long. 6-7 eggs, both sexes incubate during day, but only female at night, incubating period 19-21 days.
marhowie, livios, liquidsunshine, Runnerduck, Luc, lglandon, jstewart, carper, hummingbird24, coasties, TAZ, smirnese, jbreeves, SelenE, Oz1, sranjan has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • odin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 183 W: 1 N: 207] (1157)
  • [2005-08-18 14:55]

Very impressive post Elroyie. Very sharp, the colors are very good and nice composition. Weel done

  • Great 
  • twin Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 252 W: 17 N: 494] (3255)
  • [2005-08-18 15:11]

just perfect...

Hi Elroyie,

This is one is just a beautiful as the other. Both are diffrent views. Excellent work, I really like that drop.

I did a workshop, for something to do, hope it is o.k. :)

Mike

Elroyie, Just as great as the last..a perfect shot and moment captured..Hard to improve on but of course the tighter crop of the former post has more impact IMO. Fantastic shot!

Excellent shot! I can't decide between these two versions - on balance I think I prefer the crop though (so that remains in my favourites). Focus and DOF are spot on, the catchlight is good - and as for the water droplet hanging from the fish... Wow! The only minor nit I have is the colour balance - it seems somewhat yellow/green biased IMO, and that's suppressing the blues of the plumage - try running AutoColor in Photoshop and see what you think. I also think the bird could be fractionally brighter (try experimenting with Shadows/Highlights). Sharpening is just a matter of taste, there's clearly no lack of detail though! Truly masterful work :-D

Two points doesn't do it justice...

Very beautiful pictue, Elroyie.
Well composed, nice colours and great detials.
Excellent work.

  • Great 
  • ber Silver Star Critiquer [C: 10 W: 0 N: 0] (20)
  • [2005-08-18 16:27]

Elroyie, amazing moment!!!
Congratulations
Ber ;)

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2005-08-18 16:47]

Excellent. This is just great aswell. Can't say anything negative about it. I wish I will be able to shoot something like this one day. :) TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

Hi Elroyie, this is undoubtedly one of the best kingfisher images I have ever seen. I don't know what to say except I wish it were mine! ;)

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2005-08-18 16:52]

Elroyie, the great point point about checking your photos is the fact you post really great photos.

I checked the cropped version. Both of them are really great, although I agree with Howard as for the impact of the previous version.

Anyway, it's a pleasure to check both of them. If this shot were mine, I'd really be happy about it.

As stunning as the first post Elroyie,
A wonderful capture, one to be very proud of.
Thanks for posting.

This is as impressive as the first post. An incredible shot, lovely composition.
A masterpiece :-)
Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1576 W: 5 N: 2180] (12248)
  • [2005-08-18 21:37]

Superbe prise nature, tout est parfaits.

FÉLICITATIONS !

You have taken full advantage of a freak situation. You have made it count, Sharpness is pin point. Exposure is perfect, composition straight on! Fantastic!

+++++ !
Very nice shot!
all is perfect.
TFS, Laurent

This is a stunning picture. What drama, and what art. I think I prefer this to your cropped version. The kingfisher is so handsome in its totality, and you can still see all the details of the unfortunate fish and the amazing drop of water. One of the very best thats on TN.

yes this serie of yours is fantastic.
it's a fantastic capture, a great composition with good details, good in pov with a fantastic dof, with my compliments.
gr. Jaap

Everthing is perfect!
Simply stunning photo, the drip adds an extra point of interest to an already amazing photo.
I am in awe!

  • Great 
  • Toni Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 403 W: 2 N: 316] (2034)
  • [2005-08-19 6:21]

Hi Elroyie
Sepurbe capture une image fantastique. les détails sont excellents.
Very nice shot
Toni

Hi Elroyie

It doesn't matter whether it is the full shot or the cropped shot it is sensational. Full marks for the best Kingfisher shot I have ever seen!

Great image Elroyie. Everything is perfect. Exellent shot.

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 440 W: 10 N: 504] (2372)
  • [2005-08-31 4:38]

perfect composition, background and focus. excellent work.

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-09-14 6:50]

Woooooooow ! This second post is GREAT too ! I dream to be able to do the same quality... It is a lesson for me ;-)
I can't choose to two "last drop", the two frame are interesting.
Congratulations again Elroyie !

  • Great 
  • asfur Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 71 W: 0 N: 33] (465)
  • [2005-11-15 14:34]

great shot !!

Hello Elroyie,
In french we call this "un chef d'eouvre" !!!
I've been for a while, second time I actually see this picture. I have no pic in my favorite but this one have the privilege to be the first one I am selecting. Perfection compo.
P E R F E C T O !!!

very beautiful shot.Congratulations

  • Great 
  • netgui (139)
  • [2006-02-06 2:35]

Très belle photo les details sont excellents !!
Merci.

  •      
  • hibou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 216 W: 1 N: 329] (1617)
  • [2006-04-02 20:22]

Unbeleavable ! What a great shot ... this what I call Being at the right place at the right time ... or right second ! Congratulations and TFS Donald L.

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2399 W: 63 N: 4206] (13770)
  • [2006-05-26 4:07]
  • [3]

Very nice composition. I also admired the cropped version.
TFS

So much life in this photo you can feel the moment. Fantastic

  • Great 
  • Oz1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 76 W: 2 N: 173] (994)
  • [2006-06-13 11:50]

Hi David,
What a great shot!!
needless to say all technical aspects are superb. time stand still here...
Thanks for sharing and keep up!!

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 605 W: 11 N: 616] (3396)
  • [2007-02-27 2:32]

Stunning shot!!as other KF shots!!!

Hello Elroyie,

Here's another fantastic shot from you! This definitely looks like a National Geographic photo and in my opinion it is one of the best pictures on TN! A perfectly synchronized capture immortalized this exceptional moment! I am too insignificant to comment on such a masterpiece and I can only wish and hope to be able to take such photos one day. Besides, the composition, colors, sharpness, exposure and everything else look perfect to me. Even the title was chosen very well. There is nothing I could possibly add as this picture speaks for itself! Congratulations and thank you!

With Friendly Regards,
Eddie

So beautiful as the former frame. A great picture.

This is another excellent shot... Thanks for sharing..

Hi Elroyie
Awesome shot
tfs jon

Dear Elroyie,
Amazing shot with perfect caption as "The last drop....". I admire the timing, sharpness and every aspect of the photograph. With my critique this photograph makes it to 70 points. I wish your capture to many centuries instead. Thanks for sharing.
Regards-Subhash

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