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Giant Kingfisher


Giant Kingfisher
Photo Information
Copyright: Chris Chafer (sandpiper2) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1906 W: 107 N: 4875] (16757)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2010-10-14
Categories: Birds
Camera: Pentax K100D Super, Sigma 150-500mm APO DG HSM, Digital ISO 800
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/800 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2010-12-04 22:53
Viewed: 3963
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Giant Kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima) is the largest kingfisher in Africa (42–48 cm long). It is a resident breeding bird over most of the continent south of the Sahara Desert other than the arid southwest. This large species feeds on crabs, fish, and frogs, caught in the typical kingfisher way by a dive from a perch, though we also saw then hovering in a couple of places. This one is a male, the female lacks the chestnut band. We saw this one at Pafuri picnic site in the far north of Kruger NP.
The bird was in deep shade, so I had to bump up the ISO, but I think the result is OK.
Argus, siggi, albert, Pitoncle, boreocypriensis, Luis52 has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Argus: darksandpiper2 1 12-05 12:29
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Chris,
A fine capture of a Giant Kingfisher (not quite a large as the Kookaburra!). I saw this species in Gambia years ago and took a good slide shot of it.
The POV and technical quality are great, a fine composition against a nice contrasting BG.
With your comment about the deep shade I was tempted to try the WS. I think I made a slight improvement.
Thanks and have a good week,
Ivan

  •      
  • mwmod99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 855 W: 655 N: 3361] (14196)
  • [2010-12-04 23:09]

Interesting and unknown for me Giant Kingfisher, Chris! I do not know how widely spread the specie is but it looks amazing with its dark coloration. Good eye level point of view and simple lovely mono background!
Regards,
George Veltchev

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 967 W: 26 N: 3888] (16941)
  • [2010-12-04 23:23]

Hello Chris
Excellent work as usual. Thanks for sharing this unknown specie for me
Razvan

Hi Chris
Fantastic bird and beautiful photo with wonderful colours and good composition.
Regards Christodoulos.

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2010-12-05 1:29]

Hello Chris,
nice capture of this Giant Kingfisher. Great composition and very nice sharp detail. Very nice bg and DoF/POV too. Best regards Siggi

Ciao Chris, great capture of beautiful kingfisher on a lovely blurry BG, fantastic colors, splendid sharpness and fine details, very well done my friend, have a good Sunday, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2010-12-05 1:54]

Hello Chris,
Very nice photo of this kingfisher in good sharpness, DOF and with a pleasing blurred BG. The colours are a bit disappeared in the shade. I like the WS of Ivan, it makes this beautiful photo even better. I recently photographed this bird in Senegal.
Regards,
Peter

Hello Chris,
Difficult lighting situation, but brilliantly solved! Good job, good POV and a result eloquent!
Regards, TFS
Jesús

Hello Chris
Yes the result is more than OK !
A good capture
Best regards
Albert

Bonjour Chris,
Très belle valorisation du sujet dans son environnement d'une part par son excellente opposition sur l'arrière plan et d'autre part par l'appréciation de la finesse des détails et de la délicatesse des couleurs définies par une bonne profondeur de champ et une lumière bien maitrisée.
A bientôt sur TN pour de nouvelles aventures.
Gérard

Olá Chris, grandiosa foto deste passaro, uma qualidade de grande beleza, parabéns por esta bela imagem bom trabalho.
Nilson

Hi Chris,

A lovely kingfisher image with nice colors. Very sharp, with a nicely blurred background.
TFS and have a nice week my friend!
Cheers,

Bayram

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1175 W: 8 N: 4240] (15809)
  • [2010-12-06 17:27]

Hola Chris.
Beautiful Photo of this Giant Kingfisher posed on Accacia? and a great BG.
Nice and fine note.
Saludos
Luis52.

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