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Catch of the Day
Catch of the Day
HarveyG


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Free Study 2013-02 (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Nikon D7000
Lens: Sigma 100-300mm f/4.0 EX IF HSM for Nikon
Location: Pilanesberg Nature Reserve, NW, South Africa
Date: Feb 24, 2013
Aperture: f/6.3
ISO: 800
Shutter: 1/640s
Galleries: Birds
Date Uploaded: Feb 28, 2013

 The Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) is a water kingfisher and is found widely distributed across Africa and Asia. Their black and white plumage, crest and the habit of hovering over clear lakes and rivers before diving for fish makes it distinctive. Once getting to them in the wild, these Kings are "reasonably" easy to photograph when on a branch, however the eye, which is solid black and lies inside a black mask of feathers is very hard to get separation from those feathers. Mostly the eye is invisible in photographs. That takes hours of timing and patience to get the catch light and the curvature.

Please Site Council can we have a "WILDLIFE" category...NATURE is technically a description for Zoo Lions and garden passers-by attracted by sugar water and seed feeders, peanut butter and other tricks.

RAW-TIFF, Topaz Labs DeNoise, Topaz Labs Adjust Detail Enhance, Curves and Levels, Crop, Sharpen, SFW

This image is © copyrighted 2013 by Harvey Grohmann. Duplication, publication, copying is strictly forbidden and protected by law. To obtain pricing and consent contact me via Photocommission.com

ETA: Not a bad result I guess for a JABS :) Thank you for the lovely comments, they really are the best part of DPC as were the commentators votes!: Avg (commenters): 8.2500

Here's one in flight with sushi.

Statistics
Place: 13 out of 205
Avg (all users): 6.4818
Avg (commenters): 8.2500
Avg (participants): 6.3816
Avg (non-participants): 6.7059
Views since voting: 1015
Views during voting: 214
Votes: 110
Comments: 15
Favorites: 1 (view)

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AuthorThread
Nikon D500
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II
 10/14/2013 10:21:56 PM
Simply spectacular. Circle of life in fine feathery (and gasping fish) detail.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Olympus OM-D E-M1
Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro
03/08/2013 12:10:02 PM
Well, yeah Harvey. You nailed this one.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D750
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED
 03/08/2013 11:41:01 AM
Congrats, Harvey. This is your genre, for sure. I don't have the patience. I'm too busy throwing cloth into the air...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS R5 Mark II
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS
 03/08/2013 09:27:37 AM
I thought this would be on the first page. Still a strong finish though.
Superb shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-7D Mark II
Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
03/08/2013 03:26:29 AM
I hoped it was yours, when I saw it. The light is handled so well, and the DOF is forever,as far as I'm concerned. [Where it matters of course, just look at the nice bokeh]

Thirteenth, very well done.

Message edited by author 2013-03-08 03:39:45.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D Mark IV
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS
 03/08/2013 02:50:24 AM
Well done, Harvey, I thought this could be yours; one of my seven 7s.
Must say, though, the Kingfishers over here are more beautiful :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Nikon Z8
Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8
 03/07/2013 09:39:11 PM
Exceptional capture (for you and the Kingfisher). Beautiful light and great detail. Very engaging, even if he does have a dead fish in his beak ;-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS R5 Mark II
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS
 03/06/2013 09:38:05 AM
wow, great kingfisher shot. super focus and dof.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D5000
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G
03/05/2013 08:44:21 PM
Great catch for both of you. Super sharp well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D7100
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II
 03/05/2013 08:27:47 PM
Great job gettting this. It's not an easy captue! The lighting is excellent.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony DSLR-A580
Sony DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical ED
 03/05/2013 12:41:42 PM
Almost as big as he is - good catch by both of you. Voted earlier.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D750
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED
 03/04/2013 09:05:20 PM
Tack sharp. What a capture. Even the fish is astonished
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-50D
Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
 03/04/2013 11:06:49 AM
Wonderful!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony Alpha a7R III
Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS
 03/02/2013 08:50:06 PM
Great shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D Mark IV
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS II USM Lens
 03/02/2013 09:53:40 AM
Wow! Love it. Great catch and great catch. 10

Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis). This is a male, as indicated by the double band across the chest. Widely distributed across Africa and Asia. But, I'll guess sub-Saharan Africa for this fine specimen.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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