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Action Replay II


Action Replay II
Photo Information
Copyright: Japie Venter (japie) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-12-22
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 300D, Sigma 170-500mm APO, Digital RAW, polarizer
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/2000 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Kingfishers, Flying images, 50 - 60 points (chapter two), _Fotos adicionadas por 5 ou mais membros, 5 favs. and up - PART 2, Birds in Flight [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-04-10 15:39
Viewed: 11919
Favorites: 9 [view]
Points: 101
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Well since my friend Gerhard made the request, here is the 800X600 of the Pied Kingfisher that I posted as a set earlier this year. The set can be viewed here. I think this one was the best of the set, hence this one was chosen. As the bird is still the same, the note is still the same :)

I have a lot of shots taken of Pied Kingfishers in flight, but with no birds in them! This was taken at the Mankwe Dam in the Pilaansberg Nature reserve. I managed to get this shot as it was getting ready to dive and this can be seen in the way he is tilting his head down and starting the dive. The rest of the sequence is empty frames. At this stage the Kingfisher is hovering, frantically flapping his wings to remain in one place.

More about thePied Kingfisher (Roberts:428)

It is a large, black and white Kingfisher. Size 25-29cm A bit larger than a Laughing Dove. Afr: Bontvisvanger

As with other Kingfishers, the bill is long, straight and dagger like. It is blackish in colour - as are the eyes. The feet and legs are black.

The Pied Kingfisher is virtually all black and white. The upper-parts are blackish with a pattern of white markings, which give it a scaled and barred look.

The underparts are white, and the male has a double breast band , the upper one of which is much broader than the lower, narrow one. The female has just one broad band across the chest.

The Pied Kingfisher is a common and obvious bird of any waterside habitat. It is found on the seashore, on lagoons, lakes, dams, rivers and wetlands. It usually occurs in pairs, or small groups. It is either seen perched on a prominent spot, or hovering above the water. This is the only species of Kingfisher, which regularly hovers above water. It will hover until a target comes into sight and then suddenly plunge headlong into the water.

The Pied Kingfisher eats fish, insects and crabs.

This species makes a range of high-pitched twitters and squeaks. A common call is a sharp kwik-kwik-kwik-kwik

The Pied Kingfisher nests mainly from August to November. The nest is inside a tunnel, excavated in a vertical earthen bank. The tunnel is excavated by the birds, and is usually just longer than a metre.

The camera settings:

Program Setting: Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 398mm
F Stop: F/6.3
Shutter Speed: 1/2000sec
ISO: 400
Tripod: No
Flash: Diffused Off Camera ETTL.
Reflective Panel: No
Cable release: No
White Balance: AWB
elroyie, tinman, PDP, AdrianW, Fisher, JeanMichel, naki, LordPotty, rlortie, gerhardt, ellis49, mrvdm1, coasties, marhowie, Callie, scottevers7, Mazer, TAZ, AndyB, Signal-Womb, Luc, Runnerduck, extramundi, livios, gazo, Motrem, mogens-j, touristdidi has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To mrvdm1: Welkom terug!japie 2 04-11 05:39
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Critiques [Translate]

very good capture.
I like those beautiful B/W hovering birds, they are amazing when they 'stuck' in the air looking for food.

  • Great 
  • tinman Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 242 W: 7 N: 458] (2663)
  • [2005-04-10 15:55]

Stunning shot - really top notch.

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
  • [2005-04-10 16:05]

Stunning photo, Japie! The contrast of the black and white on the kingfisher is very dramatic, as is the pose. I can imagine how hard it would be to take a picture of this bird frantically flapping its wings, yet your shot came out crystal sharp. What a testimony to your photographic skills. Thanks for a gorgeous picture.

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2005-04-10 16:20]

Fantastic shot Japie, the action is terrific and the details are incredible for such a shot. Lovely composition and what a success! Well done.

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2005-04-10 16:35]

You captured a beautiful momment. This is fantastic. Excelent composition and details.
Excelent work.

Mike

Striking image, Japie! Amazing b/w tones with a very good and equilibrated exposure. I like the very soft greyish blue of the sky, matching perfectly with the kingfisher. The flying position couldn't be better!

  • Great 
  • naki Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 382 W: 27 N: 5] (40)
  • [2005-04-10 17:09]

A great shot Japie. Kingfisher was very clear, especially the light on the wings are stunning. Iloved that transparent look.
Very well done.

  • Great 
  • Toni Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 403 W: 2 N: 316] (2034)
  • [2005-04-10 18:21]

Wow, you did so well hiding the sun with the wing. Excellent capture.
Toni

Absolutely perfect shot Japie.From the thumbnail I never would have guessed it was a kingfisher.It looks as big as a gannet!Incredible clarity and great composition.Very well done!

Wow! What a shot! This is action. Great technicaly and artisticaly.
Stunning!

  • Great 
  • puffy Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 289 W: 0 N: 339] (1351)
  • [2005-04-10 20:19]

Stunning action shot Japie, excellect captured. The details, sharpness and clarity is fabulious, great DOF too, it is like the bird is frozen in the air. Well done! Thanks for sharing.

This is just amazing. You have a great knack and skill for capturing these birds doing exciting things!

Great action Japie.
You catch the moment in the right time.
Great details, exposure and compostion.
Very well done.

Great shot Japie!
Everything is perfect.
I like it very much.
Very well done!

Great frozen instant of a dynamic moment, shows good detail and the posture is caught at absolute peak, few people could show similar work ! Bravo !

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
  • [2005-04-11 4:00]

extraordinary shot Japie! Kingfisher perfectly frozen in time, great POV and pose. I love its wide spreaded wings and beak pointing at its prey. Black and white colour of feathers is superb - I've never saw so uncolorfull but beautifull bird! Great, grat work Japie!!!

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1455 W: 74 N: 1426] (4750)
  • [2005-04-11 4:01]

Hello Japie! Wonderful! This is extremely good and I really like the fact you're posting some of your most fantastic shots as bigger versions. This is excellent; everything is good. State of the art. TFS!

Remarkable shot, and I know about the empty frames!! Been trying it myself, with still no luck. You did a great job here, contrast and action amazing. Good luck with the go-live!

Great moment you have captured.
I like it very much.
Very well done!

Wow. Awesome capture Japie. Great details. Another super shot. Nice work as always. TFS

Great shot Japie! Wish it was mine!! Excellent details and sharpness..You've stopped the action very well @ 1/2000th..
Very well done!!

My Vriend!
Now, the pics you take with NO 'fisher in them . . .that I can handle!
But these, the green factor is way too high - I think I will have to go and sulk somewhere to boost my morale again!
Beautiful I just love it. I thinkYou Gerhard and I need to meet somewhere sometime soon. I think there is a public holiday just roound the corner?
Groetnis, en hou die bokant blink!

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4432 W: 248 N: 4028] (13270)
  • [2005-04-11 7:45]

Perfect shot! POV,colors,note,composition...very good
Thanks for sharing

I think I was right... :) This one is really impressive in 800x600? (looks pretty square :)) The composition is perfect. Excellent moment and the details are s harper than I though for this larger post. Exceptional work, Japie. Well done.

Great shot, stunning pose and very good details. Not a nit.
Well done.
TFS.

  • Great 
  • alois Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 41 W: 0 N: 107] (1205)
  • [2005-04-11 10:27]

Stunning action work ! It is very rare to find such aestetic photo which also succeeds to show bird's hunting behaviour very well . Congrats !

Fantasique prise au vol !!!
J'aime la composition avec le regard libéré !
Bravo !!!

Nothing I can add, but this is a perfect shot..Great Work!

  • Great 
  • Mazer Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 65 W: 3 N: 34] (104)
  • [2005-04-11 15:40]

Not much to say about this shot except for it being as close to perfect as you can get. Good pose and action and stunning detail well done.

Are you a biologist? Your notes are as good as your photos... excellent, I mean.
Thank you everything: photo, note and for viewing my work...
Carmem

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1538 W: 5 N: 2240] (12636)
  • [2005-04-11 22:12]

Une prise de vue exceptionnelle et un éclairage magique. L'oiseau est tout à fait splandide et original.

Félicitations pour cettte superbe envolée.

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1366 W: 32 N: 1351] (3982)
  • [2005-04-12 2:49]

Excellent capture!
I'm lost for words here!
Everything spot on,congratulations.

  • Good 
  • olger Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 65 W: 0 N: 138] (744)
  • [2005-04-12 3:48]

What a great shot.. AMAZING..! The sharpenes, the pose everything! Also i like the fact that the light is comming true its wings! Real lovely shot.. I am wondering how this picture would look like without cropping..
Good picture!

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-04-12 4:56]

Waouh ! Belle et intéressante composition photographique pour ce superbe oiseau en plein vol ! Jolies couleurs et bonne netteté.
Great, congratulations !

Superb shot Japie, this is the stuff of champions and technically very impressive, very well done.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1835 W: 301 N: 4287] (14767)
  • [2005-04-12 20:36]

Personal assessment of the photo: excellent.
Great visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: complete.
Thanks, Japie, for this not painted bird.
You become thrifty or miserly? ;-)

Wow, incredible shot. Amazing detail, pov, light everything! Brilliant. Thank you for posting.

Hi Japie, nice to see you back, I am also off lately.
Excellent quality you bring to us in this shot. I dont personally like the grey blue of the sky, maybe I would cheat puting somemore blue :D
The bird is just stuning. As always, an excellent work. Thanks and regards.

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2150 W: 319 N: 4263] (16942)
  • [2005-04-18 22:12]

Hey, Japie, you did it again. This is really wonderful.

A perfect action shot, a very nice composition with excellent sharpness and pov.

Congratulations.

I added your picture to a theme of mine.

Oh my God, this is a wonderful action shot! This is really something to aspire to.

  • Great 
  • gazo Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 72 W: 0 N: 13] (91)
  • [2005-04-22 16:48]

***** Extremely good ! Fantastic.
You have a magic touch for that kind of photos. ***

  • Great 
  • NINIX Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 158 W: 47 N: 355] (3001)
  • [2005-05-04 17:57]

Hi Japie,
I checked some of your other pictures too and this one is realy great.I make it my favourite.
THis is a very special one. could have been black and white with stronger contrast. WOW.

Thanks,
Hendrik.

Magnificent composition, details are so net and the position of the bird is great. It is fantastic.

Superbe composition, les détails sont tellement nets et la position de l'oiseau est merveilleuse. C'est fantastique.

  • Great 
  • Hisam Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 18 W: 1 N: 22] (215)
  • [2005-05-15 0:07]

Excellent picture of the Kingfisher

How on Earth did I miss this one. It is a fantastic action shot Japie. Very nice sharpness and details - except from a little blur on the inner white on wing. Excellent cropping/composition. A real beauty in action - hope he succeeded.

Wonderful shot, fantstic mid air picture! I see these birds, but always too far away to capture with my camera! they are bright blue in India!

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 598 W: 11 N: 72] (436)
  • [2006-03-08 6:58]

Excellent shot!!!In all aspects!

This is really great shot . very hard capture .. like it !!

  • Great 
  • osse Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 955 W: 0 N: 89] (7805)
  • [2006-04-15 13:18]

Hi Japie
Stunning shot.Excelent composition and details.Great action shot.
Well done

osse

  • Great 
  • HELO Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 91 W: 6 N: 54] (352)
  • [2006-05-24 14:11]

bonjour
magnifique photo,bon details
très belle oiseau
helo

Hi Japie,
No words to describe this picture.
I would have given 100 marks to this pic if the option was available.

TFS,
Sudhakar

Hello Japie,
Wonderful in flight shot!!! Excelent sharpness and framing. Congrats.
Best regards, João Edgar

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