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Phoenix Rising for the New Year

A composite creation of a kingfisher rising out of the flames. It represents hope and renewal for the new year, 1-1-2018

A composite creation of a kingfisher rising out of the flames. It represents hope and renewal for the new year, 1-1-2018
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Jan, 2018

Views

412

Likes

+53

Awards

People's Choice in Artistically Altered Images in Nature Photo Challenge

Peer Award

+16

Outstanding Creativity

+10

Absolute Masterpiece

Superb Composition

Virtuoso

Magnificent Capture

Top Choice

Superior Skill

Emotions

Impressed

Top Ranks

Top 10 rank

Top 30 rank week 1

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 20 rank week 1

Top 30 rank

Top 20 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 30 rank week 1

Top 30 rank

Top 20 rank

Top 30 rank week 1

Top 20 rank

Top 20 rank week 2

Top 30 rank

Top 20 rank week 1

Behind The Lens

Location

This was taken at a nearby beaver pond.

Time

Around 11 AM.

Lighting

Since this is a re-created photo, I think the most I can say is that it was taken in fairly good light, with some blurring of the wing motion.

Equipment

This was taken with a Canon 7D II, and a 400/5.6 f/4 lens. The shutter speed was 1/125, so that the wing blur would be evident.

Inspiration

I love watching these athletic birds (This is a belted Kingfisher), as they dive and come up out of the water at lightning speed. They are so graceful. This picture just begged to become a "phoenix arising" as I envisioned it.

Editing

I created the "flames" in Photoshop as a background by taking some colors and stretching them into flame shapes . Then I worked a bit with the colors on the bird and blended the whole thing to integrate the parts.

In my camera bag

Presently I have switched over to Nikon as I find the equipment I usually carry to be lighter and more compact. My go-to bird camera is a Nikin D500 with a 1.4 teleconverter and a 300 mm lens. I also use a Tamron 150-600 with a tripod.

Feedback

I go to places where I know there will be certain birds, and just wait and watch. The beaver pond is near my home, and it is a lovely place to just contemplate the natural beauty. At first it might look like there is no animal or bird life, until you see a flash- and the Kingfisher has made a dive, or a wood duck emerges from behind some reeds and flaps his wings. Patience pays off, as does knowing where to look.

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animalartist

Phoenix Rising for the New Year

A composite creation of a kingfisher rising out of the flames. It represents hope and renewal for the new year, 1-1-2018

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow animalartist

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