Fish Sniper
This fisher knows all the best places for quick fishing. One of those is in the lowest branches of a willow tree; you can see everything and yet be hidden! Exce...
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This fisher knows all the best places for quick fishing. One of those is in the lowest branches of a willow tree; you can see everything and yet be hidden! Except from the camera shooting from a distance :)
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Dec, 2015Views
543
Likes
Awards
Winner in Kingfisher Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Superior Skill
Magnificent Capture
Top Ranks
Top 30 rankTop 30 rank week 2Top 30 rank week 1Categories
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Behind The Lens
Location
The photo was taken from the terrace table, precisely over the cup of morning coffee. About 20 meters from it there is a willow tree hanging over the lake shallows, and this pretty bird was hunting from there. You might want to look at http://www.viewbug.com/photo/67877854 to see where he finds his prey... ;)Time
Time was 10:20 AM, a tad tardy for typical morning coffee, but then we do go to bed late, thanks to Viewbug and some other internet sites, so... ;)Lighting
Bright October morning daylight with no other lightsources.Equipment
Camera used was a Nikon P610, focal length extended to 258mm (1440mm equiv.). Photo was shot out of hand.Inspiration
The bird is enough inspiration per se. What with its gorgeous colors, what with the way it hunts by dropping from the tree like a stone to spear an unsuspecting fish in the shallows below... His speed is such that you'd think he'd be sure to break his neck. The water is very shallow beneath this willow, maybe scant ten inches. But he does manage both, to get the fish and to avoid the bottom rocks.Editing
Nothing special; the image is the way it came out of camera, excepting for some slight crop to reposition the bird to what I thought was a right place in the frame.In my camera bag
I'm avoiding camera bags, and wear a photo vest instead when I need it. Its million pockets can hold everything. Basically there are ND and CPL filters, a spare battery, and another camera which is usually some waterproof model. Currently I can pick between an Olympus TG-2 and a small SJCAM M10+. This is because 99% of my photos will be around some water, and if so, chances are I'll want to see what's below the surface. Other than mentioned, I carry a length of string, a camera clamp (instead of tripod), a pocket knife, and any sort of lighter, matches or firemaker. With this I can improvise whatever I need, and I prefer improvising over burdening myself with "just in case" equipment.Feedback
Patience, long lens, and a right spot will help enormously! Other than that, lots of luck. Kingfishers are pretty shy and not so plentiful where we live, but they do come close on occasion, and then a chance may occur to click an interesting photo or three. Our local situation has some advantages. The willow tree is relatively near to our terrace and the branches reach over the lake. So we make it a point always to have our cameras at hand. We have learned that Murphy's laws are unavoidable, so if you leave the camera out of reach, this alone will practically create a good photo chance - just to make you sorry! Good eye-opener coffee helps too, so jot down: 1 cup, 1 teaspoon sugar, 2 teaspoons Nescafe, pour warmed milk over and mix thorougly. Sharpens the eye and reflexes. :)
