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Swedish Kingfisher

Swedish Kingfisher
Copyright ©2006, Jens Birch
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Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

It seems like taking winter pictures of kingfishers follows a certain pattern. After 3 hours sitting in the snow and trying to take a good picture of this kingfisher today, it finally landed on the old branch I had hoped for 4 meters away.

I am very happy!!!

Cheers, Jens.

The sun was setting and this was in the shade forcing me to use ISO 400 which explains the noise. DOF of 1 cm shows as well in the out-of-focus plumage. I used a monopod as support.
Photographer: Jens Birch
Folder: Jens' Wildlife
Uploaded: 28-Jan-2006 18:33 CET
Current Rating: 8.75/4
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Model release available:
Camera: Olympus E1
Exposure time: 1/250 sec
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal length: 300mm(600mm)
Lens: Tokina AT-X 300/2.8
Focusing method: Manual
ISO: 400
White balance:
Flash: no
Image format: SHQ
Processing applied:
Various:
Image resized to: 675x900

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Very nice shot Jens,

Patience is a so wonderful think for us photographers.
If we wait long an off we can make the shots we want..
Like this one is done, great ....

PS.
What keep you warm when you sit in the snow for 3 hours.....?

Fonzy - at 21:36 CET on 28-Jan-2006 [Reply]

Hi Adrie

thanks, I agree. the bird is almost too large on the monitor. 'Unfortunately' I can't make it much smaller because this is the full image.

Cheers, Jens.

adrie Hubregtsen wrote:
> Jens this is an amazing shot, beautiful colours, if you see this picture nearby the monitor,
> it?s look like an painting but if you go back from the monitor for about an meter the picture
> become even better.
>

Jens Birch at 22:37 CET on 28-Jan-2006 [Reply]

Thanks Fons,

Fons van Swaal wrote:
> What keep you warm when you sit in the snow for 3 hours.....?



Adrenalin! When a bird like this comes this close, I don't feel any cold or any pain!



However, I was quite cold before this bird finally arrived. I usually keep pretty warm because I only use fully woolen clothes in multiple layers - even the boots are made of felt. Only the outermost anorak is made out of white cotton and the gloves are of white goat skin. I never use any synthetic clothes. The main reason is that they may reflect Ultra Violet light in a way the birds see as a warning, but a secondary reason is that the correct combination of natural fibers, in particular wool+cotton, is superior to most synthetic fabrics in 99% of the weather we have here. The fact that they are dirt-cheap at the army surplus outlets doesn't make them less useful. A little piece of insulating mat is nice to put under the feet.

Cheers, Jens.

Jens Birch at 22:56 CET on 28-Jan-2006 [Reply]

NO SUBJECT

Thanks Jens for the explaination.
Yes, adrenaline is good support for all off us.

Cheers,

Fonzy - at 14:21 CET on 29-Jan-2006 [Reply]

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Great picture, well caught.

Thanks for sharing Jens

Hans Koren at 18:56 CET on 31-Jan-2006 [Reply]

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VSo nice shot, I like it very much. I can imagine your happiness, patience always give us fantastic retributions!!, congratulations!!

Ricardo Rico at 21:39 CET on 31-Jan-2006 [Reply]

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Astouning Beauty!!!!

Fillip ter Haar at 18:27 CEST on 18-Oct-2006 [Reply]