Kingfishers

rossomck

rossomck

Messages
411
Name
Rossco
Edit My Images
No
Kingfishers on the perch last week at a kingfisher hide in Scotland. I sat on a bench from 0800 to 1800 for 2 days, in pursuit of these beautiful birds. They are wild and free, albeit that they probably know that food will be supplied at the hide and therefore they are likely to turn up. I presume that if they were not supplied with food at the hide, they would disappear and find somewhere else to feed?
Canon 1DX with 300mm f2.8


KF_G4Y0174-1600px.jpg KF_G4Y5132-1600px.jpg KF_G4Y7151-1600px.jpg
 
Last edited:
Agree, stunning set. The second is a cracker catching the impact spray from the fish........nice.
 
Presumably they were taken from a 'pro" hide

My comments would be

shutter speed too low especially on third image - this image is "soft"
they need more processing to make them "pop"
bg noise is showing thru presumably because of high ISO
the images could be sharper

so I would disagree with most of the above comments

There have been two really good examples of Kingfisher shots posted on here recently....... they are worth comparing

My comments are made knowing the high quality of the images that the OP takes, (non nature related)
 
Last edited:
den said:
:agree: on the above ...i take it these are from a baited site
Click to expand...

I am not sure what point you are making about it being "a baited site?" I paid for the use of a hide in Scotland, with no-one there but myself and a friend. Yes, we brought minnows to attract/feed the kingfishers, but they are totally wild and free, and we have no control over whether they turn up or not.
(On looking at your own pictures of owls on your website, I recognise that as being 'Pete's' place in Southampton - and he presumably supplied the mice for the owls, as well as the owls themselves).

Yes, no.3 has a little softness about it - but it was at the end of a long day in the hide, and my attitude is "get the shot and worry about noise after." It was 1/1250 at f6.3 and ISO 12,800 - the bird on the right is sharp, but there is movement from the bird on the left.
 
BillN_33 said:
Presumably they were taken from a 'pro" hide....
Click to expand...

They were taken at a hide in Scotland. I am not sure what makes a hide a 'pro' hide or not? I had to pay to use it, but there was no assistance or tuition asked for or provided. I was taken to where it was, and left to my own devices for the day. The birds are totally wild and free - and it is up to mother nature whether the kingfishers turn up or not. Thankfully they did!
 
rossomck said:
They were taken at a hide in Scotland. I am not sure what makes a hide a 'pro' hide or not? I had to pay to use it, but there was no assistance or tuition asked for or provided. I was taken to where it was, and left to my own devices for the day. The birds are totally wild and free - and it is up to mother nature whether the kingfishers turn up or not. Thankfully they did!
Click to expand...

I have looked at your web site - some marvellous shots - wonderful even

my points were made to offer Critique on the KF shots, trying to help if you like, rather than "good shot" "marvellous shots" etc., which in my view they are not - top marks for getting the shots as with a subject like this it is almost "spray and pray" - I am not saying that I can do any better - but I have looked at many, many shots over the years and these are what I said they were.

what I mean't by a "pro hide" - is someonelses hide that you have paid to use, rather than your own portable or even fix hide........... a specialised hide dedicated to KF shots ........ was there also a glass "fish" bowl below the perch?

noise and softness hits me as soon as I look at the images ...........the bg noise can be reduced - the "birds and perches" can be sharpened in PS, but you can only go so far as all the shots exhibit levels of "softness" through too low a shutter speed, (I think that you should be up to 1/4000th for the movement shots), and a fight against DOF at f6.3
It also looks to me as if the light was poor and flat

How big a crop are they?

I am comparing the quality of these shots versus those on your web site

I seldom comment these days on here as many people just want their shots to be praised, no matter what the quality

There are some wonderfully sharpe shots on here, technically very good, great composition etc., etc., - just look through the Forum and compare
 
Last edited:
rossomck said:
(On looking at your own pictures of owls on your website, I recognise that as being 'Pete's' place in Southampton - and he presumably supplied the mice for the owls, as well as the owls themselves).
Click to expand...
Totally wrong , you need to get a bit more info before you accuse me of using a place in Southampton ,my mice are my own as are all my owl shots as i have three well established sites were i have in the Rossendale valley along with my Kingfisher site on the River irwell....
Going of your answer i presume i am correct in saying its a paid for hide ...were the kingfishers are baited to get the shot..

@rossomck I will await your apology were you state you recognise my owl shots as being from someone called Pete in Southampton .
My Owl images are my own work and unique from my own site that are wild free and dont cost a penny ,just like my Kingfisher shots ...Not sure what you recognise but i would be intrested to know ;)
 
rossomck said:
I am not sure what point you are making about it being "a baited site?" I paid for the use of a hide in Scotland, with no-one there but myself and a friend. Yes, we brought minnows to attract/feed the kingfishers, but they are totally wild and free, and we have no control over whether they turn up or not.
(On looking at your own pictures of owls on your website, I recognise that as being 'Pete's' place in Southampton - and he presumably supplied the mice for the owls, as well as the owls themselves).

Yes, no.3 has a little softness about it - but it was at the end of a long day in the hide, and my attitude is "get the shot and worry about noise after." It was 1/1250 at f6.3 and ISO 12,800 - the bird on the right is sharp, but there is movement from the bird on the left.
Click to expand...

Den is sensitive about his owls

When in the UK we live near Winchester - I'd be interested in knowing more about Pete's place in Shampton ........ would like to spend some time there
 
BillN_33 said:
I have looked at your web site - some marvellous shots - wonderful even

........ was there also a glass "fish" bowl below the perch?
Click to expand...

No, there is no glass fish bowl at this hide.
I have no qualms with your critique.....(unlike Den, who was being dismissive and condescending) :)
 
BillN_33 said:
When in the UK we live near Winchester - I'd be interested in knowing more about Pete's place in Shampton ........ would like to spend some time there
Click to expand...

http://www.petewhieldonphotography.co.uk/product/kingfisher-hide/ I visited this place (without a camera) when I was judging the Southampton International Exhibition earlier in the year. The kingfishers were not appearing at that time, but he has loads of owls, and a very good set up for water voles. Well worth a trip imho.
 
Ross, there have been quite a few press articles about Kingfisher images

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/stunning-image-kingfisher-flawlessly-diving-9686717

https://petapixel.com/2015/11/25/th...er-was-6-years-and-720k-photos-in-the-making/

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/peoples-choice-winner.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...sher-six-years-4-200-hours-720-000-shots.html

Alan McFadyen?

Scotland? and I nearly mentioned a Flash set up earlier

I think that this guy may have been a member on here long time ago

Used a glass tank under the perch
 
Last edited:
Last edited:
rossomck said:
No, there is no glass fish bowl at this hide.
I have no qualms with your critique.....(unlike Den, who was being dismissive and condescending) :)
Click to expand...
I dont think i was i was merely agreeing with the above and asking was it a baited shot apologise if it came across that way...
So can you please acknowledge that you got it wrong were i get my owl shots from,as you did say you recognise were i get them from
 
den said:
Totally wrong , you need to get a bit more info before you accuse me of using a place in Southampton ,my mice are my own as are all my owl shots as i have three well established sites were i have in the Rossendale valley along with my Kingfisher site on the River irwell....
Going of your answer i presume i am correct in saying its a paid for hide ...were the kingfishers are baited to get the shot..

@rossomck I will await your apology were you state you recognise my owl shots as being from someone called Pete in Southampton .
My Owl images are my own work and unique from my own site that are wild free and dont cost a penny ,just like my Kingfisher shots ...Not sure what you recognise but i would be intrested to know ;)
Click to expand...

Den, you and I are not going to get on. Let me tell you why........ :) You demand an apology for me suggesting (wrongly) that they were taken at Pete Whieldon's hides? What would the problem be, if they were?? Why would it merit an apology? Are people who have to hire a hide, lesser photographers than you, just because they don't have the luxury that you seem to have? People like you, think they are somehow 'better' than the rest of us.......that all we do is pay our money and sit like little monkeys pressing a shutter, with someone else directing everything etc. I have no time for photography snobs like that. Judge the picture and get off your pedestal. I sat in the hide for 2 days solid, from 0800 to 1800 sometimes waiting for a couple of hours for kingfishers to appear. So please don't be so dismissive and so condescending.
 
rossomck said:
Den, you and I are not going to get on. Let me tell you why........ :) You demand an apology for me suggesting (wrongly) that they were taken at Pete Whieldon's hides? What would the problem be, if they were?? Why would it merit an apology? Are people who have to hire a hide, lesser photographers than you, just because they don't have the luxury that you seem to have? People like you, think they are somehow 'better' than the rest of us.......that all we do is pay our money and sit like little monkeys pressing a shutter, with someone else directing everything etc. I have no time for photography snobs like that. Judge the picture and get off your pedestal. I sat in the hide for 2 days solid, from 0800 to 1800 sometimes waiting for a couple of hours for kingfishers to appear. So please don't be so dismissive and so condescending.
Click to expand...

What i have is not a luxury ,its something i have worked hard for(over a period of nearly 20 years)of my choosen subject) so yes i am offened that you you just come out with a sweeping statement saying you recognise were i get my owl shots from....
Field craft ,knowledge,sitting in hides for days ,visiting my sites nearly everyday of the year.thats what i do
A luxury for me would be to have £150 disposable income everyweek to go and pay someone to use a workshop hide....
 
rossomck said:
Oh, it was a 'workshop' now..... really Den, you should try harder to disguise your pathetic prejudices
Click to expand...
I think you will find that the term workshop is normally used for a paid hide ....was it at Alans site ,if it was i know the set up well...
I have nothing against pay to shoot shots.(i have used them)
You just posted with the the title Kingfisher ,no background on the shots at all,now if they were wild and free and your own work i would then judge on that and applaud that.
Sure you can see were i am coming from,its a pet ate on my side ,trying to pass off shots that have come from a pay to view (shoot) were it is not already disclosed in your title or text on the subject....
 
Last edited:
den said:
I think you will find that the term workshop is normally used for a paid hide.....
Click to expand...

You're funny! Thanks for making me laugh out loud :)

** Addendum - Dirty Den has edited his post above, by adding this paragraph after the fact -
"You just posted with the the title Kingfisher ,no background on the shots at all,now if they were wild and free and your own work i would then judge on that and applaud that."

b*****ks Dirty Den!! The birds were wild and free - You are pathetic.
 
Last edited:
den said:
Be mature Rossco, I was being serious ...workshop is what i and other people i know use as a paid hide..
Click to expand...

Sorry I have no wish to prolong the agony of this ping-pong with you. Paying for sole use of a hide is not a workshop. To say otherwise is not only laughable but another reflection of your self-imposed 'Demi-God nature photographer' status.
**. I will not be responding to you no matter how silly, funny or provocative you are. **
 
rossomck said:
Sorry I have no wish to prolong the agony of this ping-pong with you. Paying for sole use of a hide is not a workshop. To say otherwise is not only laughable but another reflection of your self-imposed 'Demi-God nature photographer' status.
**. I will not be responding to you no matter how silly, funny or provocative you are. **
Click to expand...
Thats because you know you are wrong ;)
 
I was looking back on past posts and I do not know how I missed this thread. What a treat to see these fantastic images. Well done Rossco :clap::clap::clap::clap:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top