Azure Kingfisher

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abeleski
abeleski's picture
Azure Kingfisher

Went to that location again where I found them last time. Again it was a very cloudy overcast day so light levels were really low. I used my friends lens to get this as my lens is still with Nikon service after the car accident.I don't see this as an improvement over my first few shots but I will keep trying.

I also took a photo of the habitat which I posted in birdies post if you are interested in taking a look.

Hope you all had a great Easter.

Tassie

Very nice mate....beautiful bird aren't they??

birdie
birdie's picture

Yes they are beautiful Tassie that is for sure...love the bright colours. Alex...your friend is game.....lending you his lens... especially near a creek. Look what happened to his car last time he went out with you ! LOL (sorry couldn't help that :') )

Sunshine Coast Queensland

Owen1
Owen1's picture

Good shot alex. Azures would be hard to get i imagine.

Cheers, Owen.

abeleski
abeleski's picture

Tassie: They sure are. I hope one day to get a photo that will do them justice.

birdie: Thats a low blow. :) My friend was with me again. This time we took my car hehe. His is still being fixed. And I used his new 500/f4 sigma lens. He shoots mostly Sony/minolta but also is starting to build up a strong collection of Nikon gear. Very nice lens but shame about the light conditions.

Owen1: Yeah they are. We had a pretty impressive setup this time with a hideout for two and tripods etc but we forgot the fold up seats so after 10-15mins of waiting you dont feel your legs anymore. So we had to get out of the hideout to get the blood flowing and then back in the hide. Challenging but thats what I like.

I was born to live and I live to die.

Windhover
Windhover's picture

Good one Ace! I love these little blue bullets. A good way also to photograph them (I read in a Pommie book) was to set up a fake perch for them to sit on and place a very large tub beneath that with fish. Leave in place a few days and eventually the birds will find it and feed from the tub. Of course a deep tub is best, though I've seen these birds dive into about knee deep water from 5-6m up a tree so they can see where they are going and adjust dive depth. Anyway, good luck chasing them. That Sigma 500/4.5 is a nice lens, shame it has no IS, I feel a very important and useful addition to a lens. :) Cheers mate

birdie
birdie's picture

ha ha ha ...... sorry for the low blow Alex..... you know it is all in good fun I hope :)

Sunshine Coast Queensland

Birdgirl2009
Birdgirl2009's picture

The colours are gorgeous. Glad to see you back behind the camera. I hope you get your lens back soon

abeleski
abeleski's picture

birdie: Its totally fine. I have a good sense of humor. :)

Birdgirl: Thanks and I now have my lens back

Akos: Thanks for the tip. Only issue is I can't get out there 2-3days in a row. My only chance would be if they went for it right on day one. The habitat there also presents numerous perches but after the 2 times I have been there I have worked out their favourites. I think its actually just two birds along the whole length of that creek.

Yes the sigma 500/4.5 is very nice. Its light and can be shot offhand when required. Yes i must agree with you though, the lack of IS as well as on my nikon 300/f4 is sorely missed in low light. I think I was shotting at 1/15 but my bad (trying to improve)tripod technique and the cramped conditions in the hide were just too much to get a good shot. I think slow shutter speeds for a bird like an azure once it is perched is ok as they seem to stop, twitch tail now and then and observe.

I wish Nikon would get out an affordable VR telephoto like a 300/4 VR. *sigh*

I was born to live and I live to die.

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