Photographing Kingfishers with Phoblographer 📷

Hi everyone, in response to the positive feedback that I've recieved I've decided to start a photo series. Photographing with Phoblographer will cover a wide range of subjects, and as always I'll include examples of my own work along with some stylistic analysis. I'll try not to go too far with the technical details, as I merely want to give you an overall impression of how I approach my work. If there's demand for it, then I'll do things such as Lightroom tutorials and equipment reviews in the future.

I hope you enjoy this photo series and thanks for your support : )

The Subtle Approach:

Kingfishers build their nests in river banks and favour slow moving or still bodies of water in which to hunt. You'll most commonly see them perched on twigs or branches overhanging the water, looking for their next meal.

Waiting For Lunch. Nikon D750, Sigma 150 - 600mm C @ f/7.1, 500mm, 1/1000 sec, ISO 800

As with photographing all wildlife, the subtle approach works best. The kingfisher is a remarkably attentive bird, and is most often seen flying down river away from you, that bright blue streak on its back being the last you'll likely see of it. For this reason, patience is your greatest ally. Much as the kingfisher waits patiently for the right moment to strike, we too must position ourselves correctly and allow for that opportune moment to present itself.

The Perfect Moment to Strike. Nikon D750, Sigma 150 - 600mm C @ f/7.1, 600mm, 1/1250 sec, ISO 800

A hide really is your best chance at getting close to a kingfisher, though merely wearing neutral clothing and waiting quietly by a river bank will afford you a good chance of seeing one. Just remember to be patient and stay quiet.

You'll notice that the majority of the images in this post were shot at a fairly high shutter speed. This ensures that any blurring caused by the motion of the bird will be minimized. None of these photos were taken at the lens' widest aperture either, and very rarely at its longest focal length. The reason for this is that most consumer lenses do not perform optimally when shot wide open. And although the lens used here extends to a focal length of 600mm, I've personally found a significant drop off in sharpness past 500mm.

The image shown above is a good example of this. I wasn't going to exhibit this shot but it's a really good example of when my skills as a photographer have been pushed to the limit. The bird was hovering for mere moments before plunging into the water. You can see the blurring of the wings and the fairly soft appearance of the body, very little feather detail has been captured. This inherent softness is due largely to me opting for a 600mm focal length.

Knowing Your Prey:

Being a good hunter means knowing the nature of your prey. Being a good photographer similarly requires you to know the behaviour of your subject.

Patient Hunter. Nikon D750, Sigma 150 - 600mm C @ f/7.1, 500mm, 1/1600 sec, ISO 1600

As a kingfisher scours the water for its next meal, it'll tilt its head downwards to identify any potential prey. The kingfisher will often bob its head several times prior to diving. If you are able to anticipate the exact moment it'll dive then you can capture some excellent action shots, although this is far easier said than done...

Kingfisher In Flight. Nikon D750, Sigma 150 - 600mm C @ f/7.1, 600mm, 1/1600 sec, ISO 800

This is a picture I took of a kingfisher breaching having failed to catch a fish. Only by observing the birds behaviour did I choose to pre-focus on the general area where I thought the kingfisher would enter the water. This sort of shot requires many hours of patience, coupled with a good technique and a fair dose of luck.

Kingfisher With Catch. Nikon D750, Sigma 150 - 600mm C @ f/7.1, 500mm, 1/1000 sec, ISO 500

Upon returning to the perch with a fish, the kingfisher will move in to position, ready to strike its catch against the perch until it's dead. The prey animal in this instance is a stickleback, these tiny fish have spines on their body that make it impossible for the kingfisher to swallow it whole. Killing the fish causes these spines to retract, enabling the bird to enjoy its hard earned treat.

At The Mercy of a Predator, Nikon D750, Sigma 150 - 600mm C @ f/7.1, 500mm, 1/1000 sec, ISO 560

Above is a close up of the kingfisher with its prey. At this point it's hard not to feel sorry for the fish as it's fate will soon be sealed...

Kingfisher Killing Prey, Nikon D750, Sigma 150 - 600mm C @ f/7.1, 500mm, 1/1000 sec, ISO 500

You can see the aggressive act taking place here. Notice the protective covering over the eye of the kingfisher, this is to prevent any harm occurring to them while catching or killing their prey.

Kingfisher Sated. Nikon D750, Sigma 150 - 600mm C @ f/7.1, 500mm, 1/1000 sec, ISO 450

Here's the same kingfisher looking very pleased with himself having enjoyed a fine meal. You'll note that eye contact is an important aspect of wildlife photography. The image is often more engaging when it appears that the subject is looking straight down the lens. It can create a visual connection between the viewer and that which is being photographed, and leads to an overall more visceral feel.

Knowing When to Break the Rules:

It's essential not to be too dogmatic when it comes to deciding which settings to use. I've already mentioned that a higher shutter speed is important with wildlife photography. Not only does it help to freeze motion, but it also reduces the effect of camera shake that is amplified by longer focal lengths. Briefly, there's something know as the "reciprocal rule" in photography. That is, you should always endeavour to use a shutter speed that is at least the reciprocal of your focal length to ensure minimal camera shake in your final images. You should use at least 1/50 sec for a focal length of 50mm, 1/200 for 200mm etc.

Kingfisher in the Rain. Nikon D750, Sigma 150 - 500mm C @ f/6.3, 500mm, 1/100 sec, ISO 500

This shot appeared in a earlier post but you'll notice the shutter speed is far less than the reciprocal of the focal length. Admittedly I had to use a tripod to preserve the sharpness of the image (a tripod is always handy, if only to bear the weight of your equipment), but capturing the motion of the rain would have been impossible at higher shutter speeds. Had I been fixed in to the mentality of having to use the fastest shutter speed possible, I never would've envisaged this shot.

Kingfisher Preening in the Rain. Nikon D750, Sigma 150 - 500mm C @ f/7.1, 500mm, 1/500 sec, ISO 1250

Kingfisher in the Rain. Nikon D750, Sigma 150 - 500mm C @ f/7.1, 500mm, 1/500 sec, ISO 1250

Notice how the rain is far less pronounced in the two images shown above, this is due to the increased shutter speed. As with most disciplines, knowing when to break the rules can be just as important as knowing when to adhere to them.

Well thanks again for taking the time to read my article. The next time you're walking by your local river or canal be sure to listen for the high pitched song of the kingfisher. If you happen to have your camera with you, approach quietly, pick your spot and be patient. I may write more on the subject of photographing kingfishers in the future, in which case this could potentially be a multiple part photo series. It's all dependent on your interest I suppose, if you want more let me know.

Kingfisher Walking. Nikon D750, Sigma 150 - 500mm C @ f/7.1, 500mm, 1/640 sec, ISO 800

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All images present in this article are © Alexander White