Kingfishers

I used to say Kingfishers are easy birds to photograph, but for the last few years I have struggled to get one coming in front of my hide regulary. This bird requires a lot of waiting time, but at least appears daily. I really want diving shots into the water, but it is not worth setting up until the bird comes more frequently. Hopefully using the Pro-capture feathure of the Olympus it will now be easy to do. The two flight pictures below were taken using pro-capture.

Two of the shots were taken with the Panosonic 100-400mm lens. The first time I have used it. Optically it is fine, but why would they make a lens mount that only turns 90 degrees. It makes it very difficult to get level horizons. I have to adjust the tripod legs instead of being able to swivel the lens.

I Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis, single bird on branch

Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis, single bird on branch in the rain.

Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis, single bird on branch. Pro capture. 1600 iso. 1/6400th at f4.

Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis, single bird on branch. My first pictures with the Panosonic 100-400mm lens.

Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis, single bird on branch. My first pictures with the Panosonic 100-400mm lens. 

Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis, single bird on branch. Pro capture. 1600 iso. 1/8000th at f4

Wood pigeon in flight

I was in no rush to buy an Olympus E-m1x body as the spec did not seem to offer anything I needed, but as I now spend more time shooting video than stills pictures I suddenly became interested in the 120 fps video option for slow motion. I am now very glad I bought one and wish I had sooner.

The 120 FPS video is interesting, but it is the auto focus that has impressed me most. I have only had two opportunities to try it on birds in flight so far and it has performed amazingly well. It autofocuses even when I think it stands now chance. So long as I can hold the bird in the frame for a fraction of a second it locks on most times. The wood pigeon is in a messy situation with grave stones behind it, but it coped. My old Canon gear would have stood no chance.

It is a shame we have gone back to a heavier and larger camera body, but I am loving using it. The 4 custom settings are a real joy to use and to be able to toggle the custom settings on and off at the press of a button means I go from action flight mode to static settings in an instant. Why do not all cameras employ such a simple idea and how did I ever cope without it.

Wood pigeon, Columba palumbus, single bird in flight in cemetery, Warwickshire, July 2019. Olympus M1X, 300mm f4 lens. 1600 iso. 1/5000th at f4.

Dice snake

In April I went to Bulgaria to photograph reptiles and amphibians with Miroslav Slavchev. We managed 25 speices in a week, many of which I had never seen before and would not be capable of finding without Miro showing us how.  A well organised week that was a bit different to what I normally do.

Dice snake, Natrix tessellata, Bulgaria, April 2019. Olympus Em1 Mk2. 60mm f2.8 macro. 1/100th at f5.6. 1600 iso.