Kingfishers Updated

So Kingfishers........

They really are an addiction for me now. There is something about sitting there waiting, and waiting, then that magical moment when you here their call and they come zooming round the corner and land in front of the hide. It really is the best feeling in my wildlife photography, when an animal I have been waiting for turns up! Getting images is just a bonus as far as I am concerned.

Charlie Hamilton-James said in his book - 'Kingfisher' :

'the whole world can go to hell' while he stands and watches Kingfishers from his hide/kitchen window. I can completely relate to this. Something about them is so captivating. I think it is the years and years I have tried (and failed) to photograph them that has made them ever more special to me personally. Every-time I see one now I appreciate them so much more.

Below are a few of some old images that didn't make it to the last blog post.

I have also been experimenting with black and white. I did not think it would work due to the colours of the KF. Its normally a main part of the images but for some reason. Extract the colour and the images still work for me. I think it shows the kingfisher differently, what do you think?

I had been struggling to come up with new ideas for shots after my last blog post. But in early November I received an email commissioning a shot of a Kingfishers eye for 'Richard Hammonds, Miracles of Nature' I had two days to get the shot and my god it was a challenge!

Firstly I got online and hired a lens from 'Lenses for Hire' it arrived super quick and by 9am the next day I was armed with my weapon of choice. A sigma 150mm macro lens. Then then got to the site and set up a custom perch in an area of the river with no natural over hanging branches. I then set up my hide in the river and camera/tripod 6 inches from the perch. I got in the hide and for the following  7 hours on day one, it rained like I have never seen/felt/heard/tasted rain before. I was never going to get the shot because she (Mable - the kingfisher) was so flighty in the wind and rain and for a macro shot she had to be perfectly still.

I went home empty handed and started to get nervous as I had only a few hours to get the shot the next day. Again I got in the hide in the morning and immediately noticed that the conditions were better. A very long story, very short. I got the shot midway through the second day.

While I had the chance I also took a number of other images of the bird up close. They are more abstract.....

Seeing my work on TV was nuts to say the least. It was only 4 seconds but it was so so cool. 

And a cheeky credit!!

I am currently working on a few other images, so stay tuned. Im very much looking ford to the frosts. My wide angle lens is going to get used a lot to capture her in the winter morning (if she chooses to get out of bed)!!!!!!!!!

Thanks very much for reading. I hope you enjoyed the images. If you have any suggestions / Feedback / ideas for new unique shots let me know. 

Kingfisher Update

I thought I would do a quick update on my Kingfisher project. Things have been going really well since my last post and I have been able to really push the photography forward and try for new and original images. 

The main reason the project has progressed so well, is due to the site its self. The river runs through the middle of a field which means there are very few over hanging trees. The banks are also only 2 foot tall. This situation means that I can get images quickly by placing a perch out in the the river. When she next does a fly by, she lands on it every time, without fail because there is little else to land on on this stretch of the river. 

I have tried wide angle images, by placing my camera on a tripod close to the perch and wiring the cable release back to me in the hide. I then waited for her to land in postion and then fired away. 

She was,  and still is, completely oblivious to the shutter, it has never effected her. I do however wait for her to settle on the perch for a few seconds before I fire the shutter. I usually do one or two, to remind her of the canon shutter noise, then its fine after that. 

Tamron 10-24mm @10mm full frame 

I love the wide angle images, I am just waiting for nice blue skies to capture them again. Or perhaps some misty winter mornings at sunrise. We will see!!! 

Sigma 120-300mm @120mm full frame

Simga 120-300 @300mm full frame

Sigma 120-300mm @300mm full frame

The following image is so far my favorite from the project. It was taken by pre setting up a 10mm wide angle, on an area I 'hoped' the bird would fly. after three hours in the hide, the bird flew back up river and I jumped out of the hide, I checked the camera and was very pleased with the image on screen. 

Its by no means perfect but its in the right direction. 

Tamron 10-24mm @10mm full frame 

New Website

Hi Everyone,


I am just letting you know that I have a new website up and running as of tonight, Its not 100% completed but then again nothing ever is these days. It has a good selection of my lastest kingfisher work on there however I will be writing a new blog soon to show the progression with the story.

Any way here is a link to my site, - www.samstewartphoto.org, I would love to here what you thought.


Sam

Facebook Page

Here is a link to my facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sam-Stewart-Photography/214132795321501

I am updating my FB page a lot more often now and there are some new images up there from the last few days.

However I am still  going to update my blog with longer updates and more images every couple of weeks or so. But in the meantime have a look at my page.

Sam

Kingfisher Project part 1

Hi guys,

I have decided to work on a project for the winter. I chose the Kingfisher! Its mainly because it has been a real hard one for me in the past, and I have never really got anything worth keeping. And also because I have a relatively good site for them and its well worth exploring. So Although I have worked there a lot in the past, I have decided to start afresh with this one and re think the site completely.

I am mainly working on video as the whole idea of the film is to add to my showreel. But there is no way I wont take some stills along the way!

I am now working from a hide which I never did before, (I always used cammo netting and natural obstacles) I am also using perches that I have put in and so far they are proving more popular than the existing trees in the area!!!

I am now on my 4th day of the project and so far I have seen the same juvenile female everytime. She has been standing her ground in many of fights and it now looks like she is going to gain the territory and stay for good. I guess the following months and the transition to next spring will tell.

I started by getting there way before sunrise and waiting from there. I had some great views at that time however I soon noticed a massive problem. I was filling memory cards with unusable footage due to poor light therefore high ISO's by far the best thing I have learnt so far (filming in mind) is to get there when the light is good and start from there. Or leave the camera switched off until the light is how you want it. Dont be tempted to shoot if the light is not how you want it. you will just shoot stuff you dont need and/or want. 

Out of interest I got to the site at 1pm the other day and within 10 mins I had the bird on my perch. So I am now able to turn up as and when depending on the light and know the birds will be around. 

I am now working on snapping the lads underwater!!! Now this is going to be a challenge!!! As im mainly filming I am leaving a go pro in place. Constantly recording and hopefully capturing all the action. 

WELL????

It worked!!!! They are only snapps from video but its work in progress. I am soon going to start working on wide angle SlR and also under water SLR footage. I will bring you that when it arrives on my memory cards. 

Below are a few more screen shots from the filming so far. 

Watch this space!!!!

Brown Hare

Nothing amazing but some images from a few months ago. Its a subject that I have not really worked on before and it was really good to start but it needs far more time that one shoot to get images that really stand out. 

Its something for the future.

I am still alive

Hi Everyone,

Just to let you know, I am still alive!!! I have just seen my last post was in april. I havent given up photography/filmmaking and infact its the complete opposite.

I have been working on a new bbc series as a camera assistant and have been filming wildlife constantly. I have been so busy and a combination of having no time and also shooting work that I cant publish, I have not been able to upload anything. The series is due to be broadcast end of next year.

I have started to update my facebook page again and this might be of some interest to some people as it has some behind the scenes stuff.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sam-Stewart-Photography/214132795321501?ref=hl

Have a look.

Speak Soon,
Sam