Kingfisher’s perfect diving shot without splash in the water
Six (6) years effort, 7,20,000 (Seven lac Twenty Thousand) shots ~ makes a perfect symmetric diving shot of a kingfisher without splash in the water.
On 8th December, 2015 my friend Prof. Dipankar Das share a news about photography in Nandita’s whatsapp number and told me to read the news. Thank you DD for sharing such an awesome news.
40 years back, a kid went to watch the kingfishers nesting spot with his grand father Mr. Robert Murray near the beautiful lakeside location at Kirkcudbright, Scotland.
Mr. Alan McFadyen, 46 years old, Scottish Photoartist never forgot his childhood memories of kingfishers nesting spot. He is a keen wild life lover for almost 40 years.
After a back injury in 2009, Mr. McFadyen gave up his beloved fishing rod and switch to capture the wild life through his DSLR. His dedication, devotion and patience in wild life photography cannot be measured with any mathematical unit.
Mr. Alan McFadyen spent 6 years for taking the perfect shot of a diving kingfisher without any splash in the water. He captured the perfect shot of the kingfisher’s symmetrical diving position, proper reflection, freezing bullet speed and just kissing her beak in the water.
A perfect shot indeed and for that he spent 6 years long and took 7,20,000 photos. For 6 long years, Mr. McFadyen used to come the same kingfisher’s nesting spot, averaging 100 days a year to capture the perfect dive of the kingfisher into the lake.
Mr. McFadyen said: “There are not many people in the world who have got this shot. Kingfishers dive is so fast which you can compare it with a bullet. So, taking a good photo requires a lot of luck and a lot of patience.” He also said that female kingfishers only dive a handful of times per day, so the shot was hard to predict.
A born wild life lover, Mr. McFadyen even acknowledges the kingfisher too. This is Alan. He said: “The photo I was going for of the perfect dive, not only me to be in the right place and get a very lucky shot but also for the bird itself to get it perfect.”
Last couple of years he moved on to nature photography hide rental to share with others some of the magnificent wild life area in Scotland his main aim is to offer these hides at the lowers price and make sure that everyone use his hides which is going to give them home satisfaction. His wife Ms. Kae also started to help him in this venture and her help has been invaluable.
Mr. McFadyen rents out photography hides across Scotland.
A real sensitive wild lover, kind personality and a good friend of mine gives me the permission to publish this awesome, unique diving shot of the kingfisher.
Want to know more detail about Mr. Alan McFadyen?
Explore his website: photographyhides.co.uk
Facebook page: scottishphotographyhides
If you plan to go Scotland and explore wild life, renting his hide, contact him directly through his website.
A deep salute from India to Mr. Alan McFadyen for his passion, devotion, patience and dedication to Photography.
You may like to read the article on “Ganesh Haloi“
Thanks Parichay. Salute to Alan McFadyen for such a photograph.
First of all , this is the first time I am witnessing such a photograph. Absolutely stunning – the timing , the composition , the angle and what not ! Never in my life I have seen such magnificent work on such a theme. A sheer handsome stroke played with the lens. Every word will fall short to describe the greatness of this work. Thanks a lot Parichay Chakrabarti Sir , for connecting us with such a name. I feel honored. .
Blessed to read this article…
Thank u sir for sharing such a wonderful article……..Hats off to such a photoartist……
Really awesome news. Lot to learn from you sir. Hats off