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Underwater Photography: Diving Kingfisher, Meadow Pond, Germany

By Manfred Delpho | Published On July 23, 2013
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Underwater Photography: Diving Kingfisher, Meadow Pond, Germany


Diving Kingfisher

How I got the Shot:

I used a Nikon D3s built-in housing, Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8, and a two-flash Nikon SB 800 with remote switch.

Manfred Delpho

In winter, kingfishers look for open water
 to hunt. When a food source happens to be in the garden of a nature photographer, it’s a stroke of luck for both.

A few years ago in fall,
 a kingfisher came to
my home, where two little ponds with warm springs don’t freeze even in the coldest winter. To photograph the bird up close, I built a camo tent on the banks of the ponds. Gradually the kingfisher lost his wariness and allowed me to come very near.

To get the underwater pictures, I built an aquarium into the pond — I brought in small fishes, and the kingfisher quickly learned to fish from it, but it still took many weeks to get the pictures.

How I got the Shot:

I used a Nikon D3s built-in housing, Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8, and a two-flash Nikon SB 800 with remote switch.

Manfred Delpho

In winter, kingfishers look for open water
 to hunt. When a food source happens to be in the garden of a nature photographer, it’s a stroke of luck for both.

A few years ago in fall,
 a kingfisher came to
my home, where two little ponds with warm springs don’t freeze even in the coldest winter. To photograph the bird up close, I built a camo tent on the banks of the ponds. Gradually the kingfisher lost his wariness and allowed me to come very near.

To get the underwater pictures, I built an aquarium into the pond — I brought in small fishes, and the kingfisher quickly learned to fish from it, but it still took many weeks to get the pictures.