Digital Camera World - UK (2022-02)

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com http://www.digitalcameraworld.com FEBRUARY 2022FEBRUARY 2018 DIGITAL CAMERA DIGITAL CAMERA^2121

David’s tips and advice

First you need to know where to go.

You can get some great suggestions at

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/where_to_see_

kingfishers. Then invest in a camouflage

tent and suit. Once you find a spot, search

for an optimal place to position your hide.

Kingfishers really love to search water from

certain optimal heights to see fish, so if you

get it right, there’s a really good chance

that it will land on the exact branch you

pre-focus on. Finally, pick up a kingfisher

calling speaker – but don’t overuse it,

or they’ll get wise to your presence.

David Zeman

t is often a dream of many bird
watchers to see a kingfisher.
The flash of blue, the stunning
oranges... it is truly a dream bird
for many, that not everyone gets to see.
However, there are a few possibilities to
rent a hide, especially in the Czech Republic
where I live, where you have an almost-100%
chance of spotting one – and a great chance
of shooting the perfect picture.
In the wild, it’s a different story. To find
these birds you have to have luck, or have
a top tip from someone in the know.
Mostly this can come from local fishermen,
ornithologists or communities that care
about wildlife. But be careful: once you’ve
had your first sighting of that little guy or girl,
it’s pretty addictive to join their company
far more often. Their colour, their size,
their behaviour and their style of hunt are
incredible, and leave you wanting more.

Recently I was able to finally fulfil my dreams

and start photographing birds of prey, owls

and small birds in flight. I was lucky enough

to purchase a wildlife photographer’s dream

setup from Sony, including two Sony Alpha 1

bodies, a 600mm f/4 GM, a 400mm f/2.8

GM and a 200-600mm G. It’s awesome to

be out on the river with uncertain results.

The tickling of the fingers while you are

waiting, the feel of being in your camouflage

suit for four hours to finally see one fly

in front of you on your pre-determined

branch: it’s priceless.

Instagram: @david_zeman_wildlife

I

Gone

fishing

David Zeman spends

time down by the river

capturing birds in flight

3 | WILDLIFE

1/5,000 sec f/5 ISO

1,000