Chasing Focus: My battle with the Kingfisher...

Could I finally get a good shot of a Kingfisher in focus..?

After a late start of 4am, I found myself scrambling into a small boat that we very nearly sank on our first attempt to board. Not the most elegant beginning to a wildlife mission — but then again, nothing about photographing a kingfisher ever is.

Armed with my Sony A7RV and the trusty 200–600mm, I was ready to face my long‑standing nemesis. The kingfisher: fast, erratic, tiny, and seemingly fueled by pure spite whenever my camera is pointed in its direction. Could this finally be the day I got one in focus?

While my setup wasn’t the mythical f/2.8 with pre‑capture that every bird photographer dreams of, I had something better — stubbornness, caffeine, and the kind of optimism that only exists before sunrise.

We drifted quietly along the river, branches brushing the sides of the boat, the world still half‑asleep. Then, a flash of electric blue cut through the green. The chase was on.

And somehow — through luck, patience, and a shutter finger working overtime — I finally got the shots I’ve been chasing for years. The kingfisher perched. The kingfisher in flight. The kingfisher doing its best to outrun physics. And yes… in focus.

Here are the images from the morning that made the 4am alarm, the cold, and the near‑sinking absolutely worth it.