Photographer Finally Snaps Perfect Shot Of Diving Kingfisher After 6 Years And 720,000 Photographs

Hunting for the “perfect shot” can be a long and dedicated process. Alan McFadyen tooks six years and 720,000 photos to finally get the perfect picture of a diving kingfisher. He used to come to a spot near Kirkcudbright, Scotland for average 100 days a year, hoping to capture a perfect, splash-less dive. McFadyen's grandfather used to take him to the lake and observe nature when the photographer was but a six-year-old. He took photography six years ago and he wanted to take a picture like that as a tribute to his grandfather. McFadyen had set strict parameters for the shot: the beak had to make no splashes, the bird had to perfectly vertical and so on, which is why it took so long. The photographer hopes that his eight-year-old son will also share his love for nature. More info: photographyhides.co.uk | Facebook | Twitter (h/t: boredpanda)

It took Alan McFadyen 6 years, 4,200 hours and 720,000 photos to get this shot:

“I would often go and take 600 pictures in a session and not a single one of them be any good”

“The photo I was going for of the perfect dive, flawlessly straight, with no splash required 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”

“I remember my grandfather taking me to see the kingfisher nest and I just remember being completely blown away by how magnificent the birds are”

“I’m sure my grandfather would have loved it, I just wish he could have seen it. All of my family contacted me when they saw it and said he would have been so proud of it”