The “King” of All Shots

So, you think you've spent a long time trying to nail that elusive shot? Photo-hobbyist Noel Marry finally got his perfect photo not after a day, or week, but after a year!

After watching a BBC documentary on the clandestine habits of the Kingfisher, father of three Marry decided he wanted to capture the bird diving down into the water to catch its prey. For the shot, Mr. Marry constructed a small, submersible fish-tank to house a minnow, while he hid in a perch a few yards from the tank.

Over the course of several months, the clever photographer gradually removed the minnow-tank from the natural body of the water, training the Kingfisher to use it as a source of food until it was entirely on the shore of the river. After nearly a year of frustration and missed shots, Marry finally captured the shot, which can be viewed here.

“I was starting to get downhearted and just when I though about packing it all in it just happened,” explains Marry. “It was really special.”

Now, that is photographic dedication.