A Scottish photographer who spent six years capturing one of the internet's most famous kingfisher photographs has demonstrated the remarkable advancement of camera technology by recreating the same shot in just six minutes using modern equipment. Alan McFadyen, whose original 2015 diving kingfisher photo became an internet sensation after requiring 720,000 attempts over six years, accomplished the feat in 2025 using a Nikon Z9 mirrorless camera compared to his original Nikon D4 DSLR.
McFadyen told PetaPixel that he wanted to test how much camera technology had progressed in the decade since his viral photograph. The difference was extraordinary, with the photographer describing it as "night and day." The dramatic improvement stems primarily from enhanced burst rates and autofocus capabilities that modern mirrorless cameras offer compared to their DSLR predecessors.
"Six minutes instead of six years tells the story," McFadyen explained. "Instead of 12 frames per second, I can now shoot at 30 frames per second, so when a bird dives at 30 miles per hour, it makes it so much more likely you'll capture it at the right moment." The increased frame rate significantly improves the odds of freezing the action at precisely the right instant when photographing fast-moving wildlife.
The focusing system represents another major technological leap forward. McFadyen noted that mirrorless cameras can lock onto a kingfisher's tiny eye at incredibly fast speeds, something that was much more challenging with older DSLR technology. This enhanced autofocus capability proves crucial when attempting to capture sharp images of rapidly moving subjects like diving birds.
When asked whether easier photography diminishes the value of such images, McFadyen offered a candid perspective. "It definitely does, in my opinion, it's not as challenging now," he acknowledged. However, he added a practical consideration: "With time being precious in life, it's not such a bad thing. In the wildlife photography game, we face so many challenges out of our control, so it's a blessing having technology making it a lot easier."
Despite successfully recreating the shot, McFadyen still prefers his original 2015 photograph. The newer version required flash due to heavy rain conditions, while the original was captured using only natural light. Working from his hide in Scotland, McFadyen immediately recognized when he had achieved the desired result with his modern equipment.
"It's still my favorite photo after all these years," McFadyen said of his original kingfisher image. "It is still getting shared far and wide online and has really boosted my photography business. I look back proudly on it and never tire of the attention it receives. A lot of time and effort went into obtaining that image, so I'll never get tired of seeing it." The photographer's work continues to gain recognition, with more of his portfolio available on his Instagram account and personal website.
