Snail Kite with snail

Gallery: AvianPosted April 15, 2011164 views22 comments

Sorry, for my return to the snail kites, but that is what I am working on right now. This is from this morning. We had poor light and wind all morning. This shot was taken during the few minutes we had any light at all. I would have liked a faster SS, but the light was not good enough. I like the BG, snail, water drops, and bird's position. The detail is pretty good too if I do say so myself. Please view the larger version for max detail. Thanks so much for looking.

Canon 1DM4
500mm f/4 + 1.4xTC
ISO 800
1/1250s
f/7.1
Manual Exp.
Hand Held from my boat in wavy conditions
79% of FF

Comments

22 comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on April 15, 2011 at 9:49 PM

nothing like some waves to add to the degree of difficulty, Ron! detail looks excellent. pose is very good, water drops are nice, and of course we are going to come to expect a snail in every shot if you keep this up. only thing that isn't just right for me is that the colors in the bg (green and orangish) don't mix very well for me but not a big deal.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on April 15, 2011 at 9:54 PM

Brian, the orangish colors are bulrush seed heads. These birds build their nests in the bulrush stands, so the seed heads show well the type of habitat they are using.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on April 15, 2011 at 10:07 PM

Very nice - why not go ISO1250 with this body?

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on April 15, 2011 at 10:16 PM

KC, thanks for the comment. I have shot as high as ISO 1600, but only if I am shooting near full-frame shots. I do not like to go over ISO 800 if my subjects are tending to be at a range that will require me to crop down to about 45-50% of FF and a lot of these birds have been at that range. Going over 800 and cropping results in poorer detail in the feathers and eye area and I like all the detail I can get. So, I set ISO 800 given the light conditions. If I knew this bird would pick up a snail this close to me, I would have increased my ISO to get my SS higher.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on April 15, 2011 at 10:17 PM

Excellent capture Ron, the larger version really is a pleasure to take in, love the comp. water droplets, and birds detail.
Well done!

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 15, 2011 at 10:51 PM

Sure am getting tired of these perfect (or near-perfect) kites!!
(not)
This is another beauty - great position, exceptional detail, and a snail AND water drops.
Better stop before you push your bar too high!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on April 15, 2011 at 11:41 PM

Fantastic capture Ron, I can't imagine anyone getting bored of shot like this :^) It's images like this one that inspire to keep trying for close to perfect BIF shots myself, many thanks for sharing :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on April 15, 2011 at 11:47 PM

Geez that's good.

Sharp as can be.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on April 16, 2011 at 8:32 AM

Another fine image. BG adds to this image for me. Nice angle of the kite in the frame and of course the position of the talons on the snail.. Nicely captured.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on April 16, 2011 at 8:40 AM

Ron, I think this is excellent. Colors look great and natural, the action is super and the snail in the talons is great. Another fine, inspiring image!

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Gilham on April 16, 2011 at 9:26 AM

A very fine image Ron, especially with the shooting conditions. I think the detail is very good given the SS, using a 1.4tc and shot from a boat. The colors of the bulrush seedheads are complimentary to the orange in the Kite IMO. The only nit I have is that this image was not taken by me.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 77 Posts, 489 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on April 16, 2011 at 10:56 AM

Lovely as usual, Ron. I like the previous one more where the bird was paying attention to the snail. That was great. This one is awfully good though!

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on April 16, 2011 at 11:44 AM

"Hand Held from my boat in wavy conditions". Must you keep increasing the degree of difficulty?

This is spectacular...Again!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on April 16, 2011 at 12:02 PM

Sharon, not on purpose that is for sure.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Canuel on April 16, 2011 at 4:10 PM

Nice shot. My comments of what I like about this would mirror your own.

Registered on September 12, 2010, 53 Posts, 660 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on April 16, 2011 at 6:22 PM

There ain't much left to add in terms of comments here, Ron. But this is super, especially with that shiny snail as a bonus. Nice sharp head, too.
I agree with KC on pushing the Iso with that camera. I don't even blink when I go to 1600 with the D3s.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on April 16, 2011 at 7:24 PM

Excellent. Love the snail and the wet sheen.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on April 16, 2011 at 7:54 PM

Wayne, as always thanks for the comment. Just information in case you ever get or have to shoot with the 1DM4; the D3s is better noise-wise than the 1DM4. If you shoot and have to crop much at ISO 1600 you will have noise that deminishes IQ. If you don't need to crop much you can get away with it. ISO 800 is safe at all crops I am willing to make (45% max), so that is why I shoot at that ISO a lot. Again, just for information shake. Cheers.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Jude Haase on April 16, 2011 at 9:00 PM

Awesome catch here Ron!! Love the colors & detail!

Registered on April 3, 2006, 236 Posts, 1657 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on April 16, 2011 at 10:00 PM

Ron,
What a great capture, difficulties and all. The exposure, head angle, wing position and detail in the feathers is all top notch. That snail is the kicker for me. I don't know how they hold on to the thing. The orange in the feet, bill and the bullrush in the background are all great. I don't think the green is as becoming. I might tone down the saturation on the greens and even the oranges a bit but particularly the greens. This is exceptional none the less Ron. You are the snail kite king for sure. If we had these I would be going after them too.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on April 17, 2011 at 1:13 AM

Spectacular, Ron. Superb work.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by keith mitchell on April 17, 2011 at 3:17 PM

Ron you are certainly right about the detail it really is superb,just excellent.

Keith,

Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments