Sudden Death...
by Ron Bielefeld
...for the fish that is. OK, I decided to cut to the chase, or in this case the dive. I was going to post another 2 images before this, but decided the first one was too similar to the last post and the second would give this one away, so I went with my best. This is the image I had in my mind's eye when I ventured out on the boat the other morning. I wanted the outstretched talons just before the bird hit the water. In this image I met my goal. I hope you like it as much as I do. FYI, this is not the same bird as the last post.
As far as technique goes, I tracked this bird from beginning of dive until it hit the water. If you try to aim at the point of entry and rely on the shutter speed to stop the action the bird is still blurry even at 1/6400s. They are just moving too fast.
Please view the larger version for max details. Thanks
Canon 1DM4
500mm f/4 + 1.4x TC
ISO 1000
1/6400s
f/5.6
Manual exp.
Hand held from my boat
50% of FF
not baited
Comments
51 commentsRay
Charlie
May
I've tried for this shot many times, but lose the bird during the dive. I've also tried (many, many times) to try and catch the bird by pre-focussing at the expected point of entry with even worse results.
This is probably the most difficult shot to make successfully I can think of. Great job.
Ken Archer
Ron you certainly have caught the action with this excellent shot.
Keith.
I have also dreamed about getting an Osprey dive like this but so far I have not succeded.
Either I loose focus, cut parts of the bird away or it is to far away.
Very well done.
Lennart
JohnR
Jagdeep Rajput
Max
I know you know how epic this is but for others who have never tried to get this shot it is probably the most difficult shot you can take in avian photography. If it's not I certainly don't know of anything that comes close to comparing. This is THE IMAGE I have been trying to get for the past year and it will be on my wish list until it's captured (if ever). I lose contact with the bird every time it comes out of the sky and passes through the background shruberry or trees right before it hits the water. EVERY TIME!!! The fact that you got this tack sharp is simply incredible Ron. You are the master of in flight avian photography. Now, I was wondering if you could help with a couple of questions? Do you use a single focus point and do you use focus tracking on or off and if it's on how long is it set for? By the way, the whites in the original have detail so they are not blown at all but they look just a little bit warm and the repost is better. STUNNING image Ron!!
David H. - Yes, I use the single center focus point, because it is the fasted and most accurate. Using assist points around the center point does not work for me. The assist points contact the BG elements and cause the AF system to hesitate. So, just the center point for me. I have my AF set to AI SERVO and have focus search on. I have the delay for the refocus attempt set to the middle intermediate setting. Lastly, thanks for pointing out that the whites in the original were not blown and had plenty of detail. Others pointed that out to, but I like to hear that others see what I see. I do like the repost better, but there was nothing "wrong" with the original.
Like the repost whites a bit better I suppose, but as you say there's nothing wrong with the original post..
A good bit of luck & your persistence has paid off nicely Ron
David
Incedible - great action, perfect techs, and good non-distracting BG.
The re-wok is just perfect -
way to go!!
Of Course this got the EP!
Sandy
Awesome shot and thanks for sharing the trick on tracking them...never thought of that.
Peter