Snail Kite Evening Light

Gallery: AvianPosted April 8, 2012205 views14 comments

Adult female with very large apple snail. I like the back lighting on this shot. Background is kind of nice too IMO. Some people will not like the leg bands, but I don't clone things out of images. Sorry.

Canon 1DM4
500mm f/4 + 1.4x TC
ISO 800
1/1600s
f/7.1
Manual exposure
Hand held from boat in 3 ft. seas
72% of FF

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Rick Turner on April 8, 2012 at 7:31 PM

Great action shot. Leg bands no problem...

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on April 8, 2012 at 7:45 PM

I agree, I like the lighting and the background, too. 3 ft. seas? Yikes. I do clone (and disclose that I cloned) small background elements that don't cross the bird if I feel it really improves the image, but I can't imagine cloning leg bands when the bird has them on, so that's definitely not an issue for me.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on April 8, 2012 at 8:08 PM

Perfection Ron, I really like the how the eye is lit up and the contrast of the snail against the green with the banding in the background

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on April 8, 2012 at 9:30 PM

A fine image. Grreat detail, nice exposure. The BG contributes a lot.

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

Comment posted by Alan Murphy on April 8, 2012 at 9:41 PM

Excellent flight position. Wish the bling was not there.

Registered on December 3, 2003, 192 Posts, 739 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 8, 2012 at 10:32 PM

Beautifully sharp image and I love the light in the eye, Ron.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 9, 2012 at 12:12 AM

Great pose here, and that's a HUGE apple snail! Do they have chicks yet or does mom get it all?
Excellent look at the gorgeous kite eye and nice BG/detail.

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on April 9, 2012 at 6:54 AM

The nests have hatched and the feeding action is really heating up. Now is the time to get snail kite images. So, if anyone whats to go, just let me know. I will follow this image with several more.

Alan, thanks for the comment. I have plenty of great shots without bands, so, I just leave them in when I get one with. I also, use my images in my conservation work for talks and having nice shots like this with bands is useful when I talk about conservation efforts involving these endangered birds.

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

Comment posted by Geoff Powell on April 9, 2012 at 1:46 PM

NIce eye contact. The ice skating position with the legs cracks me up. Well done.

Registered on March 20, 2012, 21 Posts, 170 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on April 9, 2012 at 3:06 PM

A gorgeous in flight shot Ron, love the detail in the Kite and the BG

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on April 9, 2012 at 4:30 PM

Wonderful flight pose. I like the way the red eye stands out, the layered colored background and seeing some feather detail in the shadow of the wing, excellent shot Ron, nice job in getting this from a rocking boat, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on April 9, 2012 at 5:14 PM

Ron,
You handled this nicely in 3 ft. seas. Great capture. The bling does not deter at all for me and I love the huge snail. As for cloning, I have no issues at all with cloning as long as it's disclosed and can improve an image. Cloning the bands would not improve the image in my mind. Kinda like them actually. It just means you've captured an excellent image of a rare bird that needs some protection. Nothing wrong with that. Way to go Ron!

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on April 9, 2012 at 6:14 PM

sweet, Ron. love the bit of a head turn from the bird, and I agree the lighting works well. no issue with the bands for me, and I like the one foot holding the snail. I can't imagine keeping the bird in the frame handholding the 500+1.4 with the boat moving that much!

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

Comment posted by Bill Kleinfelder on April 11, 2012 at 6:33 PM

Ron, Great photo! Thanks for the great trip it was a fabulous experience!

Registered on September 6, 2011, 14 Posts, 71 Comments