Early Bird

Gallery: AvianPosted April 13, 2012717 views26 comments

This snail kite was out early catching snails for its newly hatched young. The sun had not even peaked the horizon yet. I decided to take advantage of the opportunity to see how slow a SS I could use and still get a sharp bird. This is 1/320s and basically full frame. Please veiw the larger version for max details. Thanks.

Canon 1DM4
Canon 500mm f/4 + 1.4x TC
ISO 1000
1/320s
f/5.6
Manual exp.
Hand held from my boat
Bit on NR on the BG only

Comments

26 comments

Comment posted by Jude Haase on April 13, 2012 at 4:16 PM

Awesome panning job there Ron!! Can't nail it much better than that! Colors, detail & lighting are nice!!

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on April 13, 2012 at 5:08 PM

Another wonderful image in what must be the best collection of Snail Kite flight shots.

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

Comment posted by David Haynes on April 13, 2012 at 5:41 PM

Ron,
I just love your snail kite images and this one is top notch. Can't believe you got this at 1/320 while in a boat. Hats off to ya. I love a couple of things about this image. That one foot showing back by the tail and what looks like a small feather stuck to it's beak. The light is very soft and really compliments this image. Nice blurred background.

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

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on April 13, 2012 at 5:52 PM

Ron- this is just an amazing image. All the more remarkable by the fact you managed such great detail handheld at 1/320s. Just incredible.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on April 13, 2012 at 7:49 PM

You nailed it, pure and simple. I could load this comment up with hyperbole, but that will do. Congratulations—a high, high benchmark. Thanks for posting this!

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 13, 2012 at 8:58 PM

This sure shows how aerodynamic these kites are. Looks like a missile on a mission!
Nice perspective, your usual fine detail, and love the bit of snail in the beak!
Yet another terrific kite image -

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on April 13, 2012 at 10:50 PM

Lovely lighting and that bit of feather in the beak is great.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on April 14, 2012 at 3:02 AM

Superb, Ron. I hadn't known they carried the snail in just one foot, but I guess it's not likely to squirm away. The predawn light is excellent.

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

Comment posted by keith mitchell on April 14, 2012 at 3:48 AM

Ron i have looked at this amazing image it's just superb,how do you do it?

Keith.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on April 14, 2012 at 9:01 AM

Very impressive Ron, handheld too

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on April 14, 2012 at 12:31 PM

Perfection. Wonderful handling of the low light, amazing sharpness for that shutter speed.

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

Comment posted by John Robinson on April 14, 2012 at 3:37 PM

All been said- excellent !
JR

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on April 14, 2012 at 4:39 PM

Excellent catch, the light is wonderful.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on April 14, 2012 at 8:22 PM

Wow, Ron, You da Man! This is wonderful, as we've all come to expect from your flight imagery. Pose, sharpness, bg, prey...it doesn't get any better than this.

Registered on February 13, 2006, 166 Posts, 1818 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on April 15, 2012 at 12:24 PM

Nothing to add, just that I like it enormously and that all is spot on as far as I can tell ...

, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by David Schoen on April 15, 2012 at 1:49 PM

impressive!!!

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on April 15, 2012 at 8:19 PM

Very impressive shot, Ron!

That beak looks like the perfect tool to handle the meal, too. Excellent detail and color; the bird looks very intent on its task.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on April 17, 2012 at 9:42 AM

Rob, really nice tracking job for a 1/320 flight shot...not an easy thing to do! I love the colors with the low light also. As usual....another excellent Snail Kite shot.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on April 17, 2012 at 5:18 PM

Amazing for only 1/320 sec and yet still have sharpness and detail, way to go Ron.

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

Comment posted by Bill Maile on April 18, 2012 at 9:54 AM

Holy snail kite Ron!!! As was said, it's all been said. Amazing job!!

Registered on March 2, 2009, 984 Posts, 2518 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 18, 2012 at 10:17 AM

Congrats on a very well-deserved WP! You've been tantalizing us with these exceptional shots for weeks!
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Rick Diffley on April 18, 2012 at 5:26 PM

Very nice shot, hand-held even! Congrads on being selected for the WP!

Registered on April 8, 2012, 52 Posts, 279 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on April 19, 2012 at 10:13 AM

Congrats on the WP, Ron. I have been super busy and just got a chance to look at the series of Kites you have been posting. Just awesome.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Douglas Graham on April 19, 2012 at 2:18 PM

That really sucks Ron you should just send that take to me.......you dont want people seeing work like that. Nits are, its sharp as a tack, perfect exp and great BG and moment......yea its crap send'em my way and Ill hide them for you

Registered on May 14, 2009, 123 Posts, 522 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on April 21, 2012 at 12:29 AM

Ron,
Congrats on the WP. Well deserved. I'm inspired by your kite images recently. Well done!

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

Comment posted by Barry R. Byrd on May 6, 2012 at 7:13 PM

as good as it gets!

Registered on December 20, 2005, 136 Posts, 970 Comments