Maximum Coop!

[Doug Brown]

This is another image from my weekend with Alan Murphy in his raptor blind, where we used techniques from his new book to attract a steady stream of migrating hawks. When you see a Cooper's Hawk starting to bank through your viewfinder, you cross your fingers in the hopes that you captured the moment. I was happy with this frame! A heavy emphasis needs to be place on shutter speed for action like this.

120336

Canon 1D Mark IV, 300mm, f/4.5, 1/4000, ISO 400, manual exposure, hand held


<iframe width="468" height="60" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="http://mer54715.datafeedfile.com/widget/aff_widget_prdt_generate-2.0.php?aff_num=10536&aff_net=1&widget_num=1648"><p>Sorry your browser does not support iFrame</p></iframe>

[Daniel Cadieux]

There is not much I can say here except that this is a fantastic image!! The title is perfect, I don't think you can have a bigger wing and tail spread than this...

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Doug, the light has brought out the feather detail so well, and of course, the banking angle is simply superb. Did I mention how sharp this is. Very well captured.

[Joe Senzatimore]

Don't get much better then this. WOW.

[arash_hazeghi]

you did very well Doug!

[annmpacheco]

MASTERPIECE, BRAVO!!!

[Karl Egressy]

Fantastic flight shot, Doug. Everything looks perfect.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

incredible shot, Doug. just incredible.

1Dx should come in very handy in these situations...with those extra frames per second. now that it focusses at f/8, r u going to get one?

[Jim Crosswell]

Excellent image Doug!

[dankearl]

Hard to even comment about how good this is.
An absolute ideal pose, it couldn't get better. If the BG was something other than sky, this would be
the shot of a lifetime.

[John Cooper]

Simply superb Doug - talk about full-extension..!!

[Andrew Merwin]

Superlative image!

[Doug Brown]

incredible shot, Doug. just incredible.

1Dx should come in very handy in these situations...with those extra frames per second. now that it focusses at f/8, r u going to get one?

Thanks Kaustubh! I'm going to pass on the 1Dx. While I love the frame rate and AF it just doesn't have enough pixel density, so I"m going to wait for the next 1-series body. I've got a 1D4 and a 5D3, so the wait shouldn't be too painful. :w3

[Randy Stout]

Doug:

A beautiful banking pose with great feather display, and I really like how some of the coverts are lifted as he is stalling out in the bank.

Cheers''

Randy

[Frank Schauf]

Really nice flight shot and great details.

[Shreyas Mantri]

This is just beautiful! Totally enjoyed it.
TFS

[Melvin Grey]

You really nailed this one Doug. I don't think you could have got a better pose - oh! and quality and sharpness up to your usual standard!!! Interesting comment on the 1Dx.