Grabbing a bite

[dave v]

From Mississippi Lock and Dam 18.

http://davev.smugmug.com/photos/468854105_WwUU2-XL.jpg

[Colin Knight]

Can you post some exif? Nice shot! Composition is right on, he has room to fly into. Looks like you nailed the focus and exposure too. Doesn't get much better.

Did he miss his prey or did you miss the subsequent shot?

Colin

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great capture of this moment. I like the pose and details. It is a bit large, images are not supposed to be longer than 1024 pixels, this is 1200. Please post the techs, since it makes commenting easier. The shadows look a bit noisy, was the RAW underexposed?

[John Blumenkamp]

Great moment captured... makes me wonder what happened next. Would like to see the specs/exif on this one too. Hope to see more.

[dave v]

Size reduced.

Thanks guys.
This was shot with a Canon 5DMKII, using a Canon 300 F2.8 lens with a Canon 2X tc handheld.
The I.S. was on in mode 1.
It was shot as a large fine JPG, ISO 400, f8, 1/1600 of a second, EV -1/3.

This (first shot) is quite a large crop of a, if anything, slightly overexposed shot.
I ran it through CS3's Camera Raw, then a little more touch up in CS3.

It didn't miss the prey, nor did I miss the next 5 shots.
I took about 1100 shots that day, and although I was never close to filling the frame with the subject,
I think I had a pretty good day.

Don't know if I'm allowed to do this or not, but this is a 100% crop of the next frame.
http://davev.smugmug.com/photos/469460929_yd33a-XL.jpg

[susanschermer]

Amazing it's so sharp with a 2X and you were able to capture action with it on. I find it slows down focus and it's so hard to find the target. You must have known exactly where he was going to touch the water. I find the first post so much better than the second and the tight crop. The position on the first post is great with the talons just touching and the body angled.

[dave v]

Thanks Sue.

If anybody is so inclined, I have around 50 shots from this day here: LINK (http://davev.smugmug.com/gallery/7244092_xdmw8#465467190_utbCV)

If you go, please leave a comment there or here about something you like, or dislike.
Thanks.

[stuart wanuck]

BRING THOSE SUCKERS TO FLORIDA GREAT IMAGES