White Tailed Kite in a Sea of Green

[Doug Brown]

From my just-completed trip to California, here's another WTK image. One of my favorites!

78954

Canon 1D Mark IV, 600mm + 1.4x, f/5.6, 1/2000, ISO 800, manual exposure, hand held

[Katie Rupp]

Hi Doug,
This is such a beautiful bird, a graceful pose and I love that seductive look she's (he?) giving you. Detail looks great, sharpness and lovely bg, it's all there. Another great BIF.
Regards,
Katie

[Scott Frye]

Orange eye is an attention getter - I might crop some from the right (about half the distance fromt he edge to the wing) -- just to see what it might look like -- very nice BIF

[Arthur Morris]

Like the image design, the perfect EXP, the bright eye, and the head turn. I'd love to see this with just a bit off of the top and bottom.

Hey Doug, Any ideas on a place to have lunch on Thanksgiving in south ABQ or anywhere south of that? The Stage Door Grill is closed, and Luna Mansion re-opened but is closed for the holiday. I am looking for something nice for 15-20 folks...

[Alan Murphy]

Hey Doug,

Love the pose on this one and the BG is killer.

[Dan Brown]

Great shot Doug!:)

P.S. thanks for lunch!

[Desmond Chan]

Errr...I also like the pose and the background...beautiful bird...but...contrary to what other said about the good details and sharpness, most of the bird itself looks soft on my monitor. I mean, I could be wrong but, it looks like the DOF does not cover the entire bird. The eyes look sharp and in focus, but the talons don't appear to be so to me...so, is it my eyes or my monitor??

[Doug Brown]

it looks like the DOF does not cover the entire bird. The eyes look sharp and in focus, but the talons don't appear to be so to me...so, is it my eyes or my monitor??

Hey Desmond. This image was shot wide open. I was trying to maximize shutter speed to keep the ISO down. Also, adult Kites have very little feather detail in their bodies. That said, I wouldn't call this the sharpest photo I took in California. But IMO it's sharp enough; the image for me is about the pose, eye contact, and beautiful green BG. :)

[Desmond Chan]

Hey Desmond. This image was shot wide open. I was trying to maximize shutter speed to keep the ISO down. Also, adult Kites have very little feather detail in their bodies. That said, I wouldn't call this the sharpest photo I took in California. But IMO it's sharp enough; the image for me is about the pose, eye contact, and beautiful green BG. :)

Thanks for the reply Doug ! Have to say I'm happy to know my eyes still work OK :)

[Joerg Rockenberger]

I love the pose, stare, background and exposure. Just wish the kite was located a bit higher in the frame. And I do agree with Desmond that large parts of the bird seem to be OOF due to limited DOF and/or shutter speed. That being said I still think that it works very nicely. JR

[Stu Bowie]

Good hovering pose Doug, and I like the show of the red eye. Stands out nicely against the darker BG. This guy looks very similar to our black shouldered Kite.

[James Salywoda]

Awesome! I really like the Kites position towards you and that BG is sweet very nice Doug.

[Haim Ziv]

I really love pictures like that and I wish to have more successes like this with my M IV

[Peter Hawrylyshyn]

amazed you can hand hold a Mk4 with a 600mm+1.4x and still get a winner

[Doug Brown]

Thanks everyone!

[Kiran Poonacha]

nice looking bird Doug bhai, very similar to our black shouldered kite. loved the eye contact and the BG

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks everyone!

YAW. You missed my question in Pane #4 :)

[Doug Brown]

Working on it Artie. I'll call you.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Doug. I figgered if you don't know nobody would...