Moon Take-off

[Hendri Venter]

Knowing exactly what time and more or less where the moon would rise that day I was driving around looking for an animal on the horizon to use as a subject when I came across this Tawny Eagle on a Sociable Weavers nest in perfect light. When the moon appeared over the horizon I positioned myself and waited for it to be directly behind the eagle. Got a few portraits and then suddenly it decided to fly away and I got a sequence of four shots. This one is the third of the sequence. Full frame top to bottom.

Canon 1D MK IV
Canon 600mm F4 IS
ISO 800
F6.3
1/1600
+.3 EC
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

[Morkel Erasmus]

Hendri this is one amazing shot...having seen it at smaller resolution it comes so much more into its own at higher resolution...awesome light, IQ and framing (especially since it's FF).

Enter this into competitions this year!

[Chad Caswell]

Great head turn, and what a bkg! Great work on your research. Little more room on the top :)

Chad

[Randy Stout]

Hendri:

Excellent example of having a concept and working it through to fruition.

Lovely light, well exposed, moon adds a lot. Nice full spread pose.

Might add a sliver of canvas to top.

It might have been interesting to take an in focus shot of the moon after the bird left, and composite that back into this one to give sharp bird and sharp moon.

"I love it when a plan comes together"

Randy

[Chris Martinez]

Seriously cool!

You certainly pushed the button at the right time. The pose is fantastic. The head tilt really adds to it.
I'd also add a little canvas up top.

[Humberto Ramos]

For me its just great, everything in place...

[jack williamson]

Hendri, the light is wonderful and I agree with a little more room at the top. I sure would love to see this

with that moon in focus.

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Lovely. An example of what planning can achieve.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

[Dumay de Boulle]

What awesome light Hendri...I think you planning and patience in this image has really paid off...Great stuff!

[Stu Bowie]

Sweet, sweet light mate, and just love the eye contact. Did I mention perfect timing too. :)

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Hendri, this is excellent...well thought out and executed. You must have skipped a heart beat when it decided to take off in such perfect angle w.r.t you.

[RAM MALLYA]

Simply superb shot here really feels like its flying off the moon . Perfect lighting and eye contact and loved the angle of flight too

[Doug Brown]

It's always gratifying to see a shot evolve from concept to final image. Well executed! I'd like to see a bit more canvas up top.

[James Salywoda]

Awesome! Beautiful light and the composition is outstanding well done Hendri....

[Hendri Venter]

Thank you very much for th kind comments everyone. It is highly appreciated.

[Chris Kotze]

Superbly captured well timed and excellent light