ISO 1600-- 1200mm Flight Photography in the Dark

This incoming Roseate Spoonbill image was created at Alafia Banks on the Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux IPT on the rain-soaked Thursday morning Hooptie trip with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 2x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera. ISO 1600: 1/800 sec. at f/8 in Manual Mode; exposure previously confirmed on resting spoonbills via histogram check.
Central sensor (by necessity) Expand/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF on the bird’s neck active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial.
If you want spoonbills you need to get yourself on the Hooptie Deux with James Shadle. Canon users cannot beat the 600II/2XIII TC combo for reach (with phase detection AF).

For tips on flight photography with f/4 super-telephotos, 2 additional images, and contact info for a Hooptie trip, click here.

As for the image, don't be shy; all comments are welcome.

It has a misterious dreamy impression as it comes out of the dark background. I really like this kind of images.

Wow! I like the image with bird standing out nicely from the dark BG..nice wing position, eye contact and thanks for sharing wealth of information on your blog...not sure about exposure on neck and beak looks little hot as my screen but then it is not calibrated...

A stunner, Arthur. I have become a ardent admirer of your rear focus technique. My results have jumped by several notches now.

That has always been one of my favorite things about Alafia...those dark backgrounds. Throw in
a spoonbill and its a match made in heaven.

Doug

Very nice against the dark background.

Always impressed to see such fine shots at such extreme focal lengths, nicely done Arthur, love the light through the wings...but confess to not being quite so fond of the extra dark patch= would of liked just the uniform green

Beauty of an image Artie, plus appreciate the information on techs. Very informative and useful!

Excellent flight shot.

Nice one against the darker BG, making it looks like it is glowing.

Lovely flight pose, esp the upturned wingtips. The light spoonie against the darker BG is very appealing. I am seeing a slight halo effect above the upper right part of the bird.