Cattle Egret Lift Off

[Blake Shadle]

I had the opportunity to check out my Dad's Plant City rookery this Saturday. I can only think of one word to describe the place... amazing! There are so many nesting birds I was in a state of shock. We took Roberto Fabbri out on the Hooptie Duex (what a cool guy!) and he let me try his new Sigma APO 2X EX DG... I'm buying one this week! :D This image was made with the 2X.

Shooting Solution
Camera: Nikon D300
Lens: Sigma 500mm f/4.5 + Sigma 2X EX DG (1000mm)
Manual Exposure, 1/800 @ f/11, ISO 400
Mongoose M2.3 head on Gitzo 1410 legs

Thanks for looking!

Comments welcome and much appreciated :)

[Philip Lombard]

Excellent shot Blake. Super detail and BG.

[Harold Davis]

ooooooooohhh, wow!! that's nice! love everything about it!! do you still have AF with the 2x or manual?

[Blake Shadle]

Hi Harold, thanks :) With the 2X on the Sigma 500 f/4.5 you lose AF, and have to go manual.

[Freddy Franzella]

Nice one Blake! had these last year hard drive crash! well done!

[Maxis Gamez]

Hey Blake,

Love the head pose and amazing colors. The clipped wings are not working for me man... tough one!!

Go to Gatorland and you will get them ALL :)

Take care!

[Jay Tan]

This works well for me! I like the taking off pose and clipped wings here just create a more intimate perspective. Not sure if it's my display, but i think i see a little noise in the under lit belly..please ignore if it's juz me. :)

[Blake Shadle]

This works well for me! I like the taking off pose and clipped wings here just create a more intimate perspective. Not sure if it's my display, but i think i see a little noise in the under lit belly..please ignore if it's juz me. :)

Hi Jay, there's definitely a bit of noise under there, so it's not just you ;)