Whitetail Kite

[Conrad Tan]

Taken at Half Moon Bay, CA


Camera Make = Canon
Camera Model = Canon EOS-1D X
Exposure Time (1 / Shutter Speed) = 1/1600 second
Lens F-Number / F-Stop =ƒ/4
Exposure Program = manual control
ISO Speed Ratings = 100
Exposure Bias (EV) = 0
Metering Mode = pattern / multi-segment
Flash = Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length = 600 mm

[Jim Neiger]

Sweet! I love the lookback, fanned tail, and bg. Well done! Were you really at ISO 100? If so, why? Must be ISO 1000.

[Conrad Tan]

Sweet! I love the lookback, fanned tail, and bg. Well done! Were you really at ISO 100? If so, why?

Thanks Jim!! Yes ISO 100, way too much light! LOL

[Jim Neiger]

Thanks Jim!! Yes ISO 100, way too much light! LOL

Thats pretty crazy. With the 1DX, I would never go below ISO 400 for BIF. Maybe F5.6, 1/3200, ISO 400. How much crop?

[Bonnie Block]

Very cool, Conrad. You have me thinking I need to come south one of these days! Great shot!

[Conrad Tan]

Thats pretty crazy. With the 1DX, I would never go below ISO 400 for BIF. Maybe F5.6, 1/3200, ISO 400. How much crop?

Haha! Yes it was a very clear and bright afternoon. Curious, why would you never go under ISO 400 for BIF Jim? And its a 50% crop by the way.

[Conrad Tan]

Very cool, Conrad. You have me thinking I need to come south one of these days! Great shot!

Whenever you're ready for too much Whitetail Kite action, you let me know Bonnie!!!

[Jim Neiger]

Haha! Yes it was a very clear and bright afternoon. Curious, why would you never go under ISO 400 for BIF Jim? And its a 50% crop by the way.

1DX is more than clean enough at ISO 400, so I would use the extra 2 stops to add a bit of depth and shutter speed. If the bird was larger in the frame, it would be easy to catch a wing with the AF and the head may be slightly soft. Adding a stop of DOF improves your odds of getting the critical parts of the subject sharp. Adding shuuter speed helps you when the action is fast relative to you. A bird coming directly at you with a tailwind for example. Another example for each point above is when you have two birds. Then you need more DOF and if they are moving in opposite directions or one moving and one still, you need faster shutter speed. Regardless of the settings used, you made a sweet image.

[Conrad Tan]

1DX is more than clean enough at ISO 400, so I would use the extra 2 stops to add a bit of depth and shutter speed. If the bird was larger in the frame, it would be easy to catch a wing with the AF and the head may be slightly soft. Adding a stop of DOF improves your odds of getting the critical parts of the subject sharp. Adding shuuter speed helps you when the action is fast relative to you. A bird coming directly at you with a tailwind for example. Another example for each point above is when you have two birds. Then you need more DOF and if they are moving in opposite directions or one moving and one still, you need faster shutter speed. Regardless of the settings used, you made a sweet image.

Tips from a master... I'm honored brother! I hope to shoot with you again soon man!

[Jim Neiger]

I'll be in SoCal in July. Maybe I will swing up your way and hang out with you and Arash. You coming to Florida this year?

[Conrad Tan]

I'll be in SoCal in July. Maybe I will swing up your way and hang out with you and Arash. You coming to Florida this year?

July is good for some whitetail food exchange shots between male and female birds! Let Arash and I know man! I hope to come to FL but I've got a trip to TX and Minnesota coming up for some other bird action. Man... I wish I had unlimited time to shoot. LOL I will let you know when I free up a weekend bro!

[Robert Holguin]

Wonderful shot.
I really like the wing position and head angle, wonderful background, and great comp.
Well done.

[Conrad Tan]

Wonderful shot.
I really like the wing position and head angle, wonderful background, and great comp.
Well done.

Thank you sir!

[dankearl]

Spectacular!
Light, angle, details and BG are first rate.

[Conrad Tan]

Spectacular!
Light, angle, details and BG are first rate.

Thank you Dan!!

[arash_hazeghi]

Sweet shot Conrad!

I agree why risk it when you have the 1DX, crank up that su***!

It would be cool if three of us can shoot soon. I hope the raptors stick around.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Conrad, lovely light, and I like the inflight pose with the extended wing. Great eye, and if anything, I would move the kite back to the left a touch more. Killer BG.

[Conrad Tan]

Sweet shot Conrad!

I agree why risk it when you have the 1DX, crank up that su***!

It would be cool if three of us can shoot soon. I hope the raptors stick around.

Haha! I know I know, I am just fearful of noise coming from the 7D for so many many years LOL LOL LOL Come out to Coyote Valley in Morgan Hill Arash, the Ferruginous won't be around much longer.

[Conrad Tan]

Hi Conrad, lovely light, and I like the inflight pose with the extended wing. Great eye, and if anything, I would move the kite back to the left a touch more. Killer BG.

I know! I wish the eye was in the light too!

[arash_hazeghi]

Haha! I know I know, I am just fearful of noise coming from the 7D for so many many years LOL LOL LOL Come out to Coyote Valley in Morgan Hill Arash, the Ferruginous won't be around much longer.

maybe tomorrow

[Karl Egressy]

Striking image Conrad. I love the wing stretch, fanned tail and looking back over the wing. Excellent feather details.