Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Landing, ICF 08

[Jason Hahn]

Hi folks, haven't posted in a long time thanks in part to the ICF contest and a zillion other projects over the past few months.

This is one of the images that I submitted as part of my portfolio in this years ICF Pro-tour. I had a family of three of these guys hunting over this field and after watching them a while I found one kept treturning to this same perch. I prefocused and waited to catch him as he came back in with a bug, as seen here.

1D MkIII w/500, 1/1600 sec, f/7.1@ ISO640

Jason

[Ramon M. Casares]

I know these type of birds and this shot is not an easy one, pose is great as it is sharpness, color and BG are amazing too, the insect in the bill is a big plus, I would've loved to have a better sight of the tail but it loks just great as presented! Congratulations!

[Daniel Cadieux]

Very cool Jason, hope you had fun during the ICF contest :-). I would selectively lighten the catchlight in the eye.

[Doug Brown]

Beautiful image Jason! Great flight pose, and the insect is a big plus. I'd darken the light green spot at the base of the tail feathers. Thanks for posting!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great pose, details, light and setting. A catchlight might add to the image but I'm not sure if it would look right.

[Robert O'Toole]

Nice moment and the pose looks very nice as does the nice soft light. The prey item is a big plus.

Congrats on your success.

Robert

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Wow this is awesome and the flight pose is great. I have seen these birds but never in flight. Excellent work Jason !!!

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

This is so impressive. :)

Would you think that the fact you prefocused got the shot over say trying to track with the camera?

[Raymond Barlow]

beautiful image, really well done., good technique!