1,000th post. YAY!

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

A proud moment for me. I shall celebrate with my favorite raptors I have ever encountered. The Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura). These are so gorgeous and watching the two eyasses grow from tiny white fluffballs to this size, which is adult size at this point, was a privilege. The weather and light were less than appealing this morning as it was misty, drizzly with the occasional shower. But I had the awesome opportunity to try out Canon's new big gun, the 800mm L. I was stunned. This image was created with a 30D, 800mm f/5.6L IS USM, 430EX and beamer, set at about +1, ISO800, f/5.6, 1/800th, -1/3 exposure comp. Tripod of course, though loose ballhead. Cropped by about 15-20% max.

Three weeks later the eyasses were out of the nest and pretty much gone. :(

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Congratulations on the milestone and thanks for your active participation on the forum! Great image to celebrate, I like the angle, soft light and details. I might clone out the leaves behind the bird on the left.

[Doug Brown]

It's great having you as an active member of BPN Akos. Congrats on 1000 posts! You did quite well with the 800; nice and sharp. I like the eye level view in this image. I agree with Axel about cloning out the vegetation behind the bird on the left.

[denise ippolito]

Akos, Big Congrats on the milestone! You've been a great contribution to different forums!! This is a great post for your 1000th!! Agree w/ above-Well done!

[Ramon M. Casares]

Congratulations my friend on a wonderfull and cute image and on ther milestone, I am glad to have met you thru BPN and I hope someday we can meet in person. Lovely image, light was dificlt to handle, but the rsult is stunning, great detail, colors, BG, poses, scene in general looks great. Congrats again!

[Randy Stout]

Akos:

A very nice milestone. I always appreciate your comments.

These are great looking birds. I suspect it was hard to give the 800 back (you did give it back, didn't you?)

Lovely background, sharp.

Cheers

Randy

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Thank you kindly for your constructive comments. Much appreciated. I may have a crack at that clone between the birds, I think that's what you meant. Correct?

It is wonderful to be a participant on the best forums in cyberspace for nature photography. A great place for learning and interacting with great people. :)

[Stu Bowie]

Congrats on your 1000th Akos. Well exposed with them sitting in the tree, and lovely feather detail captured too. I feel the one on the right could do with some selective sharpening over the wing and chest area. Still, an excellent image, and well captured Akos.

[Dan Brown]

Congrats on your 1000th Akos! Cool birds and BG!

[Arthur Morris]

Mazel tov on the 3000 posts (and the 19 since then). Way cool chicks, and way-sharp. EXP perfect as presented but I am confused to why the need for -1/3 stop in the soft lgiht.... The triple tree growing out of the front bird's head bugs me, but it looks as if you had moved to your right that the single grey branch would have then blocked the bird. Only answer would have been the laser branch cutter that I use.... You gotta be careful though not to hit the birds with the laser as it is powerful!

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Mazel tov on the 3000 posts (and the 19 since then). Way cool chicks, and way-sharp. EXP perfect as presented but I am confused to why the need for -1/3 stop in the soft lgiht.... The triple tree growing out of the front bird's head bugs me, but it looks as if you had moved to your right that the single grey branch would have then blocked the bird. Only answer would have been the laser branch cutter that I use.... You gotta be careful though not to hit the birds with the laser as it is powerful!

I am missing something as I have no clue what mazel tov is! Sorry. :(

Thanks Artie, 1,000 posts only so far mate, but I'll slowly get there to the 3,000 mark. Never you worry! :)

Don't ask me why the -1/3. No clue, hence why I am an amateur. But I do religiously check histogram since then and it's only been a few months really. Wish I was smarter sooner. I perfectly understand what you are saying about the step to the right, however, unfortunately there was only one or two semi-decent spots on the side of the gully for setting up (with a good view of the nest and as level with it as possible) where there was not a tree in between us and the nest.

Thanks for your comments. :)

[Arthur Morris]

Mazel tov is Yiddish for congratulations. (Good luck, usually said as a statement of support or congratulations.)

The 3,000 was a brain-typo.

For more than clues on digital expsoure and histograms, see "Exposure Simplifed" in ABP II (on CD only).

You did not "perfectly understand" what I was saying about moving to the right. Please go back an re-read what I wrote

[Daniel Cadieux]

Congrats on 1000 Akos!! You're participation has been appreciated and enjoyed here on BPN. Thanks for sharing these beautiful youngsters to celebrate your milestone :-)

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Thanks Daniel. :)

Thanks for the language lesson, just learned that! About the sticks comment; Artie, I am a poor reader. Sorry. :( I do hear ya!

[Fabs Forns]

Congratulation on your milestone, very much appreciated and your contributions very much enjoyed :)