White Tailed Kite in-flight

[Conrad Tan]

• Location - Don Edwards Wildlife Preserve, Alviso, CA
  

• I observed the female fly repeatedly back to a spot to gather hay for her nest so I waited for about a half hour for her to fly back. I hid behind a tree and took a couple shots before she flew back :D

• Original shot - just usual post processing and resized for post

• High winds and bright sun - 4 or 5 PM
  

• Camera Type and Model: Canon 7D
  

• Lens Focal Length and Model: Canon 400mm f/5.6
  

• ISO, Metering Mode, Shutter Mode: ISO 640, Spot metering, Shutter Priority
  

• Exposure Compensation: +1
  

• Shutter Speed, Aperture: f/7.1 at 1/1250s
  

• Focus Mode: AI Servo set to the "+" shaped center AF group

Thanks for looking everyone! This gal rewarded me for my efforts hiding behind that tree till my legs fell asleep! ;)

[Martin Wallis]

awesome shot, I love the exposure and incoming angle. well done

[Conrad Tan]

awesome shot, I love the exposure and incoming angle. well done

Thank you kindly Martin! I wish I could have had a better background.

[niranjan sant]

beautiful shot with nice details in whites and intemidating pose

[Conrad Tan]

beautiful shot with nice details in whites and intemidating pose

Thank you very much niranjan! Much appreciated! :D

[Markus Jais]

Great flight shot with perfect exposure, great wing pose and wonderful sharpness.

Markus

[Conrad Tan]

Great flight shot with perfect exposure, great wing pose and wonderful sharpness.

Markus

Thank you Markus. I just started using spot metering on white birds and found that it has helped my photography immensely! :D

[Bonnie Block]

Excellent, Conrad.
Great angle, eye contact and exposure--and oh, it is sharp too!!! :)

[Fabs Forns]

Very well done, Conrad, and it was worth your effort.
Thanks for including the circumstances as well as the techs. It helps us be there with you at the moment :)

[Roger Clark]

Conrad,
Beautiful feather detail and very sharp. Great image! I think the shadow on the eye is a little dark, so I would select the shadow part of the eye and lighten it.

Roger

[christopher galeski]

magic shot Conrad,good detail in the whites,nice and sharp,beautiful bird.thanks.