Henry up close

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

My old mate Henry. What can I say? My most incredible privilege since I started to photograph birds nearly five years ago (seriously). He is just awesome and for me to be able to be a mere five meters from him, just leaves me breathless. I wish he were looking at me though, that's about my biggest crit here. :( But, I still admire this dad. His two young fledged yesterday and I was watching them at sunset flying around, close to the nest hollow. Simply awesome! :) Thanks for looking.

30D, 300/4L IS and 1.4x + 2x, ISO400, f/16, 1/400th, +1EC, FULL FRAME!!!!

[Kiran Poonacha]

Thats some close up bhai... loved the details...

How you doing bhai?

[denise ippolito]

FF-Fantastic! I love the sharp details and crystal clear eye!

[Ken Watkins]

Your stick has certainly come up trumps for this image and the others, I really find it hard to believe this is full frame.

Clearly Henry is a very amenable chap;)

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Bro, Hi Henry. Classic close up, and I like your framing here. Good detail too. Well captured mate.

[Pieter de Waal]

Akos excellent profile it almost looks as if he recognises you. I see you have used stacked converters with what must have been manual focus, that makes the sharpness and detail obtained here even more impressive.

[Lorant Voros]

I am just enjoying this series so much. Your techs are great, detail is amazing and I love the eye.

[Mark Young]

This is such a stunning image Akos! Great to see these birds so up close like this. I can see why you're so stoked with it.

[Chris Martinez]

It's great that you can make the most of the opportunity while it lasts. A special time indeed.
Henry looks a tad on the tired side. Not a criticism just an observation(the look in his eye) I guess he's working very hard at the moment bringing up the youngsters.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

It's great that you can make the most of the opportunity while it lasts. A special time indeed.
Henry looks a tad on the tired side. Not a criticism just an observation(the look in his eye) I guess he's working very hard at the moment bringing up the youngsters.

Thanks Chris (and everyone else taking time to comment).
I have not seen the adult female for nearly three weeks. Not at all. It all clicked today while I was observing the two youngsters on the nest tree as they had fledged early in the week. I used to see the adult female, but three Saturdays ago was the last time. So Henry indeed has been working hard if she had disappeared. Now that I think of it, that may also explain his tolerance towards me, being too busy trying to feed the young to worry about me. I will not bother him anymore then. It just would not be fair to him to worry about me and about feeding and now teaching the offspring the ropes.

[Chris Martinez]

That would be a shame if the female has died. Perhaps she just doesn't want to come out of the hollow???

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

That has crossed my mind. Many raptors may raise more than one clutch in a season if conditions are favorable. The two youngsters have been screaming to be free for a week or so, finally leaving the hollow. I will enquire with a couple of research scientist contacts about that possibility. I am just not 100% if she'd be already on more eggs with two young ready to fledge still in the nest hollow. In any case, will keep my eyes peeled and report back. :)

[Ben_Sadd]

Great image, especially given the stacked converters. Are they off-brand, or did you separate them with an extension tube?

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Thanks Ben.
They are Canon EF L converters. 2x goes on lens, then 1.4x connects camera to 2x. They fit perfectly; I think you needed and extension tube with the older converters, mine are MkII. :)

[Ben_Sadd]

Thanks. I just re-read one of the posts concerning stacking and see that it is just two 1.4x that can't be put together.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Again...stacked TL's...
Very nice portrait of this wonder avian subject. I am especially happy to see that this is a full frame image! better to compose on camera when possible of course! :p