White Tail Kite with Vole

[Conrad Tan]

Photographed in San Jose, CA a few days ago in some poor lighting conditions. Camera Make = Canon Camera Model = Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Exposure Time (1 / Shutter Speed) = 1/2000 second Lens F-Number / F-Stop = ƒ/5.6 Exposure Program = shutter priority (4) ISO Speed Ratings = 400 Exposure Bias (EV) = 0 Distance to Subject = 457/10 m Metering Mode = pattern / multi-segment Flash = Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode Focal Length = 700 mm

[dankearl]

This is just beautiful.
I love the angle and eye contact.
Very nice.

[gail bisson]

Hi Conrad,
This is lovely. terrific eye contact and great diagonal wingspread. The prey is an added bonus and I like upswing in the tail. Gorgeous BG. I like the red eye and the bit of red blood on the vole-adds a small but dramatic touch.
I had to chuckle when you said poor light yet your ISO is only 400 and SS 1/2000! California light and Nova Scotia light are two different beasts!! Poor light in NS means an ISO of 1600 and a SS of 1/1000!!
Gail

[Melissa Groo]

Fantastic, Conrad. Love the angle, prey, eyes and BG. So cool to have those soft colors but for the pop of the red of the eyes and the red of the blood. Really a super capture. Looks like that low light served you well!

[Melissa Groo]

PS. Wish you had a thumbnail for this! Oh wait just realized you can't cause you're not a member.

[jack williamson]

Poor light or not, this is a fantastic image! The bird is beautiful and the vole is a plus. I like the colors in the BG.

Jack

[arash_hazeghi]

man this is awesome love the details and pose, not to mention the vole. it just needs a bit more space

winner

[Frank Schauf]

Great pose and setting you have here.

[arash_hazeghi]

shame this photo got only 7 comments, I know how tough it is to get something like this!

[dankearl]

I am with you Arash, maybe a bump will give this some more views.
A top notch photo.