Curlew - All Fluffed Up.

Super; love everything about it.

Very sweet Jim.

Fantastic, Jim. Great head position and that light is sweet. Almost needs a cute alert.

EDIT: Spent a lot of time this past week-end shooting owls with 100-400 handheld. Really had a great time not thinking about my bad back! and enjoying the mobility. I'm going to have to try it with the 500/4.

Awwwwwwwwww sweet

Just beautiful, lovely light!

very sweet one! excellent pose , lighting, cropp!

I still don't get why you would even want to do shots like this handheld but I can't argue with your results - this is another fantastic shot!

Stunning capture Jim. Just awsome detail and lighting. Sure wish it were mine. I have yet to see one of these. Again congratulations.

Just beautiful, love it

E.J. Peiker wrote:I still don't get why you would even want to do shots like this handheld but I can't argue with your results - this is another fantastic shot!

Thanks E.J.,
The reasons for hand held are flexibility and mobility. I was on the beach with several other photogs the day this was taken. They each had a tripod with wimberly head, flash bracket, flash, camera bag, etc. On the tripod was a camera and either a 500 or 600 lens. A couple of them had second cameras with smaller lenses for doing hand held flight shots. I had my camera and 500 lens in a holster on a belt with both hands free and 1.4xTC and a couple of extra flash cards in my pocket. This is a total of about 11-12 pounds and the weight is on my waist. I'm not sure how much weight the others were carrying, but it was certainly very bulky and awkward for them to carry it very far. When we were on the beach, they tended to pick a spot near interesting subjects, and stay there for a while. I would stroll the beach following the birds.

The curlew was walking around and occasionaly flying around as people strolled on the beach and disturbed it. Hand holding allowed me to follow the bird when it moved and to do flight shots when it flew around. There were many other birds flying around and on the beach. I was shooting them as well. I could do things like sit down real low for a low angle shot, then jump up and grab a few flight shots of a bird flying by, then back down low for a low angle pose, etc. I could also move from place to place quickly and easily. You just can't do all that with a tripod.

Why use a tripod when it really isn't needed??

Cool shot Jim. Your point about mobility is right on target and I admire your technique.
Wish I could do the same with my 600 IS lens.
Rich.

Beautiful! I admire your work and looking forward to see more.

Nice, and handheld too!


Dj

Gorgeous, Jim. Unfortunately, I have no option but to use a tripod. Wish I had half the mobility you have.

Great feather detail on this. This rocks!


Terry

Stunning shot Jim!! a bit tight on the left...

A beauty

Nice to see the Curlew out of the pack. Great lighting and timing.

Hugh