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Absolutely stunning photos Touareg Please keep them coming

While driving through the 14de Boorgat Loop we stopped next to this Booted Eagle and had to wait nearly 30 minutes before it took off. This was only our second decent sighting of the Booted Eagle.

Model: NIKON D4
Lens (mm): 1000
ISO: 800
Aperture: 6.7
Shutter: 1/3200
Exp. Comp.: -0.7


Dec '12 KTP FB 032 by cooper5022, on Flickr

Early morning after a severe thunderstorm the previous night, there were water puddles everywhere and the all the birds took advantage off the sweet rain water. Here a Tawney Eagles explodes out the water towards some doves. I am not sure if it was just leaving the puddle or trying its luck.

Camera Nikon D4
Exposure 1/2500 sec
Aperture f/8.0
Focal Length 850 mm
ISO Speed 800
Exposure Bias -2/3 EV


KTP Dec '12 flickr 034 by cooper5022, on Flickr

superb
seems the claws are a bit contracted... maybe was ready to catch

Here is a lifer for me in the Black Kite which we saw and photographed at Lijers draai just south of Grootkolk. The light wasn't ideal but I am pleased with the result.

Camera Nikon D4
Exposure 1/5000 sec
Aperture f/8.0
Focal Length 600 mm
ISO Speed 800
Exposure Bias -2/3 EV


KTP Dec '12 flickr 048 by cooper5022, on Flickr

Here is an amusing image of a Pale Chanting Goshawk I should title "The morning after". It rained all night and we found this guy it was sat on the branch in the early morning light. I hope the settings I am including is assisting someone. Please ask if you need some explanations.

Camera Nikon D4
Exposure 0.001 sec (1/1250)
Aperture f/10.0
Focal Length 600 mm
ISO Speed 400
Exposure Bias -2/3 EV


KTP Dec '12 flickr 033 by cooper5022, on Flickr

could be also a "greeting"
nice picture
the settings is very useful and thank for the proposition... now I learn, then...

Thanks for sharing these wonderful photos and also for including the settings.

Awesome photos once again Touareg...but I have a question for you. How do you know that this is a Black Kite ??? I am not questioning your ID at all it is just that evey time I have thought I have captured a Black Kite it has been thrown out as a juvenile Yellow-billed Kite....especially the ones I saw in the KTP....
I can't seem to see any real differences between the two.....

Michele. Guess I will have to ask Trevor :-)

Oh okay...
I also noticed that you are using F8- F10..any particular reason for that
Is it the use of extenders that dictate that or do feel you are getting sharper shots at those F-stops. Or are you looking for more depth of field eg bird head and wings in focus...... I have being using smaller F stops as well lately..just wondering what your thoughts are...
Thx

Michele. With the 600mm lens @ F/4.0 and subject at 20m my DoF is only 28.07cm. From the focus point it is 13.094 cm in front and 14.13cm behind the focus point. So anything with a tail and or long beak will have some of the image out of focus if it is facing you. In addition it is stated that your sharpest images are generally at around f/8.0. When I put on the 1.7 extender I go from F/4.0 to f/6.7 and my focal distance goes up to 1000mm which drops my total DoF to 16.66 cm at 20 meters. So only at f/11 I am back to 28.01 cm.

A long winded answer to say that in most cases I am going for a subject that is in focus head to tail. Not that I always succeed and in some instances the situation will dictate what is required.

Thanks Touareg...okay so my thoughts on F8/F11 are pretty much along the same lines as yours...I would just not be able to explain it as well as you did though. So I guess I am on the right track....
Thanks for taking the time to answer my question...

Here is an image of a White Fronted Bee-eater shot in Botswana in 2012. It was an extremely hot afternoon as you can see by its reaction.

Camera Canon EOS-1D X
Exposure 1/3200 sec
Aperture f/8.0
Focal Length 700 mm
ISO Speed 800
Exposure Bias 0 EV


FLickr Chobe images 003seqn} by cooper5022, on Flickr

A Giant Kingfisher exploding from the Chobe river.

Camera Canon EOS-1D X
Exposure 1/2500 sec
Aperture f/8.0
Focal Length 500 mm
ISO Speed 1250
Exposure Bias 0 EV



FLickr Chobe images 002seqn} by cooper5022, on Flickr