BB4A

I stepped outside and into my back yard just before dusk this evening, with the intention of taking a few detailed photographs of the disappearing snow, the last of the leaves still stuck to my oak trees, and the buds starting to swell on my maples. That was the idea, anyway.

However, I started by nearly stepping on a rabbit, who then engaged 6th gear and did it's best to leave the zipcode.

Once my heart started beating again... I managed to squeeze off two shots, before the bunny cleared the neighbors fence and disappeared under some spruce trees. Unfortunately, I had the camera set in single shot silent mode, and my 100-400mm zoom locked at 400mm (I was expecting to take some longer range, detailed shots of those leaves and buds).

However, as mentioned in my post about long lenses and short grips (http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-513887-1.html), I was fortunately in British 2 point sling stance with my left hand holding the short foregrip, as I stepped outside, so I was able to draw, acquire my TOO (Target Of Opportunity), and capture those two full-sighted shots (middle of the frame) within the estimated 2 seconds the rabbit was shootable (time taken for the rabbit to clear the 3 meters minimum focus of the lens and round the corner of the neighbors fence).

The evidence suggests that turbocharged bunnies are mainly built out of springs and run on top fuel... I was surprised to see how high off the ground the rabbit was in these two pics. I was also interested to note that, although the rabbit was heading due East, he was doing his best to leave his long evening shadow well behind!

(Download)


(Download)

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

Xcellent. Job🤣🤣😋

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Wow, two very well executed shots. I noticed you shot the bunny at the top of his arc when he can’t change speed or direction, nice work.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Yea, but when they hit the ground they can change on a dime!

BB4A

Thanks, my Father taught me well. I come from a poor family, but we were fortunate to be granted rabbit shooting rights over many acres. I preferred to stalk them with a high powered air rifle late in the evening, but I was fairly handy with a 410, too... If at the end of the week I had 9 rabbits from 10 cartridges, I would expect a stern lecture about the evils of ammunition wastage.

Nowadays I'm fat and happy, and have no inclination to look for them with a long gun rather than a camera. I prefer to see Fat Albert (my friendly red-tailed hawk) "eating good in the neighborhood".

14kphotog Loc: Marietta, Ohio

Naa, only needs 2 cents and will give you a dime back. We used to have a bunny round up in a field behind my house. 2 of us on dirt bikes would round them up and push them over to a fence, and we had a sucker lay down at the fence corner with a fish net. As the herd of bunnys came to the corner, try to net one. If he was good he could net one as it went by. Figure 2 pound bunny going 35 miles an hour hits a net, Ha,Ha it would nearly dislocate an arm. There would be 40 to 50 bunnys in the mowed field every night. Got so if they heard a bike start, they would scatter.

BB4A

Not sure if that’s sporting... but it certainly sounds like it would be fun to watch? 😉

Swamp-Cork Loc: Lanexa, Virginia

Great set!

crafterwantabe Loc: Mn

Fantastic pictures...

BB4A

Thanks all, for your kind words.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

You did great. Especially for being in single shot mode. Fine job.

BB4A

Thanks!

And... that’s why I submitted the downloads, so those who like to check EXIF can ensure that my statement matched the photographic evidence:
1. Both shots were in sequence and I’m showing the 2 out of 2 taken in the time and space available
2. The time stamps synchronize, and the actual time duration between shots (= minimum speed of target)
3. The settings on the camera body and lens, when the shots were taken... single shot silent mode is a little slow for my trigger fingers liking, but “I did the best I could with what I had, in the time available to me”
4. The focus in both shots was on the head of the target... after all these years, a “meat eating shot” is apparently still second nature to me?

Tikva Loc: Waukesha, WI

Excellent photos. Bunnies are so cute. At one time I wanted one as a pet, but my cat suits that purpose very well.

BB4A

Yes, they are cute... but they aren’t quite so cute, when they start chewing up all those expensive plants. 😱