gessman Loc: Colorado

#1 and #2 were shot handheld with a Canon EOS 20D, AV, EOS 400mm f5.6 prime lens, and shot at f5.6 & 1/500 while #3 was shot at f5.6 & 1/1000

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

Jeeze, g-man, your eagle looks just like mine... except more in focus..That was handheld with a 400mm monster? How much can you bench press, godzilla? :) LOL

Bald Eagle

gessman Loc: Colorado

Nice eagle shot! Don't know about you but they're not all that plentiful around here. They have a flyaway along the front range of the Rockies by which they migrate but they don't hang around very long - except the few that nest around some of the lakes here.

About the only bench press I'm into at my age is my fork when it's full. Mine is not the honkin' 400 IS - it's not much bigger, if any, than the 70-200 but it is one of the sharpest lens Canon has ever made. It is L glass. You can see a comparison of it and the 70-200 and other lens on Luminous Landscape. It's a really sharp lens under the right circumstances. Handheld, not so much especially in my hands. It will wave around on you if you don't get that shutter release pressed right away.

I've attached another bluebird shot. I like bluebirds a lot 'cause they indicate we're headed for better weather around here. I like this particular bird shot a lot because of the complimentary colors behind the bird and I can't speak Japanese so I can't say bokeh but I can say blurred background or narrow depth of field.

EOS 20D EOS 400mm f5.6 prime, AV, f5.6 @ 1/500th, iso100. Range was about 80 - 100 yards

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

I'm curious - how much did you have to crop the eagle? My guy lives in a dead tree across the river, and it's a good 200 yards from the nearest I can get to him. My 1-4 does a fair job in good light on a tripod but I still end up tossing a bunch out because my focusing skills are not up to snuff.

gessman Loc: Colorado

I was only about 100 yds from my guy and all I basically did was crop some confusing debris out of the scene. I read Luminous Landscapes comparison of the 1-4 and my 4 and went with the 4 due to the relative sharpness. Haven't regretted that decision. I, too, have some manual focusing deficit issues so I mostly let it auto-focus and hold the button down and re-compose. It works pretty good for me. With the 20D I most always shoot @ iso100.

Cat Loc: Martinsburg West Virginia, WV

Beautiful pictures. Please post more.

Rich Loc: Titusville, Fl

gessman I really like your photo of the eagle, might look a little better with some cropping. The first bluebird is outstanding, really great. The second photo of the bluebird could also use some cropping but still a great photo.

Sabaideejack Loc: Appleton WI

Good morning gessman...really enjoyed your bird photos...my favorite is the 2nd bluebird photo...love the shallow depth of field and its contrast to the bluebird. I don't recall taking any bird photos over the years, but I sure do appreciate the ones you took and those that post them here. Keep up the nice work!

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

I actually like the canada geese shot the best. It amazes me that they can fly in perfect unison. Too bad there wasn't a sunset in the background. Nice pics.

Alan Nelson Loc: Montana

First Mt Blue Bird does not appear sharp and would suggest a tripod would help>

gessman Loc: Colorado

Thanks and probably will. I've always heard that cats like birds a lot. I kinda like 'em both, some cats more'n others.

gessman Loc: Colorado

Thanks Rich. I'll play around with it. I was so happy to get close enough to an eagle that day that I must've fired off about 200 shots chasing that thing around the lake. This is probably not the best shot I got but it was one I could find. I need to organize much more than I need to crop.

gessman Loc: Colorado

Thanks Footshift. Birds can be a little tricky, especially some birds. Sounds like you might be a bike enthusiast? My first bike was a Harley 45 with a suicide clutch. Know anything about those? First time I stopped at an intersection, I fell over on my left side trying to work the clutch, the gearshift, the spark, the throttle, and the brake all at the same time. It didn't take me long to trade that for a 74 with a "footshift."

gessman Loc: Colorado

Thanks Country's Mama. There was a sunset in the background - behind me, perhaps just a little in the wrong place for you. I kept watching those geese come in and seeing that late day sun glow on their breasts and thought that would be a welcome relief from the "silhouette in the sunset" variety. I've got a bunch of those around here somewhere.

gessman Loc: Colorado

Thanks Alan and I couldn't agree more. I see you're from Montana so you would probably know the challenge of catching a skittish mt. bluebird still for very long at a time. I'm a little long of tooth and getting around is not the easiest thing for me so I catch 'em when and how I can. Murphy's Law seems to dominate most of my photographic efforts. Each time I get a tripod all set up and raise up to look around, I seem to be the only living creature in the woods so I grab what I can and hope for the best, especially with critters that constantly flit. I'm pretty happy to get anything when I pull a camera out. I shot this one sitting in my car. I'd already passed him and was shooting back over my shoulder and being pretty tight wound as I am, I don't hold still too well at all, let alone in that position. I'm not making excuses, just telling it like it is. It's a good thing I don't have to make my living taking bluebird shots or any other shots for that matter. Those southern bluebirds that are soaked with humidity just sit there all drooped over and let you fire away at 'em all day. These rascals up here are a little different. These suckers have energy. Still, I'm not all that unhappy with what I usually wind up with since only my personal satisfaction is on the line. I appreciate your recognition and suggestion 'cause it gives me an opportunity to pardon myself from the transgression of putting something out there that should have been kept private. Good eye.

:-)