After looking at the photography posted here I was over whelmed.
So I knew it was the right place for the question. I have an owl that visits a tree near me after dark. Is it safe (for the bird) to use a flash. I just upgraded to a 7D and have the EF-S lenses right now
Correct, I oversimplied and made that mistake.
Also consider a graduated neutral density filter and again avoid the cheap or plastic stuff
Annie girl and clixpix are right. The only thing I would add to their brilliance is I would use the 50mm 1.4 for some shots to get a fuzzy background (bokeh). I wouldn't want a bunch of others in focus making my photo too busy. To get the best bokeh use a wide open setting 1.4 to 2.8. I love taking pictures of my granddaughter with my 50mm 1.4. But then she is the smartest and most beautiful 16 week old in the history of the world. If you feel this way take lots of images and maybe a few will become her keepsakes.
one of the possible reasons for lack of sharpness is that at f22 the opening for light is so small you get diffraction of the light entering the camera.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/diffraction.htm
You do get slightly greater depth of field but you give up the sharpness you want. The best of both worlds, without post processing is f8-f11. If you want to post process and focus stack I would still use F8-F11.
Also remember the further a subject is from you the greater the effect of any camera movement. So as every book says "use a tripod"
Its a shame you cant get up to I Corps, I served in ChuLai and found the area beautiful
you want the highest speed processor and a great graphics card. So look for a high end gaming computer, this gives you speed in processing and resolution on screen. I would also get a laptop so you don't have to be at home to work. There are some great ones to be had for about $2000 if you are a pc laptop user.
The body you need to take is your wife. I used to take photo vacations with my wife and now I'm single.
I picked out the photographer, were there any others?
I don't know where you are flying to but when I worked for a Scottish Salmon Company the visitors from Scotland were always told by previous visitors that if you are flying cross country get a window seat. You will find the view unlike anything in Europe.
I travel frequently and always have my camera in a backpack. A new agent will take their time looking at the xray especially if your wires are all jumbled up. I have never had them ask me to open it up. And since Oct 2011 have not been asked to take my IPAD out for separate inspection. In my backpack I have
1 or 2 camera bodies
3-5 lenses
IPAD
phone
mp3 player
noise cancelling headphones
flash
ring flash
charging cables for everything
recharger
extra batteries
Go to dpreview and compare the two. The 7d has a rating of 84 and D7000 has an 80, but that does not tell the whole story. Read the entire review and closely compare the specs.
Also consider the lenses that go with the camera, I think that is the more important consideration once you get to this level..
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos7d
I am buying the 7d based on the lenses I already have ($1800), so even though the D7000 is a very good camera I won't consider it.
I think that Canon L IS II lenses are the best out there, but I know there are different opinions.
In all truth both are fine cameras and you wouldn't be wrong with either.
I love that you got the haltare clearly- the knobby thing behind the wing. It rotates during flight and acts like a gyroscope (stabilizing the crane fly.)
Nice shot of the raptor. Looks like you or the camera focused on the feet. I love the "gotcha" look of the eyes.