I have a Canon 80D w/18-135 lens. I am planning a trip to Grand Canyon and would appreciate your input on a tripod. I saw a Targus $39 aluminum. I have read that I would be foolish to buy an inexpensive tripod and if possible go for carbon fiber. Now the price jumped. The reviews were very confusing same product go from one star to 4 star on same product. I saw a Manfroto Elements for $149 and Manfroto 290 for $179. Further search took me to the $300 - $999 range. I am six feet tall and will be purchasing my first tripod, so any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks Jim

I originally got this ideal by watching National GEO bait Osprey down here on Lake Istokapoga four or five years ago. It involved two boats, as one would throw out fish under a circling Osprey and they other boat would move in for the photographs.. I am using Live bait, one the prey would find on the property I'm shooting from. My set up was over a two day span and involved four mice, not something that will render the owls forever hopeless and have to depended on man to feed. I have countless hours involved just to learn the habits and setting up the captures. I've even build owl boxes for the owls to use next breeding season so I may photograph the comings and goings of the parents feeding the young. I spend lots of time and energy fine tuning my craft. Next time you take your trash out just remember it ends up at the county landfill which is the Main feeding grounds of our Bald Eagles. I knew when posting my photographs it would rile a few feathers. Next time you photograph a bird that visits a feeder, give that a little more tight.. That food is not locally grown and is prepared for the animal.
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