[dcstep]

This is from just a few weeks ago, before we had below-zero temps and the ponds and lakes froze over with 6" of ice. I got there before sunrise and set up by the pond's edge. The ducks and geese are all awake and floating in the pond, honky and quacking, waiting for the sun to show. Another photographer and I waited a good thirty-minutes as gaggle after gaggle flew by from the nearby reservoire. Finally this gaggle took off and I single out this lone Canada goose:



Shot with my Canon 7D and EF 400mm f5.6L lens, in aperture priority, +1/3EV at ISO 3200 and f5.6, resulting in 1/640-second. RAW conversion and post processing was done in Canon's Digital Photo Professional, with a light crop and noise reduction applied. I used a Manfrotto carbon fiber, medium weight tripod with the Manfrotto gimbal head.

I'd rather limit the 7D to ISO 1600, but the predawn light limited my options, since I needed decent shutter speed here. It looks like there are some dead pixels to the right of the bird, but that is actually water droplets, related to launch from the pond.

Dave

[BillLee]

that is a very large bird

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by BillLee

that is a very large bird

Yes, it's a Canada goose.

Dave

[Fat Buff Guy]

i figured the 7d would be cleaner @ 3200. nice shot though

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Fat Buff Guy

i figured the 7d would be cleaner @ 3200. nice shot though

I had to slightly underexpose to get the shutter speed, even at that ISO. Turns out there would have been less noise at ISO 6400. Here's a properly exposed image at ISO 6400 taken after sunset:



If you underexpose at any ISO you'll raise the noise considerably.

Dave

[Fat Buff Guy]

wow! that is fantastic, i wish i had something w/ that kind of iso sensitivity. again, great shot man.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Fat Buff Guy

wow! that is fantastic, i wish i had something w/ that kind of iso sensitivity. ....

It IS liberating.