GBH - Up Close and Personal

[AJ Montgomery]

Well, my trip to Olalla Bay proved to be a good one. I took my rubber boots and camera, arrived around 10:00 AM and the tide was nearly full ebb. At first, birds were scarce and activity slow, then, al the sudden . . .

Incoming!

This GBH flew in and graced me with the opportunity to approach within 40 feet a few times. He stayed just ahead and never left me. I took about 100 shots, many of which are great, IMO. Here are some of the best: 20D, ISO-200 F/5.6 70-200 F/4L and 1.4x II

http://www.kajmonty.com/gallery/albums/GBH_Olalla_042405/IMG_3681.sized.jpg

http://www.kajmonty.com/gallery/albums/GBH_Olalla_042405/IMG_3632.sized.jpg

http://www.kajmonty.com/gallery/albums/GBH_Olalla_042405/IMG_3630.sized.jpg

http://www.kajmonty.com/gallery/albums/GBH_Olalla_042405/IMG_3623.sized.jpg

http://www.kajmonty.com/gallery/albums/GBH_Olalla_042405/IMG_3547.sized.jpg

http://www.kajmonty.com/gallery/albums/GBH_Olalla_042405/IMG_3602.sized.jpg

[LazyPhotographer]

You're right - they're great!

[Andrew Pratt]

Very nice...I really like the two with the dark backgrounds

[Skip Souza]

They are all fantastic but I like the first one best. Thanks for sharing.

[stelogic]

amazing pictures

steve
www.edinburghcameraclub.co.uk

[sparker1]

Great shots, AJ. Really good work to catch him in flight.

[skade]

Absolutely brilliant!

[HJMinard]

Wow, these are really fantastic, A.J.!! All are excellent, but #1 is my favorite.

[Airedale1]

Very, very nice.

[TammieO]

Awesome photos! I like the #5 the best.

[MarkoPolo]

Wonderful shots, I personally liked #4 the best, but all are very good. Thanks for sharing.

[RockOne]

Superb shots

[PhotosGuy]

Excellent! The 1st one rocks!

[cocodel1st]

Great Shots of a wonderful bird. Good Capture. I like them all, 1 & 5 are definetely my favorites.

[kduncan80]

Great shots, stopped the action yet they still have a sense of movement to them!

[V6GTO]

AJ,
Anyone would be proud of a set of photographs like those. I hope you feel very pleased with yourself, because I sure know I would!

Martin.

[RbrtPtikLeoSeny]

I love the third photo! Very well done. Those birds are often hard to capture.

[John Trogdon]

Not much that hasn't been said. I totally enjoyed looking at those shots! Excellent work!

[AJ Montgomery]

To all, thanks for the comments.

John, how do you like the 300? That is next on my list (long list at that).

[John Trogdon]

To all, thanks for the comments.

John, how do you like the 300? That is next on my list (long list at that).

I like the 300 very much. I can't say that I have used it as much as I would like. I'm not one that likes shooting from a tripod that much, and with the IS, this lens is superb. It needs to be on my 10D a lot more than it has been. If you want to see some nice examples . . . check this out.

http://www.pbase.com/sheila/zoo_with_300_f4_l_is

This site was partially responsible for convincing me to get the 300. I love the bokeh this lens has when wide open.

I hope this helps AJ.

[gmaize]

AJ,

I'm speechless..... These photos are absolutely world class. Congratulations! We want more.

Thanks for letting us see your work.

--gmaize

[AJ Montgomery]

Thanks everybody. Your responses are overwhelming! I really appreciate them.

[Pb2Au]

Drat! Just as I post some of my GHB pictures, somebody with more skill comes along and shows me what I WISH my photos looked like. Nice shots, I love #1, and #4. Superb!

It's too bad the bird can choose where he/she flys! I just hate it when they either 1: fly away completely, or 2: fly over some ugly background (houses, fences, power lines, lights, etc).;)

[AJ Montgomery]

Drat! Just as I post some of my GHB pictures, somebody with more skill comes along and shows me what I WISH my photos looked like. Nice shots, I love #1, and #4. Superb!

It's too bad the bird can choose where he/she flys! I just hate it when they either 1: fly away completely, or 2: fly over some ugly background (houses, fences, power lines, lights, etc).;)
Thanks! Now, have you figured how to change lead to gold? Interesting username . . .

[JMAS]

Wonderful photos!
#'s 1 ;4 and 5 are amazing.
You just convinced me the 1.4x with the 70-200 f4 is very worthy.

Thanks for sharing.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Pure magic! Some of the best flight shots I've seen.. simply magic!

[AJ Montgomery]

Wonderful photos!
#'s 1 ;4 and 5 are amazing.
You just convinced me the 1.4x with the 70-200 f4 is very worthy.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, JMAS. My next move will be to the 300 F/4L with EF 1.4x II. Should produce even better results and get me the extra distance that I often need.

[AJ Montgomery]

Pure magic! Some of the best flight shots I've seen.. simply magic!
Thanks, CDS. This opportunity was magic and I walked away with some "keepers"!