Low altitude loon take off

[Randy Stout]

This loon was heading out for breakfast on a nearby lake when he went by me.  Very still morning helped capture a respectable reflection.

D500, 500PF, hand held.

Cheers

Randy

[Hugh_3170]

A well earned reward for your early morning effort.

Flying low and fast plus a reflection - whats not to like!

[Fons Baerken]

This loon was heading out for breakfast on a nearby lake when he went by me.  Very still morning helped capture a respectable reflection.

D500, 500PF, hand held.

Cheers

Randy

Another wow, excellent composition, simple and pure.

[beryllium10]

Another great loon photo!  Very nice composition and colours.  Cheers, John

[Randy Stout]

Thanks guys, appreciate your input!

Randy

[Michael Erlewine]

Beautiful shot! Here is something along the same lines, but not loons.

D850, Noct Nikkor f/0.95

[ThomasAdams]

Beautiful images, and Randy, you're making that 500 PF very enticing at the moment!

[Kim Pilegaard]

Great picture of the take-off!

[Randy Stout]

Beautiful shot! Here is something along the same lines, but not loons.

D850, Noct Nikkor f/0.95

Michael:  Not a common wildlife lens!. I do however shoot under very dim conditions frequently and would appreciate the light gathering capabilities, the reach for loon photography might b a bit short!

[Randy Stout]

Beautiful images, and Randy, you're making that 500 PF very enticing at the moment!

The 500 PF has been an amazing addition to my wildlife kit.  I haven't touched my 500 f/4 since I got the PF.  I generally use if for my inflight lens, using the 600 for on the water shots.

Cheers

Randy

[Michael Erlewine]

Michael:  Not a common wildlife lens!. I do however shoot under very dim conditions frequently and would appreciate the light gathering capabilities, the reach for loon photography might b a bit short!

I was taking a landscape shot and at full size it is nice.  i was doing things like this. The geese were just part of the landscape.

[Randy Stout]

I was taking a landscape shot and at full size it is nice.  i was doing things like this. The geese were just part of the landscape.

We come at it from different directions!  I am taking bird/animal shots and try to add landscape to create naturescapes!  So many ways to look at nature.

Randy

[rosko]

That's a successful shot Randy!

Well done.

I am trying to get used of the setups (Z6) to follow a bird in flight with this lens. I need more training to handle the commands...

I think the secret consist to get a subject not too far, I'd say 25/30 meters maxi for a sharp result.

Looking forward to see more of your shots...

[Randy Stout]

Francis:

Thanks for your comments.  I have used the Z6 since it was introduced, and find it to be very good for most of my work, except it is still not as good for Birds in flight as the D500 or D850.  It does fine with larger birds such as swans, geese, etc., but struggles with small erratic flyers. I have the latest software, and it has gradually gotten better, just not quite good enough.

I look forward to seeing what the Z9 can do re: tracking.

Keep working on the BIF, some of it is absolutely muscle memory to help track well and move smoothly, learn to anticipate framing, etc.

Cheers

Randy

[FredCrowBear]

Randy - Well done.  Contest worthy!