Absolutely stunning birb.
Thank you for sharing your photo!
this post was submitted on 12 May 2025
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800mm... Is that at full zoom? I thought my 600mm Sigma was nice, but I quickly learned that you still have to get really close. No chance at shooting a bird of prey when its circling above
Yes, done at 800mm. However, there's other reasons it's reasonably sharp, some technical, some to do with Kites.
Technically, that's cropped down a bit , taken in good light at a good angle from the sun (so 1/1250, ISO250 and that worked, other than messing with the luminance curve), and the bird was indeed slowing down to land - earlier in its flight the photos were a little softer.
But the crucial difference is that Red Kites are urban birds - though they apparently do hunt, they are seen as scavengers and carrion eaters. As such, they are much less fussed by humans than most birds of prey, and while they don't interract with humans in Prospect Park itself, there are some who feed them, and there are tales of picnic thefts, conversely there's no persecution of them in towns (it would be illegal, and unpopular). So a lazy speed at not much higher than head height perhaps as close as 30 yards is not that uncommon. It's also more uncommon for me not to see a Kite somewhere on my walk than not (if usually because its soaring high up so very visible): I feel so happy about their successful reintroduction.
Which of course, given they are good looking birds, make them a joy to photo.
Ah nice. All of mine are either circling high above or are roosting in high tree tops. Maybe I'll get lucky one day when comes down to snack on one of the rabbits
Until that time, do still practice on them higher up - with a 600mm lens you should get something, and the practice will get you ready for the good days. In particular:
- Tracking
- Best times in any circle to take the shot (sun, and facing)
- Behaviours to watch for - patrolling or soaring on thermals, or breaking into straight flight, so you know where they'll be
- Address dark bird on bright sky issues (post-processing RAWs luminance curve, or exposure compensation) - you'll notice my sky is a blown out white - it wasn't on the day :)
- Camera settings that work for you
And practice panning with pigeons, crows or anything else in view