My shot of the week!

[Sheila Smart]

I have been debating getting rid of my Sigma 1.4xTC and shelling out for the Canon version. So I popped my TC on the end of my Canon 300 f/4 L IS and got this shot of nature's pruners



I am happy that I got him all in the shot, including his eye. I took a similar one with my old D60 years back but missed the top of the bird.

Cheers
Sheila

[pippin88]

Fabulous.

My only quibble is that the top is a bit close to the top of his wing - you could clone in some more space because the background is nice and distant and even.

[Geoff]

Keep the sigma Sheila - it'd be a waste of your $$ to get the canon if this shot is anything to go by.

Geeze, if you can pull off a shot like this on a WEEKLY basis, then, well..then..that's just not fair!!

[glamy]

I suppose this means you are keeping the Sigma. I am amazed at the quality of your pictures... Congratulations!
Cheers,
Gerard

[blacknstormy]

Beautiful shot Sheila - keep the sigma !!!!!
Rel

[Nikon boy]

Outstanding pic Sheila !!!!

[Pa]

if i was awarding pow this would be it.
pa

[bindiblue]

Awesome shot Shelia,, well done,

Suzanne

[ozimax]

Strike me pink Sheila, you're posting some amazing stuff on this forum, makes me feel even more like an amateur than I usually do!

Max

[Dug]

Great shot! amazing shot! I guess you will be keeping the sigma?

[camrak]

Great ! One picture worth thousend words ...

[ghost]

Pure art, sensational

[Dargan]

Wonderful picture. A technical question, would this shot be possible without an IS lens as seems indicated by your lens note in your post Sheila?

[Sheila Smart]

Wonderful picture. A technical question, would this shot be possible without an IS lens as seems indicated by your lens note in your post Sheila?

I am not sure that it would. The one reason I got this shot is that I used AI Servo which is a constant focus on the 5D (and other Canons). Its not a mode I use very often but comes in handy for shots such as these and taking my husband racing around Eastern Creek on his motorbike!

Cheers
Sheila

[Cyrus]

This shot is great Sheila, congratulations on such an effort. On a different note, I followed your links to your website and your portfolio - I have to say that your work is truly inspiring for me. I absolutely love the angles and styles of your shots - you have such a creative eye.

I'm jealous!

Cyrus

[wmaburnett]

incredible, the light is perfect, subdued on the background but brilliant on the bird great contrast!

[antman]

Beautiful shot.

[SteveGriffin]

Sheila, I am humbled every time I see one of your shots. Beautiful

[PiroStitch]

Great shot Sheila!

If Sheila gets POTW this week, I say we just give her POTY06

[bago100]

Sheila
If I could just take a photo like yours once in a lifetime, I'd die a happy man!
Beautiful work
Cheers
Graham

[mudder]

Great catch! Strewth the highlight details and tones seem so buttery smooth and a fantastic background, excellent stuff...

[Sheila Smart]

Thanks all. I was delighted when I looked at the LCD to find that I had the whole cockie in the frame which is a tad difficult to do with a 300mm lens. This should would have been very difficult with my old D60 with a TC as it would always "hunt" and it was equally difficult to do with my 20D. The fast focusing of the 5D makes shots like these a lot easier. It will be an interesting day for snaps tomorrow when we go out to Eastern Creek. My husband has taken up racing motorcycles again . He used to race in the Isle of Man in the late sixties and early seventies and his claim to fame is that he beat Barry Sheene in the TT in 1971.

Cheers
Sheila

[Dargan]

Barry Sheene! What is he going to race Sheila, Indians?

[losfp]

What a great shot!

Well done Sheila (again.. sigh). This was one out of how many? If you say ten or less, I will be quite upset

Definitely nothing wrong with the Sigma here.

[marcotrov]

Superb timing and composition Sheila. Love the image. How much did you crop the image? By the way keep your $ and keep the sigma.
cheers
marco

[Sheila Smart]

Actually, there was no cropping - that is why I was amazed I got it all in the frame. With the TC, he really did fill the frame. Its always going to be a debate - TCs versus no TCs. I thought I would try to make up what I lost from going 1.6 factor to full frame. I certainly would not rely on a TC (or extender as Canon calls them) as I still feel that you lose sharpness. Using the AI Servo focusing allowed me to track the bird but its all hit and miss really. I still consider it a fluke that I got it all in the frame and its eye too!

I have already sold a large print to a work colleague. As soon as he saw it, he wanted it to go with a previous print I sold him of a lorikeet in flight which I might post later.

Cheers and thanks all

Sheila