I met my good friend Lil Judd at the Los Angeles Arboretum this past Saturday -- and we had a blast. The birds were out in force, but what we really wanted to see were the resident Wood and Mandarin Ducks. The Mandarin proved somewhat elusive, but Mr. Wood Duck -- actually, at least 3 -- proved very amenable to having a 500 f4 stuck in front of them. All shots taken with the 7D and 500 f4 (Mark I ) on the BushHawk, ISO 200, and processed using my MacBook Pro laptop (my PC is having conniptions) and Canon DPP, then tweaked in Photoshop Elements 9; this will be the setup I'll be using during my 2013-? Life On The Road Tour, starting next May. Questions, comments, critiques and general mayhem welcome.

Best Wishes,
Steve

Beautiful shots of what is probably my favorite duck. I am also impressed that you are able to use the Bushhawk with your 500. I had one that pretty much immediately snapped in half when I tried to use it on my 500.

Great work and it sounds like you had a really great time!

Greg

QUACK!!

Thanks Greg! I've had my 500 f4 on my BushHawk for over 3 years now -- and it rarely comes off it. I take it on dayhikes using the BushHawk shoulder strap slung over my shoulder and on my back, and except for connector cord issues I've never had a problem with the match. I think the 500 is about as big a lens as you can carry comfortably on the BushHawk -- at least for me. But I was recently diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff that happened years ago without my knowing it, and perhaps that contributed to it. I'm in no pain, and the muscles around it have compensated for the injury, but I'm taking it a bit easy for awhile. Yep, had a GREAT time! It was one of those days that you felt you could see ANY bird -- and pretty much did...

Best Wishes,
Steve

trenchmonkey wrote:
QUACK!!

Shades of Mr. Zoom, aka Ken Tyler! Haven't heard that quack in awhile. Thanks for the quackery, Will!

Best Wishes,
Steve

Nice capture of the wood duck Steve.

Jude

Fantastic images Steve!

Ted

Super Steve

Morris

Amazing colors of a beautiful bird...very well done.
Eric

Real nice Steve, I'm liking #2 from this cool set.

Fantastic shots!!

Birdie

I've seen several of these beautiful ducks, but just can't get close enough with the equipment I have. Beautiful photos and amazing detail!

These are great to see -- what a duck indeed.
Mark

Nice Steve & it was wonderful to see you again

Lil

Very nice steve.

Rob

Very nice captures of the woodie Steve!

Nice work on the wood duck. It is like the eye keeps following me.
Patrick

Great work Steve!!! Excellent job on the exposures. I'm betting it was wonderful fun to be out shooting with Lil again I'm going for the Daliesque shot

Tim

Super Wood Duck shots!!!

Kurt

#2 for me sir!