California Condor

Gallery: AvianPosted September 1, 20052,481 views17 comments

Just got back recently from a trip out west. Northern Arizona and Southern Utah.
We stayed 5 days at the Grand canyon and one of my priorities was to see a Condor, never thought I'd photograph one.
This happened so fast I just mounted my lens on to my camera then this beauty came soaring by. Got off a few shots then gone down below.
Unfortunately the camera was set @ f16 but managed to get this one pretty sharp. None the less I was just sooo happy to see one of these!!
I did manage to capture # 19 perched on a rock, an overview shot, which would be the oldest female condor in the wild today. This may be her flying...?

Canon 10D
400 5.6
ISO 400
1/500 @ f16.

Hope you like and thanks for looking!!

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by Bob Steele on September 1, 2005 at 6:21 PM

Hey Ken, this is FANTASTIC!!! I'm so glad you 'accidentally' shot this at f16, 'cause the nearly in-focus background is so important to the whole story for this image. Man oh man do I wish this was mine...

Registered on November 1, 2003, 354 Posts, 13896 Comments

Comment posted by Greg Ortet on September 1, 2005 at 6:34 PM

Very great photo which powerfull is from the environment that put the scale of size both of the place and bird!
Amazing: CONGRATULATION!
Greg

Registered on August 31, 2005, 2 Posts, 13 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Garber on September 1, 2005 at 6:39 PM

This is so cool it blows me away!

Registered on November 17, 2003, 704 Posts, 3535 Comments

Comment posted by Josh Anderson on September 1, 2005 at 7:28 PM

Too Nice. That is soooo sweet.

Registered on June 2, 2005, 493 Posts, 2996 Comments

Comment posted by Garth McElroy on September 1, 2005 at 7:45 PM

This could not be any better Ken. A wide open aperature here would have ruined this one IMO. Very well done!!!!!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 248 Posts, 4406 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Dubois on September 1, 2005 at 7:55 PM

This is just great Ken!

I guess in honour of this shot we can officially coin the saying "f16 and be there!"

I've only seen one of these and it was captive. I can't imagine how exciting it was to see one free in the wild! Wow

Registered on February 22, 2005, 129 Posts, 4739 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Royse on September 1, 2005 at 7:59 PM

Outstanding! It couldn't be any better.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 218 Posts, 2427 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Grey on September 1, 2005 at 8:44 PM

Wow, Ken -- this is one for the ages!

I think you should search your memory, at which point you may recall thinking "we need to see the canyon behind this guy" and instantly switching from f8 to f16....

("F16 and be there" is really the caption for it -- Ed got it.)

Registered on December 2, 2003, 144 Posts, 2069 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on September 1, 2005 at 8:50 PM

You've all got it for this one! Fantastic, Ken

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Kenneth Kijewski on September 1, 2005 at 9:26 PM

Wow...thanks folks for your wonderful comments

Hmmm "f16 and be there"...love it

I am so used to thinking in avian terms (flight shots)..f8 and so on that when I processed this I could only say "f16..what was I thinking"???
Well I wasn't, just reacting.
I am now convinced by opening up my f stop this would'nt have the impact.
I Love the canyon backdrop as it ties this all together and you folks just put a stamp of approval on it..

Thanks again

Registered on February 17, 2004, 166 Posts, 3390 Comments

Comment posted by Jasper Doest on September 2, 2005 at 1:56 AM

Ken I'm sure this would look GREAT in print! The background is a great addition and makes it different from what we usually see from this species. Must have been a thrill to see and even photograph. Congrats on such a shot, one to be proud of!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 371 Posts, 2101 Comments

Comment posted by Juza on September 2, 2005 at 2:55 AM

Awesome! The DOF is perfect!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 374 Posts, 10466 Comments

Comment posted by richard ettlinger on September 2, 2005 at 7:46 AM

Amazing!

Registered on June 17, 2004, 377 Posts, 1565 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Zipp on September 2, 2005 at 8:55 AM

Awsome shot Ken! One of the best condor shots I've seen.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 86 Posts, 940 Comments

Comment posted by Phillip Tomkinson on September 2, 2005 at 10:03 AM

This is cool fantastic great cool did I say cool already, is not just the bird but with a stroke of luck you have managed to capture its environment which is as important as the bird.

Phillip.

Registered on July 14, 2005, 194 Posts, 427 Comments

Comment posted by chris hajee on September 3, 2005 at 5:01 AM

awesome Ken

Registered on January 18, 2005, 179 Posts, 2384 Comments

Comment posted by Rod Gilbert on September 4, 2005 at 3:39 AM

Awesome shot......can't beat a condor in flight! Well OK, maybe a Ivory billed ;)

Registered on October 10, 2004, 45 Posts, 268 Comments