Nuthatch at the ready (pic included)

[Steve Foss]

This little missile came in to the mouse squeak call, and proceeded to hop around so quickly it was hard to get him sharp. But it all worked out, thanks partly to a very fast shutter speed allowed by the lens/TC combo. Top-of-the-line lenses (even borrowed from CPS), can make a tremendous difference. I love these nuthatches. The lichen on the dead aspen branch and the species of nuthatch say: boreal forest!

Canon 1D MarkII, Canon 400L f2.8 (non IS), Canon 1.4 TC (560mm total), iso320, 1/5000 at f4, Gitzo carbon fiber tripod, Studio Ball ballhead.

[buzzsaw]

That is a very nice picture and a good description of how you got the curious fellow to come in so close.

[Deitz Dittrich]

that dude looks pi$$ed if you ask me!

[floating minnow]

That's a great image! Nice camera also.

[Steve Foss]

Yeah, wish that oufit was mine instead of CPS's.

[Dbl]

Wish I had that camera and 400/2.8 myself. Nice shot Steve, its still the person behind the camera that makes it all work though!

[Steve Foss]

Thanks Dan. And you know, hauling a camera/lens/tripod combo that heavy around the trails, any time of year but especially in winter snow, could actually get a fellow back in shape! Yikes, Mrs. Catfish wouldn't even recognize me if I dropped 60 pounds. She'd think I was a red-haired Fabio or something.

[Dbl]

Hey, you're onto something, a new exercise program for photographers. Hauling MarkII bodies and 2.8 lenses on 5 mile hikes. That is an expensive club to join though

[Steve Foss]

I dunno, I could charge $600 per person per day and have each body/lens/tripod ($11,500 per combo) paid for pretty quick.

Better yet, I could mount 15 pounds on a long thick stick, tell them to sling it over their shoulders and hike five miles, and sell it as a way to get in TRAINING so they deserve the RIGHT to carry $11,500 in equipment over their shoulder. Yeah, yeah, that's it.