Sandhill Crane In-flight

Nikon D1h, 500mm f/4 AF-S, Matrix Metering, 1/1000sec, f/5.6, Manual Mode, ISO 200, Gitzo 410, Wimberly Sidekick.

With the right light, you can easily make images that look like the subject is popping off the screen. In this case, the key was sunset "butter-light" combined with a narrow DOF that makes this image work.