At Caracolí Bird House in Villavicencio, Meta, Colombia, right after sunrise, I captured this Ruddy Ground Dove (Columbina talpacoti) from 11 meters away using the Canon R5 with the RF800mm f/11 lens and 1.4x teleconverter for an effective 1120mm focal length.
With the light still low, I pushed the ISO to 3200 and let the camera select 1/45 second at f/16. The R5’s outstanding in-body stabilization allowed me to shoot handheld at this slow shutter speed while keeping the bird’s warm ruddy-brown plumage, soft gray head, bright red eye, and delicate black wing spots sharp and detailed.
This setup continues to prove incredibly effective for ethical long-range bird photography in challenging early morning conditions.
©2026 Adam Rainoff Photographer
