American Kestrel

Gallery: AvianPosted January 16, 2010396 views31 comments

I'm not sure how well this one works. We've had lots of fog this week and yesterday was no exception - the fog was so thick that shooting birds was just an exercise in frustration. The good thing though is that many of the birds become "stickier" in the fog for some reason and let us get much closer than usual, as this male kestrel did. For a few moments with this bird, the fog opened up just enough (barely) to make what I hope is a presentable image.

7D, 1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, shot from pickup window, background is snow covered ice, cropped to 79% of original image, not baited

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

31 comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on January 16, 2010 at 5:42 PM

Its a pretty image Ron, for a second I thought it was overexposed but that is the effect of the fog obviously. The large version is very nice. I would maybe add a touch more contrast to it ?

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on January 16, 2010 at 5:47 PM

Amazing photo. I tried getting this species photo today but it continued to elude me. I agree with Nick's comment that a boost in contrast will help.

- Luke

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Elwood on January 16, 2010 at 5:52 PM

Ron for the conditions, I think you did a superb job!! I cannot get these guys to save my soul. I like the compositon and the perch.

Registered on January 15, 2010, 101 Posts, 396 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on January 16, 2010 at 6:11 PM

Love the details in the kestrel and the soft light and colors. Like the frost on the tree as well.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 16, 2010 at 6:18 PM

A lovely moody image with a great sense of time, place, and weather. Don't boost the contrast - it would ruin this delicate image. I see absolutely no reason to try to make this image look like something it wasn't. The whole point of shooting in such conditions is to capture the special feel!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on January 16, 2010 at 6:21 PM

Excellent photo Ron!!!

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 16, 2010 at 6:54 PM

Ron,

You already know I love this image, is has a great mood to it, I love the effect of the fog and would not change a single thing about it.

I agree with Rich 100% about this:

The whole point of shooting in such conditions is to capture the special feel!

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Gaurav Manglik on January 16, 2010 at 8:31 PM

super nice ....

Registered on December 2, 2005, 191 Posts, 2126 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on January 16, 2010 at 8:48 PM

The image is simply awesome. I'm not sure about the lightness due to the fog. I too thought it was way overexposed at first and would love to see a little more contrast cause it's gorgeous.

Do these beauties ever show up in Florida west coast?

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on January 16, 2010 at 9:44 PM

Great capture!

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on January 16, 2010 at 10:13 PM

My first reaction too, Ron, was that it was a beautiful but overexposed image. I agree that increasing contrast would change the softness that this image communicates so well. However, it would be nice if a viewer would recognize that it is fog and not overexposure. I'm not sure how to do that. Maybe a touch less overall exposure would help. Providing a title for the image that included the word " fog" may be all that you can do to help others appreciate this lovely image.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on January 16, 2010 at 11:09 PM

Lovely mood and setting, also like the pose and eye contact. Pretty bird.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 16, 2010 at 11:23 PM

A very neat image, Ron. Probably not for everyone, but I like winter fog and this evokes it nicely.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on January 17, 2010 at 12:52 AM

I like the atmospheric effect from the fog. He really has his chest puffed out, very confident (or perhaps just a little bit damp and cold). You sure seem to have a lot of hawks out there!

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 17, 2010 at 3:17 AM

More than presentable Ron - the frost on the perch is amazing

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Neven Dries on January 17, 2010 at 7:01 AM

I love everything about this shot! The fog makes it seem a bit overexposed, but a touch of contrast could bring that up nicely. I'm so jealous of people who get these fabulous shots, I can never seem to find poses like this when I'm out. How do you like the 7D? and was this shot in Raw?

Registered on February 24, 2006, 52 Posts, 160 Comments

Comment posted by István Molnár on January 17, 2010 at 8:29 AM

Wonderful colors!
István

Registered on January 7, 2010, 114 Posts, 704 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 17, 2010 at 8:32 AM

Ron, I really like your comp, and the details are great. I like the soft feel that the fog creates and would resist the temptation to make it something it is not.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on January 17, 2010 at 9:51 AM

I'll trade you two Wrens for a Kestrel? I agree with Rich here. Don't change a thing. The frosty perch is very cool.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Lajos Horvath on January 17, 2010 at 11:27 AM

I like the lonely warm spot in that field. Very nice picture! Rich details, good composition.
Perfect shot.

Registered on January 3, 2010, 30 Posts, 92 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 17, 2010 at 11:34 AM

Wow, very nice shot, I like everything about this shot. This scene really invokes cold conditions to me, great job with difficult lighting, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Wilson on January 17, 2010 at 11:55 AM

Very cool image Ron - there is a real icy feel to the image and the bird is excellent. I like the foggy effect but also want to see what it looks like with the mid-tone contrast increased very slightly.

Registered on May 17, 2006, 70 Posts, 1166 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 17, 2010 at 12:11 PM

" I like the foggy effect but also want to see what it looks like with the mid-tone contrast increased very slightly."

Thanks Mark (and others). Ok, for those who asked, here it is with a moderate conrast increase selectively to the bird. I had to bump it up quite a bit (+20) to notice much change and I don't have a very good eye for detecting the destruction this much manipulation can do to an image so I never go anywhere near this much contrast.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on January 17, 2010 at 2:19 PM

I love the thin haze and the frost on the perch. Beautiful details and subtle colors. Hope to get this close to one of these some day. I think they must like you and Mia.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Dubois on January 17, 2010 at 2:47 PM

Beauty Ron.

Wish this were mine.

I like the effect in your repost. The selective addition of a little contrast on the kestrel only works well for me. Either way IMO this should be an EP candidate.

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

Comment posted by Mark Wilson on January 17, 2010 at 6:18 PM

I really like the repost Ron, that bit of contrast has made all the difference for me

Registered on May 17, 2006, 70 Posts, 1166 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on January 17, 2010 at 7:29 PM

Kudos for giving this shot a chance Ron. The softness of the lighting here is really nice.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on January 17, 2010 at 11:57 PM

I think that the increased contrast still results in a fine image, but a more ordinary one. I prefer the special original, Ron.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 18, 2010 at 4:07 PM

I super image, Ron. I agree with Rich 100%, do not booth the contrast. This gives the feeling of fog and frost and cold. Great detail as usual. I shot in fog not too long ago, and really liked the affect it brought to my teal images. Well done.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Mason on January 18, 2010 at 6:13 PM

Works extremely well as far as I'm concerned. I would leave it exactly as posted - the frost and light background are just beautiful. This is soft, when it should be soft. Beautifully crafted. You must have a great collection of these.

Registered on December 14, 2005, 399 Posts, 2305 Comments

Comment posted by Joe James on January 18, 2010 at 9:28 PM

More than presentable Ron, this is a great image of a beautiful little Kestrel. The fog adds a mood to the shot that works very well. Well done!

Registered on November 20, 2009, 89 Posts, 808 Comments