Harris Hawk

Gallery: AvianPosted January 28, 2010571 views17 comments

This fellow caught and devoured a rabbit out of camera range, but then very kindly flew to a closer bush.
"Odd" settings since I was photographing small quick birds when this guy swooped in unexpectedly and little time to change settings.

D300
500mm
1/8000 sec, f/7.1
Mode: Av
Metering: Multi-segment
Exp comp: -1 1/3
ISO: 600
AF mode: AF-C
White balance: AUTO
Flash: Off

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on January 28, 2010 at 8:42 AM

This is a fine shot of the Harris's Hawk Sandy. You can really see that he's just finished a meal.
A good choice of frame that matches the buffy colour in the shoulders.

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on January 28, 2010 at 9:33 AM

Nice capture. Where was this? Near Bosque Del Apache??

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 28, 2010 at 10:10 AM

Nice Sandy, I like how you can see that he just finished a meal. I also like the perch with the branches around him.

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on January 28, 2010 at 10:30 AM

Very pretty hawk Sandy. poor bunny

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 28, 2010 at 10:48 AM

Nice composition and setting. But it lacks detail in the shadow areas and I'd like to see more texture on the breast as well. I think the-1.3 EC hurt this image.

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

Comment posted by Mack Barham on January 28, 2010 at 10:55 AM

I like this a lot. The curved branch on the left carries my eye to the bird's head and the blood stained beak. Was this hand held? The Harris Hawks I see in South Texas are not nearly as dark as this one.

Registered on August 12, 2005, 537 Posts, 1107 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on January 28, 2010 at 11:04 AM

Great pose and I like the way you captured the detail, Sandy.

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

Comment posted by Giorgio Gregori on January 28, 2010 at 1:25 PM

Beautiful pose and subject ( showing a clue of the drama ). I like a lot also the setting.
Giorgio

Registered on November 16, 2007, 87 Posts, 793 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on January 28, 2010 at 3:23 PM

Good eye contact and I like the setting.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 28, 2010 at 4:02 PM

Sandy, I would love just to have an op to photograph a Harris'. This is nice with a great head turn. I would like to see a larger version so I could better judge critcal sharpness and detail. This is a dark bird and the 1/8000s and -1.3EC seem a bit extreme.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 28, 2010 at 4:59 PM

Sandy,

I love the great pose of the hawk, the setting and the blue & golds in the background.

The settings do baffle me, I am not sure why you would need -1 1/3 EC on such a dark bird or why the high ISO in what looks to be good light?

I like how we can see that the bird just finished a meal and the nice light in the eye.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on January 28, 2010 at 8:15 PM

Excellent image Sandy. Like the head turn, the setting and the messy beak.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on January 28, 2010 at 9:26 PM

Sandy,
Nice satisfied after-dinner pose here. Dark birds in the bright Sun are difficult subjects. Despite the deep shadows in some areas, this does not look so bad to me. I know some people would rather have a white sky and better-exposed bird, but that's a matter of taste (and sometimes whether you want to put up with using a flash).

Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on January 28, 2010 at 10:11 PM

He's a beauty in great light, sweet one Sandy!!!

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 28, 2010 at 11:24 PM

Nice pose and detail, Sandy. Excellent exposure of the dark plumage.

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

Comment posted by Jimmie Fata on January 29, 2010 at 7:39 PM

What a majestic bird - you captured it perfectly

Registered on December 27, 2009, 14 Posts, 55 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on January 30, 2010 at 3:33 PM

Despite the odd settings the exposure looks pretty darn good to me, nice detail in the darks and it's easy to blow out the cere, I can see a little noise in the sky. Cool shot, Sandy

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments