Northern Harrier

Gallery: AvianPosted February 21, 2010252 views27 comments

I hope you'll bear with me for posting yet another harrier but opportunities with other species are far and few between around here lately. Background is OOF dried vegetation with bands of snow.

7D, 1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, shot from pickup window on 12-17-09, cropped to 40% of original image but then added a strip of canvas on the left for composition, sharpened, no other processing, not baited

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

27 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 21, 2010 at 6:48 PM

Ron,

I spent a good amount of time photographing this species today and while I was "successful" I didn't get anything that holds a candle to this (though a 500 prime would help!)

Lighting and sharpness on the eye/face are key here with a lovely background - could use a less squarish crop

- Luke

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on February 21, 2010 at 7:02 PM

Excellent sharpness thruout. great!
Nice BG.
Not too fond of the crop, though - needs more room behind and the bird straigtened out a bit, imo.

Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 21, 2010 at 7:11 PM

Just another ho-hum Harrier - you make these look so easy! A great flight position and lovely background.

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

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on February 21, 2010 at 7:48 PM

Post these till the world ends and I'll never complain! The sharpness and clarity in the eye is awsome!
Keep em coming Ron

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on February 21, 2010 at 7:49 PM

I have been photographing these today and I will have to say well done! '

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

Comment posted by mark cillo on February 21, 2010 at 8:27 PM

This is awesome as usual. I have recently found an area where I regularly see one of these guys hunting. After trying with my 5DII and 100-400 to get a good shot for about two hours in great light(to no avail), I have a new appreciation for what it takes to get this shot. Nice work!

Registered on July 27, 2008, 143 Posts, 1483 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on February 21, 2010 at 9:13 PM

I could never get too much of your great images of these birds. Keep 'um coming.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on February 21, 2010 at 9:44 PM

You must spend a lot of time in that pickup Ron to get photos like this. I think this is first rate, super detail and colors, interesting background. Excellent, not much more to say, except that your canvas addition is flawless as well.

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

Comment posted by Doug Backlund on February 21, 2010 at 10:10 PM

I wish I could get some of these! I can't get close to this species except on rare occasions. Bg is perfect.

Registered on September 29, 2005, 252 Posts, 3380 Comments

Comment posted by Kevin Thompson on February 21, 2010 at 10:25 PM

Excellent photo Ron...

Registered on March 15, 2005, 114 Posts, 2639 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Elwood on February 21, 2010 at 11:22 PM

Ron now I know I really do hate you

. I get brown blurs and you get these beauties!! Lovely BG and great eye sparkle. I might add more canvas behind him and take some from bottom. Big congrats!!

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on February 22, 2010 at 12:28 AM

Ron, you've really cleaned up with your NOHA shots! This is another beauty! I've tried shooting these from a car window without success, so very well done!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Kumar Patel on February 22, 2010 at 5:33 AM

Ron
The harrier covers so much territory, so fast. Like everyone else I know, from painful experience, how difficult it is to get such a great shot. Hats off to you!
Kumar

Registered on February 16, 2010, 27 Posts, 36 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 22, 2010 at 6:20 AM

One of your best Ron - love the light, muted but warm colours and that piercing eye

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Alex Mody on February 22, 2010 at 10:09 AM

I don't think anybody is going to complain about your Harrier images. Well done!

Registered on December 25, 2007, 163 Posts, 1896 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on February 22, 2010 at 10:39 AM

I like the comp and the background but I love how that eye stands out. Another gorgeous harrier shot. I don't think most of us are tired of being jealous of you yet.

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

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on February 22, 2010 at 11:15 AM

I've run out of adjectives to describe how much I love your Harrier shots, so I'll just give you more of these Ron

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

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on February 22, 2010 at 11:42 AM

Ron, the light and detail in the eye really brings this image to life. Very pleasing pose and bg as well.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on February 22, 2010 at 1:33 PM

Very nice Ron, I never get tired of looking at hawk flight images, well done.

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

Comment posted by Peter Wintergren on February 22, 2010 at 4:35 PM

Love the colours and light here, great capture!

Registered on January 24, 2010, 15 Posts, 174 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on February 22, 2010 at 6:07 PM

I sooo admire your flyers, You and Ron, Actually I'm so jealous

Great image!

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

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on February 22, 2010 at 8:34 PM

Another awesome flight shot Ron. Nice underwing lighting. Excellent detail, especially considering it is only 40% of original. What a great look at that eye. The background colors compliment the harrier very well.

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

Comment posted by Roy Bailey on February 23, 2010 at 1:55 PM

keep them coming.Very detailed and a very nice complimentary background. Good exposure control.

Registered on November 16, 2008, 24 Posts, 486 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on February 23, 2010 at 8:07 PM

Excellent

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Satie Sharma on February 24, 2010 at 5:44 AM

Wonderful flight shot, Ron. I like the wing-position and detail. Nice background too.

Registered on November 11, 2003, 189 Posts, 5335 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on February 24, 2010 at 10:15 AM

It is a stunning image Ron, but you already knew I thought that :-)

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

Comment posted by David Sparks on February 26, 2010 at 4:54 PM

Ron:
Great look at the eye and head with catch light. Great BG and good job adding canvas. I would say the image makes me feel like I'm out there with the bird, except I've never been that close to a Northern Harrier when "out there". Probably best that I stay indoors and look at yours.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments