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Northern Harrier & Repost
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Northern Harrier & Repost

by Dennis Plank

Gallery: AvianPosted November 28, 2010237 views24 comments
This gentleman has been gracing us with his presence on a fairly regular basis recently and he seems markedly unafraid for a Harrier. He perched two posts down the fence once when I was opening the gate. The last couple of days he has apparently made a kill and dined in front of our house between the lawn and fence (we live in a prairie ecosystem and only mow enough for a fire break). He has allowed me to approach quite closely both days after he finished eating-particularly today. One of these days, I might even manage a decent flight shot, if he continues to cooperate.

7D, 500mm f4 lens, Hand held, f7.1, 1/1250sec, iso400, manual exposure, cropped from horizontal to square (11.9 MP of the original 18-full height). One horizontal oof grass stem that was particularly bright and annoying has been partially cloned. Otherwise, normal processing in CS4. Taken at 11:25 today, filtered sun.

I always appreciate your comments and criticisms.

Thanks,

Comments

24 comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on November 29, 2010 at 12:21 AM
Nice!
Good detail, bright eyes, and great pose.
I'd prefer a bit more room on the right, and a bit less on the left - if possible.

Good luck on catching that flight shot - he seems pretty acclimated to your presence.
Sandy
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Gulash on November 29, 2010 at 2:02 AM
The front lighting really shows off the detail and color of his eyes and feathers on the breast. What a great scenario, hope he hangs around for you and permits some photos on the fence or other perch/flight situations.
Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments
Comment posted by Balan Vinod on November 29, 2010 at 4:01 AM
Beautiful light here Dennis ...and the detail on the eyes and face is wonderful... May be you would want to clone off on oof grass thats running across the face from behind the head ..otherwise a wonderful image..

Balan Vinod
Registered on March 20, 2006, 889 Posts, 2312 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Drummond on November 29, 2010 at 6:10 AM
Fantastic Dennis - oh to get so close to a harrier. Love the grassy setting

cheers
Rob
Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments
Comment posted by Harry Harris on November 29, 2010 at 6:48 AM
One of the things I have learned from the folks here is to leave some room in the direction of the birds movement or line of sight. This comp definitely shows that there are exceptions. I like this especially the detail of the head.
Registered on August 2, 2010, 169 Posts, 741 Comments
Comment posted by KC Choo on November 29, 2010 at 8:25 AM
Always tough to find a male NOHA let alone photograph one! Well done!
Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments
Comment posted by Luke Ormand on November 29, 2010 at 9:14 AM
Wow what a shot at just 500mm... wish I could approach a grey ghost this close. Congrats on the shot and keeping such nice habitat.
Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Dudley on November 29, 2010 at 9:32 AM
A great look at this handsome male Dennis. Nice to see so much detail and it's always a treat to get such a good look at that spectacular eye. If this were mine I'd likely place the bird slightly more to the left in the frame if I could but that's just my take on comp for this image. I hope you get many more shots of him including that "decent flight shot". Good luck!
Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on November 29, 2010 at 10:27 AM
Really nice Dennis. Love the detail in this shot and the habitat. Comp suggestions already mentioned. Keep shooting this guy. Cooperative birds like this are few and far between.
Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments
Comment posted by Ronnie Gaubert on November 29, 2010 at 10:28 AM
Hi Dennis,
Great setting with nice warm tones and excellent details.

Ronnie
Registered on November 1, 2003, 810 Posts, 3495 Comments
Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on November 29, 2010 at 10:48 AM
That's really close !
Great details n love that yellow eye.
Jagdeep Rajput :toast:
Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments
Comment posted by Monica Siri on November 29, 2010 at 11:04 AM
Dennis,
I love that stare. Great detail and colors. Well done! :toast:
Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Conway on November 29, 2010 at 11:54 AM
Hi Dennis,

Looks great, wonderful detail! These opportunities are rare, so shoot and shoot and shoot. You will be glad you did. I look forward to more. :smile:

Peter
Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Marquart on November 29, 2010 at 11:55 AM
Nice Dennis, I envy your opportunity.
Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments
Comment posted by Darren Colello on November 29, 2010 at 1:02 PM
Great detail and wonderful setting. Very, very well done Dennis. :toast:
Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments
Comment posted by Mia McPherson on November 29, 2010 at 4:22 PM
Dennis,

How wonderful that this harrier is staying around your house, I hope you have many hours with him and get those flight shots!

I like your low angle, the harrier's head turn and of course, those lemony yellow eyes. I'm in agreement with a little less room on the left and a touch more on the right if you have it. Lovely light, details and setting
Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments
Comment posted by Terry Sohl on November 29, 2010 at 6:38 PM
Gorgeous!! What a perfect setting for this guy. If you don't see them on a fence post around here, this is typically how you see them. Agree about him being markedly unafraid for a Harrier! I can't get within a mile of one around here.

Wonderful shot! :toast:
Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on November 29, 2010 at 9:00 PM
What a great opportunity and you made the most of it Dennis. What really stands out for me in this shot is the detail of the breast which I've rarely seen like this in a male. I agree on a little more room on the right. I'll be watching for that flight shot. :wink: :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Joe James on November 29, 2010 at 9:25 PM
Stunning shot Dennis! The colors and detail are just amazing and to get so, so close to a Harrier, bravo. Love the low angle and DOF. I would agree with Sandy that a tad more room to the right might be nice but that's such a minor thing with this nice a shot.
Registered on November 20, 2009, 89 Posts, 808 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on November 30, 2010 at 1:04 AM
Thanks for all the comments. Here's a repost with more room on the right. I also played with cloning the grass stem that intersected the left eye. :toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on November 30, 2010 at 6:58 AM
I use the same property management approach in the Hill Country here Dennis.
Most of our 6 acres has been the same since the last ice age :wink:
Thanx for pointing out the dog breeders in Austin, I appreciate it.
This is a wonderful shot of the Harrier in its natural habitat.
Nice and sharp, technically well done..
The bright overcast provides some great light I see..Send that guy over here please :biggrin:
Well done :toast:
Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments
Comment posted by May Haga on November 30, 2010 at 10:55 AM
This is a great image Dennis. Amazing that you could get so close to the harrier. I, for one, enjoy seeing it in this setting.
May
Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments
Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on November 30, 2010 at 11:19 AM
awesome, Dennis! great to have such a cooperative subject. love the comp on the repost. agree the breast details are a rare treat. the grassy habitat is nice too. :toast:
Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Archer on November 30, 2010 at 12:22 PM
He's a beauty Dennis, love those eyes too!!!

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