American Kestrel

Gallery: AvianPosted December 3, 2010333 views29 comments

Finally got close to a kestrel again yesterday after a long dry spell. Lighting was a challenge though - heavy fog was just lifting and the bird was side lit. Background is a receding fog bank.

This small dead tree is a favorite kestrel perch at the refuge and I've posted kestrels on it before.

7D, 1/640, f/8, ISO 250, EV +1, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, shot from pickup window on 12/2/10, slight exposure adjustment in ACR, cropped to 66% of original image, minor levels, saturation and contrast adjustments in CS4, sharpened bird and perch, no additional processing or adjustments, natural light, not set up or baited

Larger image provided

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

29 comments

Comment posted by Buck Ward on December 3, 2010 at 6:27 PM

Love the way he's fluffed against the cold and the wind has ruffled the feathers on his back. The angle of the light isn't perfect, but the light is so soft that the overall effect is really quite nice. Another excellent photograph, Ron.

Registered on December 8, 2003, 96 Posts, 1917 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 3, 2010 at 6:44 PM

Ron, this is really nice. Lighting is great to my eye. Fog helped soften the directional aspect of the light and created nice depth to the bird. The fluffed feather and great pose work to make this really attactive. Love the perch and the snow/frost on it. Nice BG to show off the bird. Well done as per usual.

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

Comment posted by Doug Gilham on December 3, 2010 at 6:51 PM

Love these birds coloration. I've not been lucky getting them on a nice perch like this, they're always perched on wires overlooking fields around here. I have noticed alot more here recently so maybe...
I like the lighter clean BG, and the detail on the kestral is great, also like the look the kestral has, like he's just biding his time until his meal comes along. Another excellent shot Ron.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 77 Posts, 489 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on December 3, 2010 at 7:02 PM

Love the soft muted colors in this image. Great pose, and the snow/frost on the perch is an added bonus.

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

Comment posted by Joel DeYoung on December 3, 2010 at 7:25 PM

Nice comp and colors. Like Buck, I like how the feathers are puffed up. Nicely done.

Registered on July 12, 2009, 92 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on December 3, 2010 at 7:44 PM

Ron,

I like everything about this image, from the pose, to the light and the fluffed feathers. Lovely details and sharpness. Very well done. Wish I could have been there too

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

Comment posted by Dan Moore on December 3, 2010 at 8:02 PM

Very enchanting image. I have spent more time looking at this one than any other over the last year. It seems to tell a little different story each time I look.

Dan

Registered on February 11, 2010, 143 Posts, 1248 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on December 3, 2010 at 8:08 PM

Ron, the softness from the fog is spectacular here - still, great colors, wonderful pose, and that branch with the snow is exquisite. The ruflled feathers just puts it over the top for me.

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on December 3, 2010 at 8:20 PM

A lovely image. The soft colors and simple clean composition are very pleasing on the eye. That sure looks a lot colder than the 75 degrees I was just out in here this afternoon.

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on December 3, 2010 at 8:40 PM

I particularly like the expression on this bird's face, Ron. It makes the image very intimate. Of course the rest is great too!!

P.S.: Nice creative logo. I just noticed it now. (I now see that you used in on your previous image too.)

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on December 3, 2010 at 9:22 PM

Wonderful photo. I live vicariously through you and your kestrel images, as I rarely see more than the tail as it fies away from me. Thanks for sharing it.

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

Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on December 3, 2010 at 9:24 PM

Beautiful capture, Ron! The wind-blown look, the ice/snow on the perch, the fog, sharpness, etc. Very nice all around.

Registered on October 5, 2007, 58 Posts, 2039 Comments

Comment posted by Joe James on December 3, 2010 at 10:01 PM

Nothing to nit pick here Ron! Perfect as is, brilliantly done.

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

Comment posted by Robbie Knight on December 3, 2010 at 10:19 PM

Ron - great capture and tac-sharp. The pearch, feet, eyes, and slight feather ruffle on his back really make this capture for me. As cold as utah has been these last couple weeks I can see why he held-tight for your capture. Great picture !
Robbie

Registered on April 10, 2010, 30 Posts, 135 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on December 3, 2010 at 10:48 PM

Beautiful, Ron. I like the fluffed out plumage and the frost on the perch. The head turn is great.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on December 3, 2010 at 11:01 PM

Up to your usual excellence with Kestrels Ron - lovely shot

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Michael Twaddell on December 3, 2010 at 11:18 PM

You sure put a hurtin on me with these Kestrel images, Ron. I might occasionally see them from a distance, but rarely get close to one. When I do, they are usually on an electric or telephone wire. Beautiful image!

Registered on August 16, 2007, 199 Posts, 2132 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on December 3, 2010 at 11:55 PM

Ron, I like the way this guy is balanced at the top of the perch, along with the windblown snow clinging on the perch itself. I think the defused light from the fog worked well for you here, the Kestrel's coloring pops, and the wind blown feathers add a great touch.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on December 4, 2010 at 1:26 AM

Superb shot- with difficult conditions you created a beauty- with the softness of the light the picture seems a watercolour of a great artist- I'd like to have that skillness, Fabio

Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments

Comment posted by Avi Hirschfield on December 4, 2010 at 1:56 AM

I was going to ask do you have a permanent camera mounted near that dead tree.
Lovely shot of that bird and it really looks chilly

Registered on November 1, 2003, 518 Posts, 2114 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on December 4, 2010 at 2:09 AM

Burrr!!! Beautiful portrait Ron

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on December 4, 2010 at 4:54 AM

What a beautiful image

The colours are great and really stand out against the background.
Top quality work here Ron.
Well done.

Geoff.

Registered on August 20, 2010, 192 Posts, 980 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on December 4, 2010 at 7:38 AM

The fog bg is a plus here, where it provides a plain canvas for the delicate details of texture and color of the Kestrel. Great perch, and the bit of snow is a nice touch as well.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on December 4, 2010 at 10:52 AM

Wonderful image Ron, wish I could this close to the darn things

Always see them as I go down our country road, scouting on the power lines..
You've done an outstanding job under the conditions you've described

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on December 4, 2010 at 1:53 PM

You nailed it.. the snow/frost on the perch is such a sweet bonus.

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

Comment posted by Ian Mason on December 4, 2010 at 4:15 PM

Perfection! (I knew it was yours from the thumbnail)

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

Comment posted by Karen Summers on December 4, 2010 at 7:05 PM

Stunning shot I think I love the light and tones in this and the snowy bits on the perch are lovely

Registered on December 3, 2009, 83 Posts, 818 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on December 5, 2010 at 3:46 PM

Another beauty, Ron. Masterfully executed.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on December 5, 2010 at 6:24 PM

Beautiful setting for a well captured bird.
May

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