The Chase + repost

Gallery: AvianPosted December 27, 20102,228 views55 comments

I was out at Montrose beach this morning in Chicago and as I was walking back to my car, I noticed this rabbit that clearly had something wrong with it as it was listing to one side and could only run in tight circles. I put my 600mm lens, Mk3, and tripod in the car and walked over to see what the deal was. The rabbit ran when I was about 3 feet away and slid under the fence. I decided to let it be and walked back around to my car. When I turned back to look, this Cooper's Hawk swooped in a started attacking the rabbit. It made several runs at it and fortunately I had my 50D with my new 70-200mm f/2.8 II with me and I walked right up to the action and started shooting. I have about 7 good shots, so I thought I would post at least one. I liked this because the rabbit is in mid-air and snow is flying.

Canon 50 D
Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 IS USM II
ISO 320, 1/4000th@f/4, AvMode, Eval 0 comp
9:35am, 22 degrees
LR 3.3, PSE9: Crop, adj shadows, sharpen, cloned out branch

Comments

55 comments

Comment posted by dan elster on December 27, 2010 at 11:49 PM

WOW! What a spectacular shot! The fact this happened at Montrose beach in Chicago(my home town) makes it even cooler. Congrats you nailed an awesome opportunity like this. Love the flying snow, sharpness and even the tree shadows on the snow.

Registered on September 23, 2005, 299 Posts, 2443 Comments

Comment posted by dan elster on December 27, 2010 at 11:51 PM

Did the hawk make the kill?

Registered on September 23, 2005, 299 Posts, 2443 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on December 28, 2010 at 12:01 AM

THis is simply amazing. Sounds like you did a lot of things-getting your gear and still managed to get this great action. Congrats on that.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on December 28, 2010 at 12:06 AM

Awesome indeed! Is this full frame? Big congrats on capturing this Bryan

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on December 28, 2010 at 12:30 AM

Incredible catch!! Excellent!!
Great action, tack-sharp, good comp and good whites too.

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on December 28, 2010 at 1:47 AM

Great capture Bryan

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Max Waugh on December 28, 2010 at 3:14 AM

Fantastic, Bryan. A dream scenario captured.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on December 28, 2010 at 5:04 AM

Holly Smokes

Nature at it's finest!!! Great catch of this incredible experience Brian.

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on December 28, 2010 at 8:27 AM

Great action n wonderful photo op ! I like the fact that both of them have same colour palette.
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Bryan Hix on December 28, 2010 at 8:34 AM

The hawk did not get the rabbit while I was there. I think it was just too big for him. When I left the scene, the rabbit was under a bush and the hawk was sitting in a tree about 10 feet above it. So, not sure what happened in the end.

Registered on June 13, 2008, 117 Posts, 755 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 28, 2010 at 8:39 AM

Awesome job Bryan. A super shot with great sharpness. No nits here, just great nature action.

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

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on December 28, 2010 at 8:45 AM

Great action and great catch Bryan.

Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on December 28, 2010 at 9:56 AM

Oh my!! WOW!! That is some action shot, and with your 70-200!!! Congrats on this shot. Certainly pays to be prepared

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

Comment posted by Greg Schneider on December 28, 2010 at 10:03 AM

WOW, what timing on your part!

Registered on February 9, 2008, 84 Posts, 138 Comments

Comment posted by Danny Laredo on December 28, 2010 at 10:09 AM

Stunning action and capture.

Registered on March 18, 2008, 71 Posts, 332 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on December 28, 2010 at 10:19 AM

Fantastic! You took full advantage of the circumstances - congrats!

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

Comment posted by Jeff Loomis on December 28, 2010 at 10:21 AM

Wow, that's a dream shot! Kudos for being able to think clearly amidst the action and coming away with a jaw dropper.

Registered on January 26, 2010, 68 Posts, 719 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on December 28, 2010 at 10:33 AM

Incredible image Brian...the sharpness and detail is just amazing for a shot with so much action.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on December 28, 2010 at 10:34 AM

I think it's all been said, Bryan. It's a capture most of us only dream of so big congrats on a super image. Top drawer.

Andy...

Registered on September 24, 2006, 123 Posts, 1254 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on December 28, 2010 at 11:38 AM

Incredible!

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on December 28, 2010 at 11:51 AM

"killer". Right place, right time, right gear (which is often the most important factor!). I'm impressed that you nailed the exposure, especially with such a high SS

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

Comment posted by Richard Bernabe on December 28, 2010 at 12:10 PM

Amazing, Bryan! Congrats on this wonderful capture.

Registered on November 24, 2004, 180 Posts, 1545 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on December 28, 2010 at 12:22 PM

Great shot! Glad you could take advantage of the situation. Wild in the Windy City can be tough! Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Backlund on December 28, 2010 at 1:19 PM

Not much to add except

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

Comment posted by Wayne Rhodus on December 28, 2010 at 1:34 PM

Let me add my acolades Bryan to those already tendered; just a fantastic moment captured expertly. Kudos to getting such a wonderfully sharp image of this action. I can't seem to get a sharp image when my subjects are still!

Registered on November 16, 2003, 157 Posts, 3326 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on December 28, 2010 at 1:35 PM

Oh, my, what a great capture, Bryan. The larger image is really grand.

An awesome addition to your portfolio.

Cheers,

Carol

Registered on January 18, 2007, 597 Posts, 8062 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Colvin on December 28, 2010 at 1:47 PM

Super action shot. It's so clear and sharp, you can see the rabbits whiskers. Perfect.

Registered on December 2, 2009, 15 Posts, 93 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Wilson on December 28, 2010 at 2:20 PM

Wow, chance favors the prepared! You sure proved that one! Great image!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 573 Posts, 2211 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on December 28, 2010 at 4:13 PM

fantastic action shot, Bryan! what a moment, and how exciting to capture it so well! I just know I would botch the same situation in all the excitement. sharpness is excellent for a shot like this. If I were to pick compositional nits, I'd like a little more room on the left if you have it, and perhaps less on the right, but give me a break, who cares about that with a shot like this!

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

Comment posted by Bryan Hix on December 28, 2010 at 4:31 PM

Brian, my crop was so minor that this might as well be considered full frame. Honestly, this was like a free throw. No thought, just shoot.

Registered on June 13, 2008, 117 Posts, 755 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on December 28, 2010 at 5:13 PM

Fine action shot, Bryan!

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Roane on December 28, 2010 at 7:02 PM

awesome action! I assumed the rabbit was toast until I saw your reply

Registered on December 12, 2008, 213 Posts, 2226 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 28, 2010 at 8:00 PM

Excellent Brian. Wonderful position and light on both pursued and pursuer. This kind of opportunity is rare and you were prepared. Very, very neat!

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

Comment posted by Eric Diller on December 28, 2010 at 8:50 PM

Pretty big prey for that coopers hawk! Killer action shot!

Registered on October 2, 2009, 69 Posts, 434 Comments

Comment posted by Bryan Hix on December 28, 2010 at 10:08 PM

Wow, thank you to all of you who stopped by and gave such nice comments. I appreciate it. It feels great to capture a good one every once in a while!

Registered on June 13, 2008, 117 Posts, 755 Comments

Comment posted by Randy Bacon on December 28, 2010 at 11:11 PM

Let's see if I can say something that hasn't already been said . . . Nope, can't do it - WOW - incredible shot. How fortunate to see this action and be able to capture it in a great image - I could only wish.

Registered on November 24, 2008, 56 Posts, 492 Comments

Comment posted by eric weight on December 29, 2010 at 12:45 AM

There's precious little that I can add to the comments already on here; except to say that nature photography is about taking those fleeting chances and making the most of them which you have done in style.

eric

Registered on December 4, 2007, 10 Posts, 70 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on December 29, 2010 at 6:59 AM

You have captured the "DECISIVE MOMENT". If I captured this shot it would be very difficult to compare future shots. This is truly as good as it gets.

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

Comment posted by Mark Davies on December 29, 2010 at 7:38 AM

Fortuitous or not , its one hell of a capture

Registered on February 3, 2009, 21 Posts, 327 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on December 29, 2010 at 9:51 AM

Nicely done Bryan, right place, right time!
It's definitely got that "wow" factor, great image

Happy New Year

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

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on December 29, 2010 at 11:38 AM

Wow ! What a great shot ! It is CRAZY cool

Mauro

Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments

Comment posted by Mack Barham on December 30, 2010 at 1:14 PM

Awesome!

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

Comment posted by Monica Siri on December 31, 2010 at 11:16 AM

Stunning action shot, Bryan.

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

Comment posted by Bryan Hix on December 31, 2010 at 12:21 PM

Here a re-post with some cloning work done and WB adjustment (I didn't like the color cast of the first one).

Registered on June 13, 2008, 117 Posts, 755 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 12, 2011 at 3:22 PM

Thought so!
Congrats on a fine EP!
Sandy

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

Comment posted by mark cillo on January 12, 2011 at 7:27 PM

This is amazing! With the 70-200.....unreal!

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

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on January 12, 2011 at 10:48 PM

I guess I'm identifying with the poor rabbit in this compelling photograph. I feel a sense of absolute desperation. Your story only adds to the sensation. Not only a superb avian image but a great piece of storytelling (both with photo and with words). The image itself is just beautiful and highly compelling. Congratulations for the EP, well deserved.

Might consider softening the tree branch on the left, but believe it's not a terrible distraction.

The final tah-dah! for me is that this is seen and captured in a metropolis!

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Smith on January 13, 2011 at 1:48 AM

YowseerZ! Super...No nits...just jaw-dropping. Ks

Registered on September 5, 2008, 449 Posts, 2444 Comments

Comment posted by Joe James on January 14, 2011 at 9:01 PM

Simply stunning!

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

Comment posted by Bill Maile on January 16, 2011 at 10:48 AM

I am late to the party here Bryan, but that is one amazing shot. BIG congrats!!!!

Registered on March 2, 2009, 984 Posts, 2518 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on January 17, 2011 at 6:47 PM

Wonderful natural history and image quality.

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on January 20, 2011 at 9:02 AM

I was glad to see this one get the EP Bryan...well deserved!

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on January 21, 2011 at 4:24 PM

An absolutely incredible capture, Bryan! Congratulations on a well-deserved EP! I do prefer the original post over the re-post, however. The color and contrast of the original post look fine to me; in my view, the branches add the perspective of habitat to the image.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on January 26, 2011 at 12:50 AM

Congrats Bryan

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

Comment posted by Kory Lidstrom on January 28, 2011 at 7:38 PM

Talk about right place at the right time. What a capture!

Registered on November 19, 2008, 49 Posts, 1035 Comments