Northern Harrier

Gallery: AvianPosted January 12, 2011221 views14 comments

My first post of a flight shot of this species. I find this barely acceptable in terms of image quality and I'd hate to try to crop it more. At 100% there was noticeable softness, but some serious sharpening seemed to make it crisp enough for web presentation. This is the closest I've gotten to a decent flight shot of this species, but at least we have them handy. I'd like more light on the face. I do like the bg and wing position.

7D, 500mm f4, hand held, f5.6, 1/500, iso 400, manual exposure, taken at 8:48 am from our front yard. Cropped to 5.2 MP from the original 18. Normal processing in CS4, except for extra sharpening.

I always appreciate your comments and criticisms.

Thanks for looking,

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on January 12, 2011 at 12:53 AM

Very respectable image, especially for the significant crop. The streak of horizontal light adds a lot to the image.

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

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on January 12, 2011 at 3:52 AM

Very nice shot, Dennis. The bird is clear and sharp in spite the significant crop. Anyway, to me, it is the light that makes the image great!
Mauro

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

Comment posted by Gerard Satherley on January 12, 2011 at 5:36 AM

Nicely captured Dennis. The cruising wing position and setting look good. Pity the light direction has not illuminated the face.

Registered on December 17, 2010, 2 Posts, 14 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 12, 2011 at 6:17 AM

A bit soft in the larger version but well done in PS for the smaller image. Nice eye contact, wing position and background.

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on January 12, 2011 at 8:44 AM

I think it turned out really well, Dennis. I don't see any sharpening artifacts. It's just a bit dark. So, I can't see as much detail as I would like. I really like the comp.

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on January 12, 2011 at 9:08 AM

HI Dennis: Getting the gray ghost is always a treat. I think your own self critique might a little tough on the image. It is still pretty darn good. If only the harrier would have been flying the other direction to get the light on his face...

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on January 12, 2011 at 9:32 AM

Dennis...I have had the hardest time even finding Harriers around here, so I am jealous! I think you did a good job processing this and I bet your next one will be even better!

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on January 12, 2011 at 10:55 AM

Like the dramatic early light that runs across the bird & BG at the same time..
Great details, it held up very well with this crop.
Well composed - well done

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

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on January 12, 2011 at 11:38 AM

Congrats on your first of the species, Dennis. I think the light is fine, very much so. Love that background, too.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on January 12, 2011 at 11:51 AM

I'd be pretty thrilled with a shot like this. Well done Dennis.
May

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

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on January 12, 2011 at 7:59 PM

Outstanding I would love to capture one like this!

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

Comment posted by Eric Diller on January 12, 2011 at 8:00 PM

Giving you the eye Dennis!! Fine capture

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

Comment posted by Ákos Lumnitzer on January 12, 2011 at 8:52 PM

Hi Denis
Light direction was not ideal, but you did the best possible. Love the wing pose and that it's from a front yard. Some yard you got!

Registered on April 24, 2004, 25 Posts, 510 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on January 12, 2011 at 9:55 PM

Much better than any flight shot I have of the species! Things are SO dang skittish around here!!! I'd be very happy with this.

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