Red-tailed Hawk

Gallery: AvianPosted January 15, 2011232 views20 comments

Buteo jamaicensis

Fairly strong sidelighting on this one. I would have preferred a bit more detail in the shadows but overall I really liked the image for the pose and nice light on the majority of the hawk.

Shot handheld leaning lens against my vehicle.

I cloned out one very small branch from upper left corner.

7D, 500mm f4L IS + 1.4 tc
1/640, f5.6, ISO 200
71% of full frame

All comments and critique very appreciated.
Thank You.

Comments

20 comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 15, 2011 at 1:55 PM

I love the monotone colors here and the pose. Light is fine IMO.

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on January 15, 2011 at 2:24 PM

The pose is very nice, as is the brown tone.

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on January 15, 2011 at 2:47 PM

Matt: This is VERY nice. The overall monochrome nature of this image works for me. Plenty of light to make the hawk pop. I really like the pose and the head turn is super. Larger version really shines on this one.

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

Comment posted by Hali Sowle on January 15, 2011 at 4:51 PM

Great image, like everyone else has said the monochrome nature of the colors really enhances the image. I really like that one drop of red on the end of his beak, very telling! Nice pose and detail.

Registered on January 9, 2008, 36 Posts, 582 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on January 15, 2011 at 5:04 PM

Very effective colors, matt. Like the pose and perch as well.

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

Comment posted by David Schoen on January 15, 2011 at 5:19 PM

Very nice warm monotone feeling here. Good job!

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by richard remington on January 15, 2011 at 5:48 PM

Matt,

Super image with great light on the subject. As Rich noted the hawk just ate.

Rick

Registered on March 12, 2010, 105 Posts, 368 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on January 15, 2011 at 5:51 PM

I guess I'm with everyone else. I like the warmth of the light and the brown tones enhance that even more. Nice pose with that bloody beak adding an extra punch of color. Well framed too.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on January 15, 2011 at 5:53 PM

This looks excellent Matt, I especially like the bit of red at the beak & talon..
Nice light & details, the monochromatic look works very well here

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 15, 2011 at 6:03 PM

Great pose and intense stare Matt - well done

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on January 15, 2011 at 7:37 PM

Really neat shot Matt. The blood on the beak puts a great image over the top.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 15, 2011 at 9:35 PM

Really nice Matt. I too love the colors in this image. Nice and sharp and great light. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Lindy Martin on January 15, 2011 at 10:35 PM

Love the small amount of blood - great detail there. Can you give him some more room on the right?

Registered on March 10, 2009, 60 Posts, 169 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 15, 2011 at 11:28 PM

Excellent, Matt. It pops nicely even with a very similarly colored bg.

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

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on January 16, 2011 at 8:47 AM

Really nice pose and super detail in the hawk Matt. The light is superb as is the warm brown BF.

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

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on January 16, 2011 at 11:23 AM

Excellent image, Matt. As others have said, great detail, pose, color, and light.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on January 17, 2011 at 1:58 AM

Hi Matt. As others have mentioned nice monochromatic colors. I can't get close to these guys out here, 50 yards seems to be about it, so I'm envious of your accomplishment here. Everyone who has commented likes the sharpness and I agree it is good. However, I feel that you might be able to sharpen this a little more and make it even more impressive. My vision isn't what it used to be, so take it with a grain of salt.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 17, 2011 at 5:45 PM

Beautiful light and warm tones Matt. Love the pose. Shadows look fine to me, I can see detail in them and light causes shadows :-)

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

Comment posted by Giorgio Gregori on January 17, 2011 at 6:22 PM

A shot much above average : the light and pose are very nice, but even more the bloody beak and background colors similar to those of the bird .
Giorgio

Registered on November 16, 2007, 87 Posts, 793 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 18, 2011 at 3:43 PM

I really like the look and good job in in the strong light, way to go.

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