Prairie Falcon

Gallery: AvianPosted November 20, 2011768 views19 comments

I found this falcon on the Antelope Island causeway just as the sun was coming up. The bird is perched on a rock between the road and the water so that the perch is shaded by the road and the light hasn't quite reached the falcons feet. There's a skewampus feather on the right wing and I do wish the tail were visible. I tried lightening the image but didn't like the results. Background is the shaded Great Salt Lake.

My settings were somewhat inappropriate for the situation - partly due to the fact that I had "buck fever" as this is the first time I've ever been anywhere near this close to the species in relatively good light.

7D, 1/3200, f/5.6, ISO 800, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, shot vertically from pickup window on 11/17/11, cropped to 72% of original image, exposure adjustment in ACR, NR to background, sharpened bird and perch, no additional processing or adjustments, natural light, not baited, set up or called in

Larger version provided

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on November 20, 2011 at 9:31 AM

Beautiful subtle lighitng and a great subject with top-notch detail. It's not often you get a falcon on such a pleasing perch with a clear background AND at eye level and you took advantage of it.

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

Comment posted by Neil Rossmiller on November 20, 2011 at 9:36 AM

Great capture Ron,
Nice to see that when "Buck Fever" strikes, all the years of experience and practice kick in the skills that save the day.
Cool Shot.
Neil

Registered on October 30, 2009, 156 Posts, 749 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on November 20, 2011 at 9:41 AM

Awesome, Ron. This one is up there with your best as far as I'm concerned. At least around here this is a tough bird to get near. What a beatiful bird.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on November 20, 2011 at 11:32 AM

I like the feather sticking out and the shadow showing depth in the chest. Excellent head turn and pose and perch. Very nice! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on November 20, 2011 at 2:39 PM

Thats an excellent piece of work, Ron. I love the way how the PF is caught by the light. A top quality image

Andy...

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

Comment posted by Doug Backlund on November 20, 2011 at 2:46 PM

I'd get buck fever too, if I ever had a chance at a shot like this! No nits from me, I think it is great!

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on November 20, 2011 at 3:36 PM

Your artistry should be everyones' North Star.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on November 20, 2011 at 4:09 PM

Awesome image! Stop complaining about things you think could be better in this as it is first rate as presented. You had a very nice opportunity here and you managed a fine image in spite of the excitement.

Well done.

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

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on November 21, 2011 at 10:36 AM

This is excellent. Image quality is superb.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on November 21, 2011 at 11:30 AM

Oh my.... This is sweet. The light is great as is the image of the Falcon. I really like the light and the fact that it had not reached the feet. Excellent image!!

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

Comment posted by Rohn B. McKee on November 21, 2011 at 3:08 PM

Ron,
Great capture. Really nice sharpness, color and gesture. Very nice

Registered on November 18, 2008, 109 Posts, 415 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on November 21, 2011 at 5:23 PM

Light and details are just wonderful. Excellent portrait.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on November 21, 2011 at 6:40 PM

I saw this on your blog the other day and hoped you would post it here. Absolutely first rate, Ron! Sweet light, terrific perch, impeccable techs, great background and wonderful composition. A definitive Prairie Falcon shot.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on November 23, 2011 at 12:10 AM

Wow, very nice image quality on a great species. Super setting as well. The light is excellent, has an almost 3D appearance. Only suggestion for improvement might be to have a bit more perch in the frame to raise the subject just a tad; which is entirely my personal feeling. Congratulations on this stunner.

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on November 23, 2011 at 12:47 AM

I'd be overjoyed to have captured this fine image Ron, absolutely beautiful!

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on November 25, 2011 at 6:58 PM

Awesome! As Charlie said, I've found it very difficult to get close to one - mind you, I've only ever encountered one!

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on November 25, 2011 at 8:32 PM

Great bird in sweet light with beautiful detail, nature photography doesn't get much better than this. Sweet One Ron

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on November 26, 2011 at 2:30 AM

A truly marvelous image, subtle light great pose and clear BG, who could ask for more?

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on November 28, 2011 at 10:31 PM

Pretty amazing capture Ron.
May

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