In Flight

Gallery: AvianPosted January 18, 2012297 views12 comments

This is a Harris Hawk that was taken at the RMNP Raptor shoot in Denver. This was a male hawk that was taken in by a group called Nature's Educators out of Denver, CO because he didn't do a very good job hunting with his falconer. I guess he was very noisy and kept scaring the prey.

He was tethered and being held by one of the educators in this photo. I composed this shot to make it look like he was flying. Comments welcome!

Nikon D300s
80-400mm @400mm
ISO 400 F6.3 !/800 sec
Full frame

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on January 19, 2012 at 12:14 AM

When I saw the thumbnail, I thought you'd actually gotten this tight a flight shot. Well seen and captured.

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

Comment posted by Debbie Yarra on January 19, 2012 at 12:31 AM

In my dreams, Jim

.... but one can still imagine it in this shot. Thanks for your comments and for looking!

Registered on January 1, 2012, 5 Posts, 91 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on January 19, 2012 at 12:33 PM

I like the choice of crop drawing attention to the nice sharp face.

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 19, 2012 at 1:08 PM

love the comp with the sharp face and oof wing. great details. very nice, Debbie.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on January 19, 2012 at 1:26 PM

An interesting portrait Debbie, I think it works well with the sharp head against it´s out of focus wing

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 19, 2012 at 4:58 PM

I like this. Does look like a flight shot.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 19, 2012 at 6:35 PM

A unique take on a bird held in the hand with the wing in the background like that. I enjoy the detail in the face and beak.

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

Comment posted by Debbie Yarra on January 20, 2012 at 1:13 AM

Thanks everyone for your comments! I hope to one day get some true flight shots like some of you guys. Just starting in the wildlife/ avian arena and I'm really enjoying it, but also realize it's not so easy. My hats off to all of you for your fine work! Blessings, Deb

Registered on January 1, 2012, 5 Posts, 91 Comments

Comment posted by Basil Greber on January 20, 2012 at 1:58 AM

Super shot. Love the tight crop with the out of focus wing in the backdrop. I'd consider toning tone the bright parts around the beak a bit.

Registered on November 8, 2005, 219 Posts, 1340 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on January 20, 2012 at 7:22 AM

Hello Debbie & welcome to NPN

Pin sharp details in your profile portrait, I like the unique comp.
Only suggestion for improvement would be a small selective reduction of your brightness at/around the birds beak.
Nice work & have a great weekend!

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

Comment posted by Cristina Strudthof on January 20, 2012 at 7:01 PM

The tight crop makes this a nice, strong comp. Regardless of how you got it, it's still a great shot.

Registered on January 14, 2011, 53 Posts, 363 Comments

Comment posted by Debbie Yarra on January 20, 2012 at 8:10 PM

Thanks Basil, Howard and Christina! Appreciate the comments! I already have worked on the highlights in the beak, so I guess I need to be a bit more heavy handed. Thanks! Blessings, Deb

Registered on January 1, 2012, 5 Posts, 91 Comments