Cooper's Hawk

Gallery: AvianPosted July 8, 2012219 views14 comments

Subject: Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
Place: Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior, AZ
Date: July 6, 2012, 7:55 am
Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 & TC20E III (2x), Gitzo 1325, RRS BH-55, sidekick
ISO 800, aperture priority matrix metered, 1/200th @ f/8
Raw, PS CS3 on Mac, 79% of frame
Not set up, not baited, no cloning, no noise reduction

The heat has kept me cooped up for too long so I ignored it on Friday and made the one hour drive to Boyce Thompson Arboretum. It was still hot, even at 6:00 am when the gate opened, but it felt good to be out with my camera gear for a change.

I came upon this adult Cooper's Hawk feeding one of its two juveniles. It was a shaded spot with strong back light - I could have used my flash for fill but I hadn't expected needing it and didn't want to carry it for the two mile hike in the heat.

Rather than loose the shot by taking off the 2x I composed for the young bird and cropped into the adult on the top left. I find the young bird more interesting with the remaining downy feathers on the forehead and the pale blue iris that will soon turn yellow.

Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated.

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on July 8, 2012 at 10:31 PM

Richard,
This is as good as it gets, Outstanding . . .
The bright background works well to pronounce the detail in both birds and makes them pop and would really work well nicely framed hanging on a wall. Get back in the heat, doesn't seem to slow you down at all.

Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on July 8, 2012 at 10:33 PM

Great shot Richard! I do wish the parents head was just a tad more turned to the camera, but thats a minor nit. Like the detail and color of the juvenile. Looks like it was worth the heat to get this shot! Thanks for sharing.

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on July 8, 2012 at 11:19 PM

Incredible shot, love the intense look of the blue eyed juvenile. Excellent detail and composition.

Ray

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

Comment posted by Rick Turner on July 8, 2012 at 11:58 PM

Great eye contact and moment. Good story Richard

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on July 9, 2012 at 12:40 AM

This works for me too. The sharpness of the juvie, the intense eye, and the pose are all great. Less great is the parent's pose.
The prey is back to "great."
A great example of turning poor conditions and not having with you what you wished - into a very nice image.
A keeper, for sure!

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 9, 2012 at 6:28 AM

Cool image Rich..I like the expression on your main subject.
Great catch

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

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on July 9, 2012 at 10:04 AM

Wonderful shot.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on July 10, 2012 at 5:07 AM

A Sweet Photo Richard

I especially like the large version, the intent stare of the youngster as it waits for it's share of the meal is awesome. NIce work in such tough lighting conditions.

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on July 10, 2012 at 9:02 AM

Very nice, Richard. The intensive stare of the juvenile along with fine sharpness and detail are, to me, the outstanding characteristics of this shot. I'd be tempted to clone out the little branches of greenery bracketing the head of the adult. They just provide a minor distraction but I don't think they add anything either.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 11, 2012 at 12:49 PM

Beautiful composition, Richard. Excellent choice in the circumstances. The way the juvenile is staring at the adult provides some nice tension and the angles all work very well in this image.

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

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on July 11, 2012 at 3:36 PM

Nice to see so many details on the juvenile hawk, Richard. The eye looks very sharp and you got the entire juvie. I would have liked to see a little more of the parent hawk in the image, if you had that option.

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by David Williams on July 11, 2012 at 3:37 PM

I think the partial view of the adult helps this image, Richard. Now we totally focus on the juvie just as you did, and that is how it should be....beautifully done.

Registered on March 8, 2005, 315 Posts, 2291 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on July 11, 2012 at 6:54 PM

I like this close up look at the young bird and especially that blue eye! Very nice detail, and I also like that his interest is on the parent, and not you. Sharon

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on July 12, 2012 at 5:51 PM

Very cool find and a good idea to focus on the younger bird. Excellent feather detail on the larger version with an interesting eye color on the juvenile, way to go Rich.

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