Winter Kestrel

Gallery: AvianPosted January 24, 2013714 views24 comments

I was recently fortunate to spend a couple days in the Salt Lake City area shooting with two of the NPNers whom I most admire, Ron Dudley and Mia McPherson. Over the last few years, both have provided me with thoughtful and careful critiques and encouragement, while constantly inspiring me with their amazing images. It was an honor to shoot with them, and pleasure to find them to be delightful company in person.

I came away from the trip with a number of images I liked, including this female American Kestrel at one of the locations that they were kind enough to introduce me to, Farmington Bay WMA.

I appreciate your critiques and comments. Please view the larger version if possible.

f/7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500

Crop to 67% of original (12.0 of 18MP)

Canon 7D, 500mm, handheld from inside car.

Not baited, called, decoyed, or set up.

Comments

24 comments

Comment posted by Verdon on January 24, 2013 at 10:43 PM

nice pose and awesome snowy perch, if the shot is mine I would probably clone out branches from right hand side, strong shot

Registered on June 10, 2011, 147 Posts, 1444 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 24, 2013 at 10:46 PM

Great shot Brian - love the setting

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on January 24, 2013 at 11:12 PM

Nicely balanced composition Brian. Too good finding such a beautiful (and flighty) raptor in this winter wonderland. Definitely worth of framing!

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on January 24, 2013 at 11:49 PM

Wonderful shot, love the pose and the snowy perch.

Ray

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

Comment posted by John Launstein on January 25, 2013 at 4:12 AM

Brian: congratulations on a beautiful image...and one not easily captured. I certainly have not succeeded in my quest for quality kestrel images yet, but this has the added drama and beauty of the wintery environment so nicely and subtly conveyed here. Technically, the image is outstanding, and the sharpness, colours and dramatic light all make this a special one. You made me appreciate this species even more than I already did, and that is certainly the mark of a great wildlife image.

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments

Comment posted by Christine Adams on January 25, 2013 at 8:31 AM

REALLY, really nice Brian! Love the colors of him and the habitat, and the head turn and pose. Did I mention the colors? Seriously, great image!

Registered on January 24, 2006, 119 Posts, 1871 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 25, 2013 at 9:07 AM

Excellent as posted, Brian. A wonderful, frosty setting, great look back from the kestrel, colors are spot on and the bird is sharp throughout. I also enjoy the similar colors in the perch and kestrel. Very well done.

I thoroughly enjoyed our time spent together and hope to see you post some more shots from your trip.

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on January 25, 2013 at 9:19 AM

Brian: This is a very nice setting and wonderfully captured pose. All the technicals look great to me. Thanks for sharing.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 25, 2013 at 9:23 AM

Brian,

It was awesome to meet you and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit with you!

I love the pose, the setting, sharpness and details, how you were able to get a catch light and wouldn't change a thing!

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on January 25, 2013 at 9:43 AM

A beautiful wintry portait Brian

Great pose and nicely detailed. A pleasing composition.

Sweet Photo!!!

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by James Allen on January 25, 2013 at 10:08 AM

Beautiful job on the kestrel Brian! The headturn and light really show the kestrel well, and against that BG the colors really pop. I think it works as presented with the branches to the right of the bird, but if you clone them out like Verdon suggests it could also give the bird more implied elevation/space. The Kestrel's gaze really draws the viewer and there looks to be a little bit of graininess to the eye that you could smooth out, but thats a very minor nit.

Registered on December 10, 2012, 14 Posts, 232 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 25, 2013 at 10:41 AM

James, I think the bit of graininess you referred to is actually the trampled snow on the ground reflected in the kestrel's eye and not grain at all.

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on January 25, 2013 at 10:44 AM

What a nice image. The kestrel shows up and looks so real, not like a photo! Great head turn and setting. Sharon

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

Comment posted by Ralph Yakaboski on January 25, 2013 at 10:59 AM

I like the over the shoulder pose. Very well done.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1 Posts, 28 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 25, 2013 at 11:05 AM

Excellent. Very intimate for a kestrel image. Great setting.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 25, 2013 at 1:52 PM

Sweet image! Excellent pose, perfect colour rendition, and great perch with the snow.
Terrific image!
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Craig Strand on January 25, 2013 at 4:05 PM

This Kestrel is REALLY NICE Brian. You don't get to see that many in a snowy condition and you handled the brightness very nicely. She looks gorgeous on the wintery perch. Congrats on this image.

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Neil Rossmiller on January 25, 2013 at 6:03 PM

Great image, Brian.
I like it as posted. I think removing the vegetation on the right would damage the sense of environmental time and space. I like the way it balances the image. The Kestrel could stand alone, but the environment takes this over the top for me.
I have a trip scheduled there next monday. I'll prime myself by looking at this and Ron and Mia's work.
Well Done!
Neil

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 25, 2013 at 11:19 PM

Gorgeous image, Brian. The Kestrel really pops against the snow and I like the thistle perch. Nice head turn and superb detail.

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on January 25, 2013 at 11:57 PM

Exquisite!

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on January 26, 2013 at 11:23 AM

Hello Brian, wonderful image and great colors on the bird. It has so much more color than the ones we have over here (please see my post from today) .. Sounds like you had a great time around SLC ! Great shot in any case, cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Marlise Launstein on January 26, 2013 at 3:36 PM

I love kestrels! He has really nice colors on him, and I love his pose.

Registered on August 31, 2011, 28 Posts, 175 Comments

Comment posted by Josiah Launstein on January 26, 2013 at 8:45 PM

This is such a cute kestrel! He really stands out from the background. Really cool picture.

Registered on January 26, 2013, 52 Posts, 126 Comments

Comment posted by Lindy Martin on February 5, 2013 at 9:38 PM

I can see you have been with some great photographers. (I have to get the Ron Dudley truck that seems to capture everything!!) The image is crisp, clean and great colour! Good job!

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