Takeoff Intensity

Gallery: AvianPosted January 26, 2013784 views14 comments

I photographed this juvenile Red-tailed Hawk taking off at Farmington Bay WMA on my recent trip to the Salt Lake City area. While it's obviously not the best perch, I think the intense eye contact makes up for a lot. I appreciate your critiques and comments. Please view the larger version if possible.

f/8, 1/1000, ISO 400

Crop to 73% of original (13.1 of 18MP)

Canon 7D, 500mm + 1.4x TC, foam noodle on the car window.

Not baited, called, decoyed, or set up.

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Ed Cordes on January 26, 2013 at 9:36 PM

You are correct. The intense stare is super!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 451 Posts, 3366 Comments

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on January 26, 2013 at 9:43 PM

Holy cow, this is awesome! Love that intense stare! Really nice comp you chose, too!

Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 26, 2013 at 11:09 PM

Great angle, Brian. I love the intense look. Nice dof to still get reasonable detail in the talons and tail.

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

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on January 27, 2013 at 4:24 AM

Great look in the bird's eyes ! Nice pose. Well done, cheers, Hans

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

Comment posted by Jefferson Silva on January 27, 2013 at 6:56 AM

Amazing. The bird eye contact was really intense, intimidating I would say. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on December 18, 2012, 162 Posts, 975 Comments

Comment posted by David E Lester on January 27, 2013 at 8:40 AM

Super..just super..looks like it had its eye on something!!

Registered on March 24, 2010, 155 Posts, 793 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 27, 2013 at 12:42 PM

Lot's of intensity in that pose. The perch is fine IMO.

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

Comment posted by Marlise Launstein on January 27, 2013 at 1:57 PM

WOW! Some times its hard getting pictures of birds taking off, but that you got him not just taking off but looking straight at you and its really sharp! Beautiful image!

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on January 27, 2013 at 4:37 PM

The stare is pretty intense all right. I find the shape and blur of the bird's left wing a bit distracting. I'm a bit baffled because the feet are about the same distance away and are crisp.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 27, 2013 at 5:16 PM

Jim, since the blurring is at both wingtips and not on any other part of the bird (even those at similar distances from the viewer/sensor to the right wing), it must be motion blur that is at work. Which makes sense, since the motion will be fastest closest to the wingtip.

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on January 27, 2013 at 10:01 PM

Nice timing Brian. Love the intensity on the owl's face.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by James Allen on January 28, 2013 at 6:31 AM

Well done nailing the focus on the hawk's face/body. I like the character in the spread tail as well.

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

Comment posted by Tim Butler on January 29, 2013 at 8:54 AM

Amazing capture of that intense look you got! It's been extremely helpful for me to read these comments about the DoF! Thanks to all!

Registered on October 12, 2012, 17 Posts, 155 Comments

Comment posted by Graham Brown on January 29, 2013 at 12:35 PM

Really like this composition Brian. I personally like to see a sharp body with some motion blurr on the wings as you have here because it's taking off not gliding. The eyes and stare are perfect. Graham

Registered on November 20, 2007, 275 Posts, 1365 Comments