Cooper's Hawk

Gallery: AvianPosted May 9, 2013104 views9 comments

1/640s,f/8, ISO 800 + 0.67EV. 600mm on D300.

This Cooper's got a pigeon and was defending it's catch very jealously.Probably a female due to the size of the prey.

Cropped to about 90% of FF, some cleaning of specks on background snow.

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on May 9, 2013 at 8:42 AM

Great catch Claude, I especially like the POV and winter setting.
The tiny bit of red at the beak adds well too.

Only suggestions are a standard 2:3 comp to eliminate some of the top space as an alternate comp.
Perhaps another round of web sharpening?

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

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on May 9, 2013 at 9:43 AM

Hi Claude, agree with Howard on the POV and additional sharpening. There is also more detail you can extract from the FG snow which really helps too, tried it.

BTW your image has an untagged profile, just check for when you convert for web presentation.

TFS
Steve

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Marella on May 9, 2013 at 10:00 AM

Nice, Claude. You've captured that attitude of the hawk. Like the low angle.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 142 Posts, 862 Comments

Comment posted by Claude Dagenais on May 9, 2013 at 12:02 PM

Thanks for the suggestions, here is processed photograph.

Registered on April 10, 2013, 56 Posts, 571 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on May 9, 2013 at 12:23 PM

Sweet! Great contrast against the snow. Nice bit of meat on the beak too.
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on May 9, 2013 at 3:10 PM

A terrific moment to frame, congrats ! I seems a little soft, so the suggestion for another round of sharpening may be a good idea, the image absolutely deservers it ! Well done ! Hans

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on May 9, 2013 at 3:27 PM

Very nice Claude. Love shots of birds of prey with prey.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 9, 2013 at 8:03 PM

Always great to get a bird of prey with it's catch, the additional sharpening in the repost helps

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

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on May 10, 2013 at 2:07 PM

Hi Claude, nice to see you were able to extract the extra detail that was already there, just adds to the scene and makes a big difference IMHO. I prefer the colour of the bird in the OP, the RP looks too warm, if you combine the two and add a Curves adjustment to up the Mid tone, this will really help and add the extra depth to the plumage, plus the additional sharpening.

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments