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Hawk w/prey
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Hawk w/prey

by scott lanz

Gallery: AvianPosted November 8, 2016211 views5 comments
My once a year foray into the avian gallery. My wife was walking in the park near home late yesterday afternoon when this hawk swooped down on a squirrel right in front of her. She called me, so I grabbed my camera and headed over, hoping it would still be there. It was, and I was able to get some shots. You can see the squirrel's tail and blood on the hawk. I have a couple questions. Is that fact that the hawk is on the ground detract from the quality of the shot? Also, is this a red tail hawk? Is the crop ok or would you recommend a different crop? (It is cropped about 50% as shown). Thanks for looking/commenting. D600, 80-400 @ 400 and 5.6, 1/250, iso 800, hh. 

Comments

5 comments
Comment posted by Jerry Austin on November 8, 2016 at 10:16 AM
This is indeed a Red-Tailed hawk. The fact that he is on the ground, for me, does not detract at all. The background is really nice. I would de-center the image if you have more canvas on the left side. Most hawks don't wait for me to raise my camera, much less wait for me to drive from my house. (smile)
Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments
Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on November 8, 2016 at 11:22 AM
I agree with Jerry. Either add to the left, or crop top and right. Good sharp picture, dof just right.
Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments
Comment posted by David Schoen on November 8, 2016 at 7:29 PM
The nice soft red background is a real good job of making this red tailed hawk stand out.  Agree with the cropping suggestions.  You did a real good job with the detail and postprocessing.
Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments
Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on November 8, 2016 at 9:17 PM
It's definitely a Red-tail. Great capture. I agree on a different crop. Really like the low angle.
Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on November 8, 2016 at 9:18 PM
Excellent work, Scott.  Beautiful detail in the Red-tailed Hawk with a wonderful head turn.  I think you could crop it just a bit tighter.  I think there's enough room on the left, but you could take about half of the oof grass out of the foreground and maybe a touch off the right and top to balance things.  Beautiful image.

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