Goshawk (c)

1D Mark II N, EF 300 f2.8 L USM, ISO 800, 1/200 @ f4, CS2, C1
A very feisty falconers bird definitely with its hunting head on today but fun trying to nail a half decent shot anyway.

Regards

JohnS

I really like this. Very nice crisp shot with good comp.

Very accomplished image and comp - shows Mrs.Angry of very well

I'd be very tempted to run a blur tool over the BG in a lower layer John and then blend the two images as the BG looks a tad busy

Very nice image

Beautiful, a very striking bird, I have seen one in the wild near me hopefully one day I will see it again.



Tim

Great photo of a fantastic bird . I've never seen one of these in the wild yet, it seems there is very few places in the UK where they are found.

Cheers,

Dan.

Great shot. Beautiful bird. Lovely angle showing all that feather detail. Andy's idea of blurring the background further is a great one and I can't make up my mind whether I'd be tempted to clone out the suckering twigs underneath the bird (having said that I really like shots that include some environment.)

Great shot of goshawk.
Personnaly, I would clone the white spot (Probably droping) at the end of the tale of the bird, in the black part of the tale
Regards
Frederic

Look slike you found your Gos then John

They are total killing machines these, especially falconers' ones, and the angry look in the eye here is totally in character ands well captured.



Mark

Love the bird, but i must say I would try and do something with the background, it looks like its in a cage which i presume is in fact branches just doing an impression of a cage

Other than that the bird looks like a true killing machine.


Cheers
Brian

Thanks for the comments guys. I'm very interested in the reaction here - I shot several portraits with the 600 for a completely clean and diffused background (I don't do that kind of post capture manipulation on my images) but purposely shot this one shorter to include more background detail and therefore suggest the woodland environment much more strongly. To my eye putting the goshawk firmly in its hunting context are by far the better images and look much less like a captive subject too. I tried to find an angle to lose the white sky but it just wasn't there. However your opinions are greatly valued and taken on board.

Regards

JohnS

Hi John,

Very nice indeed , comp looks good , like it as is

Regards

Andy...

Beautiful detailed shot John

To my eye, it does have an 'in-the-wild' feel to it, and feel you have achieved your goal

Alan

Great composistion & i like the almost mono tone of this. Suits the supposed dark nature of these birds. Love it!