Posted by Barry Southon on December 20, 2008 at 5:23 AM
Having spent a considerable part of the last two weeks enduring 10 to 20 degrees below freezing including wind chill it was worth every minute to see the Eagles and Hawkes in their environment. Flight shots are still not as I want but I'm pleased with some of the static results. Kansas Dec 2008
I'd still appreciate any advice and critique.
Canon 350D Handheld sigma 120mm-300mm at 148mm f/2.8 ISO400 1/800sec
Thanks for looking.
Barry
Eastbourne E Sussex
Posted by John Robinson on December 20, 2008 at 6:38 AM
Wow ! -is that a Gos ?
Thats very close with a 300mm too. Was it baited from a hide ?
Good stuff.
Posted by Andy Shepherd on December 20, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Sure looks a powerful bird Barry, great looking hawk, I'm also interested as to which hawk this is?, nice shot by the way.
Andy...
Posted by F.DESMETTE on December 20, 2008 at 10:54 AM
Goshawk indeed. Baited?
Frederic
Posted by Tim Munsey on December 20, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Ah, my feeling is that it's captive guys, you can make out the wire grid in the background hence Barry's wink.
Apologies me if I'm wrong.
Tim
Posted by Barry Southon on December 20, 2008 at 12:39 PM
Sorry guy's not captive and no wire grid in the background. It was feeding on road kill and with the cold weather front that had passed through the area had an abundance of hawks and eagles. No tripod just a quick snatch from the vehicle window. A few more to come under the same circumstances including Bald Eagle flying tuition eight birds in shot immatures being tutored it seemed. Almost every other pole had a hawk set on it which I found amazing. Never seen so many. That's also a bit of roadkill flesh on its bill.
I also think it's a Goshawk but my ID's not always on target.
Barry
Eastbourne / Kansas
Posted by Magnus Hird on December 20, 2008 at 2:15 PM
Nice portrait Barry, might have gone with a slightly smaller aperture to try and hold more of the beak in focus but for a grab from the car window you've done very well
Posted by Vincent Jones on December 20, 2008 at 3:08 PM
I am in two minds too with the Goshawks origin, sorry about this Barry.
What makes it captive looking to me is the non pointed beak, its too rounded at the end, if wild it should be as pointed as a pin.
At 148mm & with a car pulling up next to it, a Goshawk being the nervous bird they are would of been aware, tight feathered & flying off. The way the feathers are fluffed up it looks just a bit to relaxed to be wild.
Is it possible to upload the original image, untouched & just resized for web so I can be convinced with it being a wild bird, this will take away the doubt I have
Cheers Barry
Sorry to sound negative & please don't be offended
Posted by Barry Southon on December 20, 2008 at 6:21 PM
Here you go original just resized let me just clarify I did not just drive up and stick the lens out of the window as Vincent suggested I was using the car as a hide.
The reference media I have checked confirms a Goshawk beak is correct shape even. So good enough for me.
No bars in the back ground they are in town I can assure you Tim please be more specific.
Barry
Posted by Tim Munsey on December 20, 2008 at 7:09 PM
Hi Barry,
My original conclusion was brought about by the horizontal repeating "lines" in the background, but that was my mistake perhaps they are some artifact, I guess if it were captive anyway you would've got a more full on portrait.
So an amazing shot of a bird I only think I've seen.
Tim
Posted by Barry Southon on December 21, 2008 at 4:21 AM
Tim
I think I may be able to assist with an explanation. The area is known as the Flint Hills but I must point out not flint as we know it to be. Its in fact sandstone and the layers have differing colours. This photo as I recall was adjacent to a cutting through a small hill I was parked close to the entrance to a field the cutting provided the back ground.
Road kill is without doubt an attraction for avian activity if your prepared to sit and wait. Step out of the vehicle and there they are gone. Thus my to often lack of the use of a tripod.
Add in the environment and -10 to -20 degrees its brass monkeys situation. Once factor will prevail the the birds need to feed. Its common place to see five or six hawks within a mile mostly sitting on power poles. I have over 3000 shots taken in December alone most of which I still need to ID.
My total lack of expertise with PP could niether enhance or eliminate background features my limitations extend to re size for posting and exposure adjustments.
Discussion
10 repliesI'd still appreciate any advice and critique.
Canon 350D Handheld sigma 120mm-300mm at 148mm f/2.8 ISO400 1/800sec
Thanks for looking.
Barry
Eastbourne E Sussex
Thats very close with a 300mm too. Was it baited from a hide ?
Good stuff.
Sure looks a powerful bird Barry, great looking hawk, I'm also interested as to which hawk this is?, nice shot by the way.
Andy...
Frederic
Apologies me if I'm wrong.
Tim
I also think it's a Goshawk but my ID's not always on target.
Barry
Eastbourne / Kansas
What makes it captive looking to me is the non pointed beak, its too rounded at the end, if wild it should be as pointed as a pin.
At 148mm & with a car pulling up next to it, a Goshawk being the nervous bird they are would of been aware, tight feathered & flying off. The way the feathers are fluffed up it looks just a bit to relaxed to be wild.
Is it possible to upload the original image, untouched & just resized for web so I can be convinced with it being a wild bird, this will take away the doubt I have
Cheers Barry
Sorry to sound negative & please don't be offended
The reference media I have checked confirms a Goshawk beak is correct shape even. So good enough for me.
No bars in the back ground they are in town I can assure you Tim please be more specific.
Barry
My original conclusion was brought about by the horizontal repeating "lines" in the background, but that was my mistake perhaps they are some artifact, I guess if it were captive anyway you would've got a more full on portrait.
So an amazing shot of a bird I only think I've seen.
Tim
I think I may be able to assist with an explanation. The area is known as the Flint Hills but I must point out not flint as we know it to be. Its in fact sandstone and the layers have differing colours. This photo as I recall was adjacent to a cutting through a small hill I was parked close to the entrance to a field the cutting provided the back ground.
Road kill is without doubt an attraction for avian activity if your prepared to sit and wait. Step out of the vehicle and there they are gone. Thus my to often lack of the use of a tripod.
Add in the environment and -10 to -20 degrees its brass monkeys situation. Once factor will prevail the the birds need to feed. Its common place to see five or six hawks within a mile mostly sitting on power poles. I have over 3000 shots taken in December alone most of which I still need to ID.
My total lack of expertise with PP could niether enhance or eliminate background features my limitations extend to re size for posting and exposure adjustments.
I hope this helps by way of explanation.
Barry