Goshawk

Just come back from Norway trying to get images of Golden Eagles and this beautiful bird. This is a male which always came to the bait first and then when he had finished the female would come in to finish off the bird. When it works you have two hours of photography which is one of the best things that I have done. The light levels are low because it is deep in a conifer wood so my speed never reached above 1/40 but I did manage quite a few sharpe shots. A big thankyou for my guide Ole Martin for three years of hard work to make this happen and also all your hard work while we were there, you are the best!!!!!!

Canon 1DS MK11, 500mm lens, 1.4 convertor, 1/20, F5.6, ISO 250. (I am pushing the boat out).

Danny

Looks to have been a great experience Danny, super image of this geat BoP... however I find the brightness of the bait a distraction here... well done for getting a sharp image at 1/20th...

Well, it's one bird I regret not taking the opportunity with Danny - stunning pose and a great privilege to see - Ole certainly works hard to give us these fantastic chances.

Jealous as Hell - I hate you

Nice work Danny, but agree with Phil about the brightness of the prey. Often difficult to expose all just right in those conditions but still enjoying it nonetheless.

Brett

He's back in town! with another beautiful,pictorial image of this beautiful bird, good work danny

Really nice image of a beautiful bird taken in difficult light. Nice one.

Terry

damned if you do and damned if you dont but in this instance the eye holds it together.At that shutter speed its testiment to a skill .Blown bird what blown bird , for me it detracts none from the image .Smart picture and jealous as sin .

Jealous or what Danny! Cracking

Steve

Great shot Danny

Danny

Great image well defined. Aren't they great birds to see in the wild.

Barry

Kansas

Superb shot! My only nit is the band, but nothing you could have done.

great image but also agree about the brightness of its prey

lea

Fantastic shot, but I also agree about the brightnes of the prey.

Wow this is so good Danny.

Thanks for your comments Guys, I would like to know what could have been done about the brightness of the prey though because surely you must expose for the main target which is the goshawk, if I would have compensated for the ptarmigan my speed would have gone even lower and then I would have had to up the ISO to 400 which would have produced so much more noise as it was very dark, if I had stayed as I was then I probably wouldn't have got a sharp image. What then would have you guys that mentioned the brightness of the bird done in this situation as I am sure people reading this would maybe then be able to put it into practice if they find themselves with the same problem.

Danny

Hi Danny a very nice image, there's plenty of detail left in the white of the bird I just had a quick play with the Jpeg and managed recovery lots and lots of detail in the ptarmigan I wouldn't mind having a go with a copy of the original CR2 file.

Phil.

Hi Danny,

Do agree, your exposure for the main subject is spot on... its perhaps a shame that the bait was a Ptarmigan, in this instance and I believe fully justified (we used to do it all the time in the traditional darkrooms) is to selectively bring detail back into the (what appear to be) blown highlights, or do two conversions and blend the two... I don't think it needs a lot of toning down of those whites... of course compression for the web will not have helped them..

All the best & speak soon

Phil

Fantastic shot Danny