Wide Angle Swooping Buzzard (c)

Hello

This shot I have been after for as long as I can remember - a voles eye view as it's about to be caught. No way I was ever going to capture this in the wild, certainly not without the BBC wildlife unit budget so the next best thing - I enlisted the help of Vince from the Barn Owl Centre in Gloucester.

Vince was very patient (and so was Leighton) as this shot was the culmination of two separate sessions - not as easy as it probably looks - I am laying on my back under the fence post, Vince has bait an inch behind my head and even with the D3 at 9fps found it hard to lock onto Leighton as he was upon me in a split second.

The first session I used a 24-70 and that was not wide enough, kept clipping wings as he was so quick (now I know how the vole feels!) but the second session I used a 14-24mm 2.8 and the attached shot was taken at 14mm - the shot immediately after this and Leighton is too close again and all I got was talons !

Many a time I have had (non togs) say to me "why do you NEED 9fps", well, this is why

Hope you like it, c& c always welcome

and a big thanks to Vince (and Leighton)

thanks for looking

Colin

techs:-

D3 + 14-24mm 2.8
1/1000 sec @ f4 ISO 200

Sorry Colin but this just doesn't do it for me. Although a technically proficient image it has a very unnatural feel to it (like many captive images), looking almost as if the bird has been overlayed onto the background. Having said that I must declare that I'm not really into captive images anyway, but each to their own

I love this shot, Colin, and I think you are right - it is something that most of us could never hope to achieve without a captive bird. However, I am not sure about the footpath sign and I think you need to consider either cloning it out or replacing it with a suitable tree stump from another photo - anything that does not have that arm pointing left.

That one nit aside, I am glad you got what you wanted - isn't it great when a plan eventually comes together?

David

I love it.
I think it looks like the buzzard is taking off from the footpath sign.
Very unusual, well thought out and most importantly for me it works.
lovely sky, DoF, and the curve of vegitation that 14mm gives just adds to the shot.
This would be a great addition to anyones collection.

Cheers
Nigel
www.nigelspencer.co.uk

Imagination put to good use, I also love it and the idea behind it. Agree with David re the post but apart from that it's superb in my opinion.


Calum

I think it's a cracking shot Colin.Very imaginitive and well 'captured'.I'm glad you persisted but not as much as you,I'm sure.

Phil.

Very well thought out indeed Colin, the sign post can stay for me and my thinking behind it is, whenever I encounter a vole it's nearly always running along or crossing a country pathway. I can quite easily picture the Buzzard swooping down to take a vole. Others may disagree with my views but thats how I interpret this image.

Congrats on the achieving your goal.

Andy...

I agree with everything that Andy Shepherd has said. Well envisaged and executed. A far more interesting shot than the usual plain background and little imagination type of image that dogs modern nature photography (mine included). I like the signpost, it is just the sort of thing that a buzzard might drop from onto his lunch. Well done on producing a fine picture.
eric

A brilliant image, Colin. Well thought out and executed. Your perseverance has certainly paid off. I can just imagine this being the last thing a doomed vole sees, or doesn't as the case may be!

A brilliant image, Colin I love it.

Phil.

Ps a bit of fill flash next time

Been back a few times to this one.
I like it.
JR.

Not much for captive shots,but I have to say I love your vision,thought process here brilliant,the angle is amazing and agree with Andy,as this gives a birds eye view on the last thing their prey may see before they are killed,great job Colin

I think it's inspirational and the use of a captive bird is no different to going to any of the 'staging' honey pot sites all over the place.. Just took a little more foresight on your behalf.. Kudos..

Brett

Colin it works for me,very well done.

Keith.

Very nice and very different colin. Well captured Bronia