Extraordinary and breathtaking catch!!
One of the finest bird in flight images I've seen in a long, long time. I almost feel lucky viewing your work in this forum.
One suggestion, though. Although real nice, the bokeh isn't as pristine as much of your work (you've done spoiled me). Perhaps it's just a consequence of the resizing for web view. I wonder if some noise reduction on the background only might smooth things over a bit.
Posted by Dan Walters on March 20, 2011 at 7:53 PM
Thanks! John, there was a lot of leaves in the background, and it was shot at f/7.1. I think wide open would have cleaned up the background, but some of the hawk would have been a little soft.
A very sweet shot of probably the toughest bird in flight situation - when the AF can chose bird or background.
I'd probably want to run it by an ornithologist or two to be sure. His beak doesn't seem to be as blunt as a Cooper's, which is also in the 15-16" size range.
Posted by Todd Caudle on March 20, 2011 at 11:15 PM
It is a hawk, and its wings are broad, so...
Really exciting shot, Dan. Might I suggest blurring the background more to make the hawk stand out even better?
That looks like an immature Red-tailed Hawk to me. Can't see how much red is in the tail at this light angle, but an immature does not have a red tail, only a mature Red-tailed has a red tail.
Broad-winged Hawks don't live in Colorado. The closest known habitat is the eastern half of Oklahoma according to my Peterson Field Guide to Hawks.
Very nice shot though!
Posted by Paul Wegemann on March 21, 2011 at 9:14 AM
This is wonderful, Dan! Very dynamic. I'm with Todd and John about the background.
awesome catch, Dan! Personally, i like the bg as is--part of the beauty of the shot is how it mimics the coloration of the bird,. and that would be lost if it were more blurred.
Posted by Brian Jackson on March 21, 2011 at 11:31 AM
Another great shot Dan.
Posted by Jeff Hackett on March 21, 2011 at 9:29 PM
Discussion
14 repliesThanks for looking.
Sharp wing tip to tip, and the concentration in it's eye is great!
One of the finest bird in flight images I've seen in a long, long time. I almost feel lucky viewing your work in this forum.
One suggestion, though. Although real nice, the bokeh isn't as pristine as much of your work (you've done spoiled me). Perhaps it's just a consequence of the resizing for web view. I wonder if some noise reduction on the background only might smooth things over a bit.
I'd probably want to run it by an ornithologist or two to be sure. His beak doesn't seem to be as blunt as a Cooper's, which is also in the 15-16" size range.
Really exciting shot, Dan. Might I suggest blurring the background more to make the hawk stand out even better?
Broad-winged Hawks don't live in Colorado. The closest known habitat is the eastern half of Oklahoma according to my Peterson Field Guide to Hawks.
Very nice shot though!