Northern Harrier

Gallery: AvianPosted December 4, 2009335 views28 comments

A snowstorm on the day before this shot was taken made for what I thought was an interesting setting so I was happy when this harrier dropped low enough for me to include it in the image.

I find myself becoming even more reluctant to do any significant cloning so even though I'd prefer that the dark OOF Phragmites head immediately under and touching the bird's right wing was not there I'm inclined to leave it in rather than have to remove it.

7D, 1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, shot from pickup window on 11-15-09, cropped to 50% of original image, morning light, not baited

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

28 comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on December 4, 2009 at 6:51 PM

Great shot Ron, I like the eye contact, the head on pose and the frosty setting, the bits under the wing don't bother me at all.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 4, 2009 at 6:57 PM

Ron, great head on position. I really like the color of the sky/BG. The habitat with snow really adds to the image and the Phrag heads do not even enter my mind when looking at this. Nice and sharp from tip to tip to tail with just enough head turn to get a nice catchlight. Very nice indeed.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on December 4, 2009 at 6:58 PM

Ron: Very nice image of the harrier. Nice light in the eye. I don't mind the darker phragmites in the lower part of the frame. The OOF twig on the right edge sure pulls my eye away though.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on December 4, 2009 at 7:05 PM

Ron, if I ever hear that you've baited any of these subjects, I'll personally send "Guido" up there to ...

Anyhow, this is another fine image. Seems the BG does present a little conflict, sort of a shame that the bird wasn't a notch or two higher, but the focus looks spot-on, and the harrier really stands apart from the BG. Nice work!

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 4, 2009 at 7:14 PM

"Ron, if I ever hear that you've baited any of these subjects, I'll personally send "Guido" up there to ..."

It ain't gonna happen Bill. Guaranteed. But if it did you wouldn't need Guido - Mia would have strangled me first.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on December 4, 2009 at 7:17 PM

One of your best Ron - great eye contact, detail and the snow is a lovely touch

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Bob Lego on December 4, 2009 at 7:21 PM

Great shot. I need one of these this winter.

Registered on April 20, 2005, 63 Posts, 143 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Simpson on December 4, 2009 at 8:41 PM

Great detail and control of focus in a difficult situation! Love that sparkle in the eye!

Wayne

Registered on December 11, 2006, 303 Posts, 924 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on December 4, 2009 at 9:33 PM

Wonderful capture. I love the curve of the wing. The setting adds to the image.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on December 4, 2009 at 10:14 PM

Another incredible BIF capture, Ron. Beautiful. I feel the same way about cloning. I wonder if a local exposure adjustment on the dark OOF Phragmites head could make it less distracting. Actually, it's hardly distracting now. So, a very small increase in exposure to it may lower its contrast with the background and make it completely negligible. I'm not sure it can work well in this case but, in general, I find using exposure adjustment so much less drastic than cloning.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Neil Rossmiller on December 4, 2009 at 10:25 PM

"Knock me over with a feather" was a saying my Grandmother used to use.
Know I have Been!

Thanks For sharing Ron!
Neil

Registered on October 30, 2009, 156 Posts, 749 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on December 4, 2009 at 10:27 PM

Awesome photo Ron!!!

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on December 4, 2009 at 10:59 PM

Ron,

I love the setting, the phragmites with the snow on top, the intense look the harrier appears to have, the curve of her wings and the light in her eyes. I also like how the cool tones of the sky accentuate the warm tones of the harrier and the phragmites.

Very appealing & well done image.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Kirk Greene on December 4, 2009 at 11:08 PM

Wonderful capture. I can go either way with the cloning but the bird is so sharply in focus compared to everything else I don't find the other elements too distracting. Very well done!

Registered on May 12, 2004, 191 Posts, 1578 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on December 4, 2009 at 11:15 PM

Superb image! I wouldn't touch a thing here.

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on December 5, 2009 at 12:56 AM

Ron, I don't know how you do it, another amazing photo. Love the arch of his wings, the nearly straight on approach and surrounding habitat. Just an awesome flight photo. Guess I have to go to Utah????

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Jenkins on December 5, 2009 at 8:39 AM

great one!

Registered on April 20, 2008, 307 Posts, 604 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on December 5, 2009 at 8:49 AM

wow, Ron. another beauty. love the wintery setting. I don't mind the bits of vegetation at all. nice sharpness, pose, and comp. the time that you put in with these birds sure pays off.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on December 5, 2009 at 3:03 PM

Another fine harrier shot. Love the head-on look her.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen on December 5, 2009 at 3:16 PM

Nice BIF of this one. They are so difficult for me to capture. I don't think the plants are distracting at all.

Registered on November 11, 2007, 42 Posts, 803 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on December 6, 2009 at 2:46 AM

Hey, I recognize that bird from Mia's photo

A wonderful bird 'in its environment ' shot . I wouldn't clone anything here either .

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Nilanjan Das on December 6, 2009 at 7:59 AM

Lovely shot. I like this habitat too. Well this is most natural, so I wouldn't clone anything too :)

Registered on June 5, 2008, 94 Posts, 383 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on December 6, 2009 at 10:44 AM

The bird is wonderful but what I like even better are those plants in the snow being painted by the warm sunlight. Gorgeous.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on December 6, 2009 at 11:01 AM

The are such beautiful birds, so interesting to watch, and so difficult to photograph. And you and Mia are getting such wonderful images. The great eye contact and snow-covered habitat really make this shot. Wing position and tail spread are nice too. Excellent!

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Rohn B. McKee on December 6, 2009 at 12:44 PM

Simply wonderful photograph. Thanks for sharing Ron.

Registered on November 18, 2008, 109 Posts, 415 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on December 6, 2009 at 6:04 PM

Very nice, Ron. I like the setting, the curve of the wings, and the eye contact.