Northern Harrier

Gallery: AvianPosted December 19, 2009244 views18 comments

Circus cyaneus

Taken December 17th while standing next to a field that the harriers here frequently fly over.

D200, Gitzo tripod, Black Widow Head, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 250, 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC, 70% of original image, natural light, not baited. Slight WB adjustment made to correct tone.

As always, I sincerely appreciate your comments & critiques. Thank you for looking.

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Avi Hirschfield on December 19, 2009 at 9:23 AM

Mia great detail and lighting
I also like the slightly OOF feathers on the far winggiving it a sense of movement

Registered on November 1, 2003, 518 Posts, 2114 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on December 19, 2009 at 10:37 AM

Wow. You are getting really good at these raptors. I love how well you can see the eye and yet that the bird doesn't seem to be paying you any mind. I love the position of the wings that allows you to see the face so well but also the coloration under and on top of the wing. Excellent view of this bird.

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

Comment posted by bill meikle on December 19, 2009 at 10:53 AM

Mia, this is just great and it's a boy! You got the eye nicely, these kind of shots are all about managing light and shadow and its often really tricky, they don't always fly to the light! Great detail.

Registered on May 21, 2006, 173 Posts, 663 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on December 19, 2009 at 11:01 AM

Very nice photo Mia...great eye contact and sharpness...nice detail in the shadowed areas
Overall, an excellent capture!

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 19, 2009 at 12:15 PM

Mia, very nice shot of the male. I wish I could find a male down here. I like the position of the bird and how the bird's colors and the sky color compliment eachother. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Michael Twaddell on December 19, 2009 at 12:27 PM

Excellent, Mia. I occassionally see a male down at Nisqually, but have been unable to get close enough, in good light, etc. I'm jealous!

Registered on August 16, 2007, 199 Posts, 2132 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on December 19, 2009 at 1:20 PM

Very nice for the reasons already given.

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

Comment posted by Hans Spiecker on December 19, 2009 at 3:07 PM

This is one of my favorite raptors and you have done him justice with this fine shot. Well done Mia.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 366 Posts, 4649 Comments

Comment posted by Carrie O'Brien-Sib on December 19, 2009 at 3:45 PM

I love the beautiful coloring of these birds...you have done a fine job with this one. I love the blueish tint of this image...makes it soft, but very powerful. Great work, Mia!

Registered on August 4, 2009, 149 Posts, 889 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on December 19, 2009 at 5:41 PM

A fine shot of this male Mia, as Mike said we don´t seem to get a lot males up the NW

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

Comment posted by David Williams on December 19, 2009 at 8:33 PM

I love watching these guys, Mia. Beautiful capture and detail here. Seems to be slightly tipping his wing at you, maybe acknowledging your presence?

Registered on March 8, 2005, 315 Posts, 2291 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on December 19, 2009 at 8:41 PM

looks good Mia--interesting complementary tones on the wing and bg. nice to see a male--wonder why they seem so scarce.

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on December 19, 2009 at 10:39 PM

Beautifully done. I especially like the wing tilt.

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on December 20, 2009 at 6:50 AM

Very nice Mia - really like the way the colours of the bird and background complement each other. Nice detail too.

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on December 20, 2009 at 10:44 PM

Nicely done Mia. A lovely look at the male

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on December 21, 2009 at 12:19 AM

The background sky color is very beautiful with the coloration (similar) in this male. Nice sharpness and the yellow eye really stands out well. Just super, congrats!

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 21, 2009 at 8:06 AM

An excellent shot of the male Mia. I love the colors of the bird with the background. Once they've flown slightly past you like this it's difficult to get a good look at the head/eye - you got just the right head turn and light to accomplish that. Nice wing position and sharpness. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on December 21, 2009 at 4:24 PM

Hmm... Mia with a tripod? Is that really you?

Anyhow, good to see you making use of that big lens again. Nice head turn with good eye contact.

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