Northern Harrier

Gallery: AvianPosted January 27, 2010303 views28 comments

I typically miss this shot with the one wing up high like this because it usually means they're beginning a quick banking maneuver, so either the bird is too soft or I miss eye contact or both. I got lucky on the timing on this one but the burst rate of the 7D really helped too.

7D, 1/1600, f/8, ISO 500, 500 f/4, shot from pickup window on 1-10-10, cropped to 50% of original image, not baited

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

28 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on January 27, 2010 at 6:26 PM

Wow great shot Ron! All your hard work and continual shooting just keeps paying off - I really like the BG and this shot shows off how well the 7D works. I always find these shots hard to crop - with the bird making an L shape but needing space for it to fly into. Where did you crop from?

- Luke

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 27, 2010 at 6:31 PM

Great shot Ron, I like the way you caught this one, and nothing I don't like about it. Nice color, very sharp and the eye contact is great. Nice shooting.

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 27, 2010 at 6:34 PM

Another great harrier shot Ron. I really like the BG in this one. The bird is nice and sharp and I love all the varied colors, but especially the eyes. Perfect DOF.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 27, 2010 at 6:36 PM

"Where did you crop from?"

Luke, I cropped in all four directions but mostly from the left and top.

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

Comment posted by Nancy Elwood on January 27, 2010 at 6:58 PM

Ron I am so jealous!! I cannot get these birds on a bet. Well done with such sharpness and a wonderful BG!!

Registered on January 15, 2010, 101 Posts, 396 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on January 27, 2010 at 7:17 PM

THAT IS A KEEPER RON! I love everything about this capture, the rt. wing elevated, great eye contact, detail on the harrier and finally the gorgeous BG and colors. Excellent job all around!

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on January 27, 2010 at 7:56 PM

Nice flight shot! I really like the color of the grasses behind the harrier.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on January 27, 2010 at 8:01 PM

A masterley image Ron - pose, wing-position, head-turn and background - all exemplary

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 27, 2010 at 8:09 PM

Ron,

I love the great view & clarity of this harrier's eye, the tones of the background and the patterns in the phrags that create shadows & depth. The wing positions are just wonderful with one showing the interesting patterns on the underside and the great curled wing tips on the other. Lovely light, details, comp, shaprness & dof. Your post processing looks excellent too.

Wish I had an image like this one in my files... oh wait, I do!!

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 27, 2010 at 8:14 PM

Another fine shot of a harrier. That's quite the collection you're building.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 27, 2010 at 10:03 PM

A great shot Ron. A classic harrier pose, classic harrier habitat, and a very nice job with the comp.

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

Comment posted by bill meikle on January 27, 2010 at 10:06 PM

Very very nice Ron, great shot.

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

Comment posted by Rob Graham on January 27, 2010 at 10:09 PM

Beautiful flight shot, Ron. Our harriers weren't as cooperative tonight, but I did find one who would sit still for a while.

Registered on August 22, 2006, 842 Posts, 2824 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 27, 2010 at 10:28 PM

Very cool pose and bg, Ron. The eye really pops in the larger image. Maybe half-an-inch off the bottom in the smaller image?

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on January 27, 2010 at 11:17 PM

Ron, I am sending the Bird Police to come and pick you up. It has to be illegal to get this many good Harrier shots. (Maybe they should bring a net big enough for Mia too?) I like the view of the wing. Every one of these shots has a little something different to offer. Neat stuff.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by mark cillo on January 27, 2010 at 11:52 PM

Another awesome image! Very impressive how you consistently get these amazing avian images.

Registered on July 27, 2008, 143 Posts, 1483 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on January 28, 2010 at 1:46 AM

You are a harrier god, Ron. Another fine addition to you portfolio.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 28, 2010 at 2:50 AM

ooo-killer shot!!
Doesn't get any better than this!
Great pose, feather detail, eye, BG and comp!

Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 28, 2010 at 5:59 AM

Another beauty Ron - you really nailed the eye in this one.

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on January 28, 2010 at 8:35 AM

Another fine Harrier Ron . No nits from me

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on January 28, 2010 at 10:28 AM

You've really become very expert at these BIF shots, Ron! Great capture!

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on January 28, 2010 at 10:37 AM

You are really kickin some a-- on these flyers. Love it as usual

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on January 28, 2010 at 10:53 AM

You have been so successful with this bird flying in habitat. Well done with this one, too!

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

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on January 28, 2010 at 12:41 PM

Wow! It's all been said, but I'm sure there was much, much more than "I got lucky" on this one. Your dedication and persistance really is evident.

Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments

Comment posted by Lindy Martin on January 28, 2010 at 7:56 PM

Fantastic - would love to get a shot like this!!

Guess you have no snow!

Registered on March 10, 2009, 60 Posts, 169 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on January 28, 2010 at 10:15 PM

SWEET

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 28, 2010 at 10:50 PM

Very nice indeed, excellent shot, well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on February 4, 2010 at 8:51 AM

An amazing capture !
Wonderful capture n pose !
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments