Northern Harrier - male

Gallery: AvianPosted February 12, 2010264 views26 comments

It may appear that I shot this bird while it was nearly overhead but that's not the case (couldn't do that from my pickup anyway). He was fairly low (perhaps 30 degrees from horizontal) and banked while looking at me to allow this view of the underside. He has blood on his belly from a recent meal.

7D, 1/1250, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, shot from pickup window on 1-19-10, cropped to 50% of original image, brought down the brightness a little in some of the whites, sharpened, no other processing, not baited

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

26 comments

Comment posted by Nancy Elwood on February 12, 2010 at 6:26 PM

Ron, I hate you

just kidding of course. I cannot even get a good smudge of these birds

. The BG and exposure are terrific! Big congrats

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

Comment posted by mark cillo on February 12, 2010 at 6:29 PM

Wow! That is really fantastic! Nice work

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on February 12, 2010 at 6:56 PM

Gee, what a great capture again, Ron!

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on February 12, 2010 at 7:02 PM

Very nice, Ron. Bank shot, eh! Looks like you have these fellows posing for you now. No nits. Great head turn. Great detail on the whites.

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

Comment posted by Raymond Klassen on February 12, 2010 at 7:25 PM

Great pose with the eye contact and major turn of the head. I also really like the lighting.

Registered on November 30, 2008, 114 Posts, 790 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on February 12, 2010 at 8:10 PM

Great shot of a hard to shoot bird! Love the head and eyes.

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on February 12, 2010 at 8:11 PM

I can't believe shot thru a pickup window! This is why I just love this site. WTG Ron

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

Comment posted by Ed Dubois on February 12, 2010 at 8:14 PM

I'm jealous Ron. That's a great shot.

The male harriers always seem to be really scarce around here.

Registered on February 22, 2005, 129 Posts, 4739 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on February 12, 2010 at 8:23 PM

W!!!! Super Nice Ron

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on February 12, 2010 at 8:25 PM

Wow, terrific!
Fine detail, pose, head turn and BG -

Sandy r

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

Comment posted by István Molnár on February 12, 2010 at 9:45 PM

Moment caught well,nice work.
István
Hungary

Registered on January 7, 2010, 114 Posts, 704 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on February 12, 2010 at 10:08 PM

This is terrific! Love the "look at you".

Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 12, 2010 at 10:08 PM

Awesome!

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

Comment posted by Satie Sharma on February 13, 2010 at 12:08 AM

Love that stare, Ron! Great stuff!

Registered on November 11, 2003, 189 Posts, 5335 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on February 13, 2010 at 4:21 AM

A great exposure here Ron. I like that you can see detail in the dark wing tips along with the lighter areas of the bird. The perspective here is great and the bird looking right at you adds a ton to the appeal of this image IMO. If this were me taking this shot the shadowed side of the face would have been so dark as to mask the eye, you always seem to get good light everywhere on the bird. Well done. I love the sky too. Overall, a striking image of this male.

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

Comment posted by Sally King on February 13, 2010 at 10:36 AM

Saw some of these yesterday at Bosque de Apache but didn't even come close to an image like this. After seeing these birds flying again I am even more impressed at the excellence of yours and Mia's images of these birds. Incredible.

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

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on February 13, 2010 at 11:59 AM

Great pose, perfect BG and details!
Congratulations!

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Kevin Thompson on February 13, 2010 at 5:15 PM

Sweet!!!!!

Registered on March 15, 2005, 114 Posts, 2639 Comments

Comment posted by Douglas Graham on February 13, 2010 at 5:51 PM

Good thing you where in the truck he looks like he is sizing you up

Great shot ROn all the way around.

Registered on May 14, 2009, 123 Posts, 522 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on February 13, 2010 at 9:00 PM

Ok, just stop it !

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 13, 2010 at 10:49 PM

Ron,

Another photographic tutorial on how it's done. Glad to see you finally got some nice lighting!

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 14, 2010 at 5:46 AM

Absolute stunner Ron - love the evn lioght and detail on the underwings

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Jay Martin on February 14, 2010 at 7:44 AM

Wow! this is awesome Ron - love the head turn.

Registered on December 6, 2005, 200 Posts, 2209 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on February 14, 2010 at 8:49 AM

I would have commented earlier, but I decided to count the feathers.

I really like the banking angle and head turn.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on February 14, 2010 at 10:12 AM

Ron,

I told you that parking in the location might be wise... or was that you who said that?

This is gorgeous, the light & head angle are great, as are the details & sharpness. You comp works very well for me and I love the soft background.

Excellent as posted.

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

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on February 14, 2010 at 1:37 PM

Excellent processing, Ron. That look straight at you makes this shot!

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