Northern Harrier

Hi Clayton, a very nice image as posted. I like the raised wings and clear eye contact. If this were mine I would try to tone down the white tail rump (hot) area and eliminate some of the clutter with a crop that would take off about 1/2 of the right vertical edge from the current edge to the wingtip. Then crop at least 1/4 to 1/3 horizontally off the bottom. IMO, I think this would help display the bird even better.

Clayton I agree with Craig's suggestions on this one. The main nit I have with the hot rump area. I def would try to tone that down and bring out some detail if this were mine. Overwise, I like the dynamics of this image and the BG with the interspersed clouds.

Thanks for the help folks. Howdy Rich. I have been working on my PP skills and reading the Mountain Trail Team's book The Ultimate Guide to DNP. If Spring ever realy arrives here (it snowed here yesterday) I want to get out and do more landscapes. Great book by the way. Here is a redo with a differant crop and the rump area darkened a little. The best I could muster with what I had.

I love this species and I like the interesting pose you caught the harrier in Clayton. That white rump patch is nearly always a challenge. There seems to be a halo around both bird and tree branches, perhaps caused by global sharpening? If so, selective sharpening would likely eliminate the halo and also reduce the noise in the background.

I enjoy the action pose, and love the gnarly perch. Nice view of the eye, too.

Very dramatic image, Clayton. I think taming down the white rump was a good idea. However, the new crop makes that small deficiency more evident. I think it lessens the dramatic effect too. Having this bird higher in the frame as in the original post is better in my view.

Clayton,

That white rump path certainly is a challenge with Harriers, there are times I get every thing right but that rump patch.

Of the two comps I prefer the original, I think the tighter crop of the second causes the rump patch to stand out more and lessens the dramatic effect of the original.

I like the light in the eye and the pose of the harrier, but I am picking up on noise in the background. Sharpening just the bird and the main elements (for instance the branches) helps to reduce that and also reduces halos.

Thanks again all for the comments and suggestions. I will work on the original and see what I can do. I plan to go back next week and try to find it again. I have a hunch it will still be in the area, and it didn't seem to be concerned at all with my presense.

I would crop a little off the bottom and right side. Nice capture!