Northern Harrier

Gallery: AvianPosted November 21, 2010429 views40 comments

Finally had some chances at a few harriers this week - it's been a long time. I think I was very close to the limit for flight shots in low light with my gear. This male was actively hunting (not taking off) and would look up at me occasionally just to make sure I wasn't up to no good.

7D, 1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 800, 500 f/4, +1/3 EV 1.4 tc, shot from pickup window on 11/18/10, small exposure adjustment in ACR, cropped to 48% of original image then added canvas at bottom for composition, brightened bird slightly, cloned three pixels of a distracting bright white spot behind the tip of the beak, sharpened bird, NR applied selectively to the darker browns in the background, no additional processing or adjustments, natural light (cloudy), not set up or baited

Larger image provided

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

40 comments

Comment posted by Karen Summers on November 21, 2010 at 5:35 PM

fantastic image of a stunning bird love the way he is looking at you with those gleaming eyes great pose

Registered on December 3, 2009, 83 Posts, 818 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on November 21, 2010 at 5:37 PM

Very impressive shot, Ron. You sure made use of the DOF at that aperture. Those eyes are piercing: this fellow looks dangerous! Wonderful pose. What a capture!!

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

Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on November 21, 2010 at 5:46 PM

What a fantastic capture, Ron. And those eyes really grab your attention.

Andy...

Registered on September 24, 2006, 123 Posts, 1254 Comments

Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on November 21, 2010 at 5:47 PM

Awesome capture, Ron. The sharpness about the head and contrasting color of the eyes is stunning.

Registered on October 5, 2007, 58 Posts, 2039 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on November 21, 2010 at 5:53 PM

Its all about the eyes and feet for me in this one Ron. They just grab your eye and never let go. Awesome flight position and BG. Just super sweet. Wish I could get any chance at this species, let alone an op like this. Very well executed.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on November 21, 2010 at 6:14 PM

Excellent! The head-on view works very well. Nothing to nit in this for me.

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

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on November 21, 2010 at 6:18 PM

This is really, really good

The detail is amazing for a flight shot and I like your composition too.
Great work.

Geoff.

Registered on August 20, 2010, 192 Posts, 980 Comments

Comment posted by Randy Bacon on November 21, 2010 at 6:37 PM

Stunning shot Ron - those eyes are incredible! I like everything about this shot.

Registered on November 24, 2008, 56 Posts, 492 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on November 21, 2010 at 6:39 PM

Fantastic shot Ron, At 5.6 with the head tack sharp I would have expected the tail to be soft, but it looks great too. Great background colors to compliment the bird.

Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on November 21, 2010 at 7:11 PM

You seem to be the king of the harriers.. to get this shot of most raptors would be amazing, but a grey ghost? almost unheard of. Love the pose that I'm familiar with in watching them (though I'm never lucky enough to get them head on) and the dangling talons. The detail in the head is really awesome... hopefully one day you won't need to crop away 1/2 the shot.

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

Comment posted by Benjamin Olson on November 21, 2010 at 7:44 PM

Wonderful, the eyes are amazing!

Registered on April 7, 2007, 169 Posts, 725 Comments

Comment posted by Rohn B. McKee on November 21, 2010 at 8:43 PM

Ron,
This image is simply magical.
wonderful capture. You have learned the secret to capturing these wonderful birds. Thanks we all love them.

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

Comment posted by David Hemmings on November 21, 2010 at 8:44 PM

Ron, this is one of the best male harrier shots I have ever seen. Congrats on this wonderful image!!!

Registered on May 26, 2006, 178 Posts, 1680 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on November 21, 2010 at 8:46 PM

Certainly rates a WOW in my opinion. The yellow eyes and feet really pop. I like the fully spread tail and wings. Great detail there.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on November 21, 2010 at 9:17 PM

Well Ron, he certainly has a bead on you! Love the flight position here-must have been a blast to have witnessed and photographed. Congrats!

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Neil Rossmiller on November 21, 2010 at 9:21 PM

Stunning image, Ron.
Well Done!
Neil

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

Comment posted by Ron Pullen on November 21, 2010 at 9:51 PM

I really like the position of the bird and the look in the eyes. Good capture. Ron

Registered on December 18, 2005, 74 Posts, 1413 Comments

Comment posted by Glenn Bartley on November 21, 2010 at 11:07 PM

This is fantastic Ron!!

Registered on June 29, 2004, 448 Posts, 1180 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on November 21, 2010 at 11:35 PM

Great image. I really like the stair, the dropped legs, the wing position and the spread tail.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Graham Brown on November 22, 2010 at 2:45 AM

Another beauty Ron your raptor shots are outstanding. Great depth of field you get with this lens at f5.6, the bird is sharp throughout. Excellent hunting pose with those piercing eyes. Graham

Registered on November 20, 2007, 275 Posts, 1365 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on November 22, 2010 at 4:53 AM

Maybe your best???? Stunning shot Ron - those eyes, feet and fanned tail make it for me.

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on November 22, 2010 at 5:45 AM

Ron,

This image is just plain and simple outstanding! It just does not get any better to me.

Mike

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

Comment posted by Greg Schneider on November 22, 2010 at 8:01 AM

You've taken many stunning harrier photos, but this is way over the top IMO.

Registered on February 9, 2008, 84 Posts, 138 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on November 22, 2010 at 9:36 AM

Terrific descending pose n great eye contact!
Jagdeep Rajput

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

Comment posted by Sally King on November 22, 2010 at 10:23 AM

What can I say. As with all of your images it is gorgeous due to the comp, light, details, etc. This one may be one of my favorites.

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

Comment posted by Joel DeYoung on November 22, 2010 at 12:23 PM

Wonderful! look and them eyes! Everything is nice and sharp where it needs to be. Very well done.

Registered on July 12, 2009, 92 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Darren Colello on November 22, 2010 at 12:48 PM

Wow Ron, this is the northern harrier image I have always wished for. Simply stunning. I love the eye contact and wing position. EXCEPTIONAL.

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on November 22, 2010 at 1:41 PM

I like how the head is sharp to stand out from the rest of the image along with those intense eyes, wonderful flight shot with a good background, way to go Ron.

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

Comment posted by Danny Laredo on November 22, 2010 at 2:31 PM

This is just outstanding Ron.

Registered on March 18, 2008, 71 Posts, 332 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Mason on November 22, 2010 at 3:18 PM

Can't think of enough superlatives for this one - takes my breath away! That stare is awesome!

Registered on December 14, 2005, 399 Posts, 2305 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on November 22, 2010 at 3:59 PM

This is a wall hanger for sure. Love the eyes, intent, and ovwerall pose, not to mention excellent techs.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on November 22, 2010 at 5:23 PM

Another winner there Ron ! And the prize for most comments goes too.....

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

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on November 22, 2010 at 9:01 PM

A very sweet shot!

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on November 23, 2010 at 12:44 AM

You may have been pushing the limits for gear but it certainly worked out well here Ron. The eye contact makes this one special.

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

Comment posted by Peter Conway on November 23, 2010 at 2:03 PM

Awesome!

Peter

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on November 24, 2010 at 2:30 AM

Killer shot Ron!!!

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Brian Scott on November 24, 2010 at 2:24 PM

Stunning capture

Registered on September 19, 2010, 13 Posts, 34 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on November 24, 2010 at 8:05 PM

You already know I love this image Ron. Great eye contact, setting, pose and details. Very nice work with the postprocessing and the canvas you added. Beautifully done.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on November 25, 2010 at 8:21 AM

Striking image, like the eye contact and how the legs colors seem to match them..
LP looks excellent Ron, you sure nailed it.
Man, I wish it was mine

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on November 27, 2010 at 7:29 PM

Awesome capture Ron.
May

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