Northern harrier

Gallery: AvianPosted January 26, 2011325 views38 comments

Getting good shots of this species in-flight against this type of BG is tough in itself, but getting images of them as they wheel around and drop down on prey is extremely challenging to say the least. It is also a ton of fun. I am very pleased with this shot. This bird spotted potential prey and was beginning its turn. Please view larger version for max detail. Thanks so much.

Canon 1DM4
500mm +1.4x TC
ISO 1000
f/6.3
1/2500s
Hand held
No NR
45% of FF

Comments

38 comments

Comment posted by dan elster on January 26, 2011 at 5:23 PM

Stunning, fantastic shot Ron! Love all of the space around the bird and the perfect focus on the birds face. wow.

Registered on September 23, 2005, 299 Posts, 2443 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Moore on January 26, 2011 at 5:25 PM

Great image. Fine post as always. Love the head turn and you still caught the eye.

Dan

Registered on February 11, 2010, 143 Posts, 1248 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on January 26, 2011 at 5:39 PM

Just ridiculous... love the rich tones. Larger version looks a little grainy from oversharpening perhaps

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

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on January 26, 2011 at 5:43 PM

Stunning image, Ron

The posture of the bird with the head turn is really extraordinary.
The detail of his feather is exquisite.
BTW, thank once more for your kind advice about my shots.
Mauro

Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 26, 2011 at 5:58 PM

oh, man, that is cool!! absolutely fantastic pose, Ron. the head turned down, the wing position, the feet and talons are all just great. love your comp and the setting as well. Plus you even got a light in the eye. I really like most all of your shots, but this is really something. Great shot, Ron.

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

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on January 26, 2011 at 6:27 PM

Absolutely amazing!!!! Very artisitic presentation... love the positioning of the bird, the background and, of course, the action. If you would consider removing the band of grey on the top it might make it even better.

PS: Just checked out your website. What a wonderful collection of flight images. Congratulations!

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on January 26, 2011 at 6:28 PM

Ron,

This image is spectacular! You truly captured that special moment!

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

Comment posted by Eric Diller on January 26, 2011 at 6:35 PM

Love the BG....nice capture!

Registered on October 2, 2009, 69 Posts, 434 Comments

Comment posted by Alan Bryant on January 26, 2011 at 6:39 PM

Nice BG and cool head turn

Well done

Registered on March 31, 2006, 473 Posts, 1081 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 26, 2011 at 6:48 PM

Sweet!!!
Perfect DOF. Tack-sharp, great pose, and exquisite BG.

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on January 26, 2011 at 6:55 PM

Fabulously artistic capture of "the hover"! Love it! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 26, 2011 at 7:48 PM

I love that twisted posture and great view of the facial disk.

Well done.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 26, 2011 at 7:52 PM

Actually the grain has nothing to do with the crop in this case I don't think. The grain is not noise per say. Luke and I work on this in PMs and we concluded it is most likely a file compression issue. There is no grain in this image as I view it here at home in PS. When I compare it to the NPN version I see some "grain." We will see how it prints, because I will be printing this image most likely.

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

Comment posted by Peter Conway on January 26, 2011 at 7:53 PM

Great overall color tones in the photo. Beautiful view of her face with great expression.

Peter

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on January 26, 2011 at 9:10 PM

Ron. Really pretty image. The pose is nice but the environment makes this even more special. Congrats on this image.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 26, 2011 at 9:55 PM

Gorgeous, Ron. Simply gorgeous.

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

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on January 26, 2011 at 10:23 PM

Beautiful, Ron

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 26, 2011 at 11:20 PM

This is a wonderful shot Ron, a very interesting pose, great head angle and wing positions. Love the dangling talons too. The background is very appealing to me and the strip of blue sky adds to the image.

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

Comment posted by Marc Dubuc on January 26, 2011 at 11:30 PM

Excellent image!

Registered on January 4, 2011, 59 Posts, 229 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on January 27, 2011 at 12:51 AM

I find it hard to add anything original to what's already been said-just a superb image Ron, congrats.

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

Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on January 27, 2011 at 4:58 AM

It's all been said, Ron. Superb capture in a perfect setting.

Andy...

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 27, 2011 at 5:37 AM

So typically harrier Ron - well done.
cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on January 27, 2011 at 9:09 AM

Killer image Ron

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on January 27, 2011 at 9:09 AM

Sometimes you open a thumbnail, and you're immediately lifted up.
In your heart you know that this is what it's all about. This is why you keep trying.
I have no technical issues whatsoever..I'm too busy enjoying this one.
Wild thing - You move me

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

Comment posted by Fabrizio Moglia on January 27, 2011 at 9:14 AM

Excellent shot Ron ! And beautiful Harrier female !

Congrats, fabrizio.

Registered on January 18, 2011, 5 Posts, 28 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Elwood on January 27, 2011 at 12:06 PM

Big congrats on this one Ron!! Like you say this BG is ideal and the pose is very nice!

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

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on January 27, 2011 at 12:14 PM

This is a stunning flight shot indeed- Pose is wonderful, nice details and perfect exposure- great skill , Fabio

Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on January 27, 2011 at 1:00 PM

Wow, stunning.
May

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

Comment posted by Monica Siri on January 27, 2011 at 1:16 PM

Ron,
stunning pose, detail and background. A beauty!

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on January 27, 2011 at 3:59 PM

Absolutely superb capture Ron.

Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on January 27, 2011 at 4:18 PM

This is an excellent capture.
Quality work Ron.
Well done.

Geoff.

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 27, 2011 at 5:18 PM

Wonderful pose, look, wing span and background. I like that you see just enough below to see the harrier has spotted something and how high (or low) it is flying to get it's prey, the larger image was a pleasure to look at, way to go.

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

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on January 27, 2011 at 6:00 PM

Very nice, Ron. Interesting head turn.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on January 27, 2011 at 10:23 PM

Wonderful pose, as she is about to turn and drop. Excellent comp too with some lovely habitat. The sliver of blue sky at the top makes for a much more interesting photo. Congrats.

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on January 27, 2011 at 10:39 PM

Quite an incredible shot, Ron. I read all the comments and really can only say at this point that I agree with all of the many nice things that have been said about this image. As I stand back and look at the image I think it is the way the bird stands out from the background that strikes me the most. With that action pose I half expect it to attack my keyboard.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 29, 2011 at 9:48 AM

Ron, this is a superior image all around and fully deserves all the attention it is getting. The flight posture is stunning and I love the fact that you were able to get light in the eye with this interesting head angle. The setting is perfect for the hunting behavior of this species and I like your centered comp. I see absolutely no issue with "noise/grain". Excellent!

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on January 30, 2011 at 6:17 PM

Wonderful shot Ron, you've really captured the essence of a harrier hunting

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

Comment posted by Bob McQuade on April 6, 2011 at 3:23 PM

Wonderful shot!

Registered on October 8, 2009, 214 Posts, 432 Comments