Lunch Hour w/repost

Gallery: AvianPosted February 18, 2011346 views20 comments

I found this American Kestrel yesterday on his "Lunch Hour" at the Wildlife Refuge. I haven't had a lot of luck getting close to these guys for good shots, even with a big lens. I'm sure the fact that he was just sitting down to eat the vole and didn't want to move was why I got in range for the shot.

Larger image available, thanks for stopping

Resized repost below

canon 7D
canon 600mm f4.L IS USM
F/6.3 1/800 ISO 160
auto window beanbag rest

Comments

20 comments

Comment posted by Randy Bacon on February 18, 2011 at 5:52 PM

Congratulations Craig on a very nice capture of this elusive yet striking bird - and the addition of 'lunch' makes it even better. Not the most spectacular perch, but with these guys you take what you get and be happy about it. Beautiful colors and nice sharp details - love the BG. I might be inclined to crop out some of the fence post and move the Kestrel down in the frame and if you have any room maybe add a little more room on the left. That being said, this is a sweet image, just as it is.

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

Comment posted by Richard Teller on February 18, 2011 at 5:53 PM

Craig, this is absolutely beautiful. The color, detail, background, everything works perfectly. It looks like a painting. Exceptional image.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on February 18, 2011 at 6:14 PM

really nice, Craig. cool prey, great bg, nice colors. I agree that you could go a little looser on the horizontal (maybe a 3:4 instead of 2:3).

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

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on February 18, 2011 at 6:28 PM

Very neat shot, Craig. It looks like a Flemish painting !
Mauro

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on February 18, 2011 at 6:34 PM

You did well to get this close Craig. I agree, if they have prey they tend to be stickier. I enjoy the earthy colors here and I'm fine with the post perch.

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

Comment posted by Marc Dubuc on February 18, 2011 at 6:50 PM

Fantastic image with nice details. Perfect BG!

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

Comment posted by Craig Strand on February 18, 2011 at 6:51 PM

Brian and Randy, "Thanks for the suggestion to resize." Here is a 3:4 sizing, I like it but think I prefer the original with as much of that OOF BG as possible. I could try just cutting a bit off the bottom to shorten the post.
Craig

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

Comment posted by Eric Diller on February 18, 2011 at 8:02 PM

I like the first post best....tight work!

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 18, 2011 at 10:44 PM

Beautiful, Craig. that bg really makes this image for me. I love the textures and tones of the growth on the post. Either crop works for me. I don't tend to work to a specific crop ration, I just adjust until I like it.

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

Comment posted by Ron Huff on February 19, 2011 at 12:56 AM

Wow what a beautiful image. Nice color, exposure, backgroud and DOF. The small amount of
blood on his breast, also adds to the image. Both work!

Ron Huff

Registered on August 31, 2010, 69 Posts, 440 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Myers on February 19, 2011 at 1:35 AM

Really fine wildlife image.

Registered on September 1, 2008, 85 Posts, 757 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on February 19, 2011 at 2:20 AM

Just excellent!
The detail, colors and original comp are first rate.

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on February 19, 2011 at 3:58 AM

Beautiful pose, light and details- excellent image, Fabio

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on February 19, 2011 at 8:43 AM

Very nice Craig. Love the BG, bird, perch, and prey.

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

Comment posted by mark cillo on February 19, 2011 at 10:02 AM

Great find and nicely captured. In an ideal world the kestrel would have chosen a natural perch but it is difficult to be picky with such a nice image

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

Comment posted by Alan Bryant on February 19, 2011 at 12:06 PM

Love the colour contrast, its got a studio look about it

A pleasure to view, cracking image

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

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on February 19, 2011 at 6:59 PM

What a beautiful image, it looks like a studio shot which I know it isn't

Well captured.

Geoff.

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

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on February 19, 2011 at 7:39 PM

Great capture, great background, looks like a painted studio background!

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on February 20, 2011 at 12:04 AM

Boy this is a beauty! Love the rich warm colors. A tough species to photograph and this is really special with the prey being present. Either crop works for me.

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on April 26, 2011 at 9:48 PM

I was cruising around, attracted by your Red-tailed with duck. Lucky for me. What a phenomenal image. Looks like it was done in a studio. Magnifique. (but I like the repost-more detail and a better look at that eye)

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