Red-tailed Hawk w/prey

NIce low angle and the look at the prey is cool - the larger version however has some serious quality issues. Did you make significant adjustments to the exposure on the hawks face? It appears that the quality has been heavily degraded

Hi Chuck,

The low angle is really great as is the addition of the prey. All too often, all I see the hawks with are a pile of feathers.

The larger image appears to be soft but not 100% sure.

Would make a suggestion to darken the tale so that the attention stays on the head and prey, but not a deal breaker.

Carol

Nice work here Charles. I like the low angle and the fact you got the head of the prey in the shot adds a lot to it. I do have a question and not trying to offend you by asking it, but I am just curious. Was this a chance encounter? Or was he baited? Either way a good shot, but would just like to know.

Kurt-the action was completely natural and quite a surprise. As I arrived at the Visitors Center at the NWR I noticed the hawk fly across the parking lot and perch atop the building. As I moved towards the back of the building the hawk flew off towards the grass field and the seawall and pounced on the vole/mouse? What amazed me was how close he allowed me to approach.
So no-not baited or in any way staged. I just got very lucky.

Chuck

Chuck that is awesome! I would have been jumping out of my shoes! That makes this an even better capture and SO much more difficult when it is not staged. I am glad you have now told everyone this, because I think it turns this into a VERY rare moment captured. Great work and congratulations!

what a great moment to catch, Chuck! very cool to see him with prey. there is something odd going on with the face in the larger version. I'd also consider a bit more contrast and sharpening.

Very nice encounter, it is amazing sometimes how close you can get to a hawk, I like the overall composition and the large image for some reason does seem a little soft, nice job in observing this to get the shot.

Really some nice action caught here Chuck. I would work on the face area of the bird in the larger version. The face shows a lot of noise that detracts a bit from this shot for me.

Cool catch Chuck. Nice to catch the hawk on the ground with prey.
May

I like this low POV of the behavior Charles, nice details and the subject stands out well.
Good job of bringing up the away parts, the lights angle worked against you a little bit here..
Great catch!

Great pose in the previous post of this Red-tailed, but I personally like this one with prey best Charles.
Techs look good to me, wish I had one like this in my files