Hawk + Repost

Gallery: AvianPosted July 17, 2011147 views15 comments

Followed this Red-tailed Hawk around in the deep snow as she hunted last winter. She caught the squirrel at the base of a tree and held its head under the snow for minutes before flying off to this tree. Although the squirrel appears to be alive it no longer is. She paused a moment before eating, and I took this shot. Tree is at the edge of a cliff, background are branches, the Hudson River and the far shore. Bird in the wild, not baited. Nikon D300s with 300mm f2.8 and 1.47c, ISO 400, shutter 1/800. Thanks appreciate your comments and critique. Ray

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on July 17, 2011 at 3:02 PM

I like the eye contact and detail. You may feel differently, but I would be tempted to clone out the stub branch over the hawk's back. Also, I think I would be tempted to lower the brightness of the mid-tones.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on July 17, 2011 at 5:21 PM

Great detail and comp. in this image. Great eye contact.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 17, 2011 at 5:21 PM

Outstanding image Ray, love what I'm seeing here. Excellent eye contact in both bird & prey and sharp.
Very well managed exposure, but I must agree with Phil. Try bringing down the brightness by -15 and + 5 on the contrast and see how that looks. It's what I did.
Very well done!

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on July 17, 2011 at 6:13 PM

This is very well done. Love the body posture with prey, appears poised to take that first bite. I also like the background and the distant trees. I would prefer it if the short branch above the back wasn't there, but at least it doesn't contact the hawk's body. Nice comp and great action.

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

Comment posted by John Robinson on July 17, 2011 at 7:32 PM

I agree about the branch but no biggie. Superb shot . Wish we had some over here if thats what they eat !! They,d never go hungry !
JohnR

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on July 17, 2011 at 7:52 PM

Great action Ray. Poor squirrel.
May

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 17, 2011 at 9:13 PM

Superb image quality, Ray. Excellent exposure and detail and I like the pose of the hawk. Very nice composition.

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

Comment posted by Alan Murphy on July 17, 2011 at 9:42 PM

Love this shot Ray. I might be tempted to clone out the branch touching his back. Great work.

Registered on December 3, 2003, 192 Posts, 739 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on July 17, 2011 at 10:48 PM

wow, great look at the hawk and its prey, Ray. looks very sharp too. I like the comp a lot, and also would be tempted to try cloning that branch.

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on July 17, 2011 at 10:51 PM

Thanks Phil and Howard for the critique. Still developing my LightRoom skills but gave your suggestions a try. I've go to work more on my cloning skills, that part didn't quite work. Hope this improves the mid-tones.

Thanks, Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on July 18, 2011 at 12:48 AM

Perhaps it is my monitor, but I actually prefer the OP.
Remarkably good shot with great detail and sharpness, the branch above is a bit of a nuisance and should be capable of removal without it being noticable, but I would leave it in.

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on July 18, 2011 at 11:22 PM

I prefer the original as well and don't think the midtones were too bright. This is a super image to get the eye contact from both bird and prey, congrats Ray

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

Comment posted by Verdon on July 18, 2011 at 11:29 PM

awesome shot and moment , personally I love more second version, to bad it didn't work with cloning.... Simply LOVE IT!!!

Registered on June 10, 2011, 147 Posts, 1444 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on July 19, 2011 at 4:20 PM

Wonderful detail on the hawk on the larger version and I also happen to like the original post better. The branch is a minor distraction but you got the shot and a nice look from the hawk, way to go.

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

Comment posted by keith mitchell on July 20, 2011 at 3:41 PM

I think that the fact that you got this image of a wild none baited bird is really remarkable wildlife photography at it's best,excellent.

Keith.

Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments