Rough-legged Hawk

Gallery: AvianPosted November 27, 2011926 views35 comments

It was a cold morning so this bird was pretty "sticky" and let me get close. I think it's a female light phase and I was able to spend a good long time with her.

I'd prefer to loosen up the crop a bit but with the perch becoming more OOF and less appealing at lower left, no more room at top and wanting to avoid a squarish crop this was what I felt was the best option.

7D, 1/1250, f/8, ISO 400, 500 f/4, shot from pickup window on 11/22/11, cropped to 51% of original image, exposure adjustment in ACR, sharpened bird and perch, no additional processing or adjustments, natural light, not baited, set up or called in

Larger version provided

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

35 comments

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on November 27, 2011 at 6:18 PM

Great subject, perfect background and perch. Awesome image!

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

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on November 27, 2011 at 6:47 PM

Wish it were mine!

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on November 27, 2011 at 6:54 PM

This is a beauty in all aspects! Very, very nice! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on November 27, 2011 at 7:09 PM

Terrific! Wonderful detail; nice light; interesting pose.

If the subject "feels" better with more space I think that trumps aspect ratio - I'd go with a square crop here as I think it fits the subject well.

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on November 27, 2011 at 7:39 PM

Unique composition, wonderful eye contact and a good perch for a hawk. It all came together nicely for you here

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on November 27, 2011 at 7:46 PM

Exceptional feather detail, wonderful pose and colors,

Ray

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on November 27, 2011 at 8:11 PM

KILLER pose! Love the splayed tail and face.
Exceptional BG and detail, and the comp works fine for me.
Excellent!
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on November 27, 2011 at 8:50 PM

Interesting pose, excellent detail, and pleasing background Ron. I think a square crop might offer an interesting option here as the image could handle the OOF perch IMO.

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

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on November 27, 2011 at 9:00 PM

Beautiful detail in the eye and feathers along with an interesting pose.
Very nice capture Ron

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on November 27, 2011 at 9:01 PM

Hi Ron, It is always a pleasure viewing your work. Beautiful!

Unlike many I really don't have a problem with square crops when they are appropriate for the subject. I think a little more room on the sides would help this and would like to see a version done that way if you were amenable. :-)

Peter

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on November 27, 2011 at 9:18 PM

I think a little more room on the sides would help this and would like to see a version done that way if you were amenable. :-)

Peter, sure I'm amenable. That's what we're here for so here it is - very quickly and globally processed. I'm thinking I tried too hard to avoid the squarish crop...

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

Comment posted by Doug Backlund on November 27, 2011 at 9:26 PM

What a unique photo! I like the square crop much better.

Registered on September 29, 2005, 252 Posts, 3380 Comments

Comment posted by Suzanne Huot on November 27, 2011 at 9:29 PM

Wish this was mine too.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 32 Posts, 240 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on November 27, 2011 at 9:38 PM

Of the 2, I prefer the square crop...Again, nice image! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on November 27, 2011 at 11:00 PM

Beautiful image. I prefer the square crop as well.

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on November 27, 2011 at 11:54 PM

Stupendous, Ron. I love the tight crop in the first post. A windy day?

In just five months or so, these guys will be back in Alaska. Sigh.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on November 28, 2011 at 12:29 PM

Excellent image, wonderful soft coloring and a 'funny' look, which always counts for me as an extra plus !

, Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on November 28, 2011 at 1:41 PM

Awesome preening pose you captured here Ron

I like the 2nd version too.

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on November 28, 2011 at 1:58 PM

I like it a lot!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on November 28, 2011 at 2:41 PM

Incredibly beautiful, everything about it, the subject, the light, the background, the pose. Wonderful detail.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on November 28, 2011 at 3:23 PM

Wonderful feather display, I happen to like the 2nd post a little better but either composition is fine since this is such a nice shot, I like the head turn and eye contact along with the feather colors, well done Ron.

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

Comment posted by Monica Siri on November 28, 2011 at 4:18 PM

Superb capture, Ron. Detail, pose and colors are great. Congrats.

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

Comment posted by Rohn B. McKee on November 28, 2011 at 4:56 PM

Simply delightful.
Escellent techs Ron

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

Comment posted by Verdon on November 28, 2011 at 5:02 PM

wooow, what a great shot and overall quality, awesome moment!!!

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

Comment posted by wade pettitt on November 28, 2011 at 7:59 PM

Ron, as always beautiful work. I also lean towards the square crop.

Registered on May 6, 2009, 184 Posts, 471 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on November 28, 2011 at 10:13 PM

Very cool pose Ron. Love the fluffed-up "hairdo". Don't know why, but for some reason it makes me think of some 50's punk, preening for his girl.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on November 28, 2011 at 10:51 PM

Wow, another amazing capture Ron. Love the action.
May

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

Comment posted by Mark Schiebelbein on November 28, 2011 at 10:54 PM

Very unique and interesting shot! I like the square crop as well.

Registered on November 8, 2008, 55 Posts, 393 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on November 29, 2011 at 4:30 AM

What a "proud" pose, remarkably good image

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

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on November 29, 2011 at 10:37 AM

Top notch image !!!
Jagdeep Rajput

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on November 29, 2011 at 12:43 PM

oh my...what a beauty, Ron. These are such beautiful hawks and I love the way you've captured this--great action/pose/eye contact, great detail, wonderful colors. I like the re-comp best and would love to have seen this...

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on November 29, 2011 at 7:46 PM

Winning image Ron, outstanding.
I even saved the LP for my desktop

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

Comment posted by David Williams on November 30, 2011 at 12:00 PM

Love it, Ron. We've got a lot of Roughies around this year, so maybe I can get some good shots over the winter. You got this preening pose just right with super color and detail.

Registered on March 8, 2005, 315 Posts, 2291 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 5, 2011 at 9:33 PM

Sweet roughie Ron. I miss these birds from when I lived in the upper midwest. A great pose, with super detail and light. Very nice!

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on December 5, 2011 at 11:41 PM

AMAZING

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