Kestrel in the rain

Gallery: AvianPosted December 14, 20117,535 views33 comments

Last week while waiting for a Short-eared Owl to show up, I killed my time with making flight shots of this Kestrel. Alternating clouds, sun, rain and very strong winds created the circumstances for this particular shot: the Kestrel hanging against the wind, the re-appearing sun already shining on the bird, while raindroplets more or less horizontally were blown by...

Nikon D700 & Nikkor 500mm + 1,4x converter @ 700mm | 1/1600s | f5.6 | ISO1100 | underexposed 1/3EV | handheld | taken from the dry and comfortable seat of my car

Comments

33 comments

Comment posted by Scott Frye on December 14, 2011 at 5:42 AM

Wow -- very nicely done -- I like the colors on this (one of natures prettiest birds) and the colors show of against a very pretty background. Add the flight shot to all of that and you have a lot to like about this picture.

Registered on February 3, 2007, 387 Posts, 1136 Comments

Comment posted by antino cervigni on December 14, 2011 at 7:56 AM

Excellent flight shot. Regards Antino

Registered on April 17, 2010, 70 Posts, 202 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Harris on December 14, 2011 at 8:49 AM

Intriguing image Hans. When I looked at the larger image and first noticed the rain streaks, I thought you had rotated the image 90 degrees to play with us. But the Kestrel's pose did not support that thought. Your narrative explained everything. The lighting and background make the image for me. Your techs are great and I love the pose. Nice!

Registered on August 2, 2010, 169 Posts, 741 Comments

Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on December 14, 2011 at 8:50 AM

Truly awesome image, Hans. Love the intent focused look of the bird as it scans for prey. Terrific wing position, lighting and color.

Registered on February 13, 2006, 166 Posts, 1818 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on December 14, 2011 at 9:25 AM

Terrific image. Unique position. Great light and background. The almost sideways raindrops add to the image.

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on December 14, 2011 at 9:31 AM

Awesome flight shot of a Kestrel and the rain is a big bonus

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 14, 2011 at 4:44 PM

A very dynamic shot Hans. Love the bird's position and the rain.

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

Comment posted by John Robinson on December 14, 2011 at 5:12 PM

Spot on

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

Comment posted by Bill Caldwell on December 14, 2011 at 5:26 PM

Awesome capture--love the contrast between the lit Kestrel and the darker smooth BG!

Registered on October 10, 2011, 62 Posts, 508 Comments

Comment posted by Suzanne Huot on December 14, 2011 at 9:01 PM

A unique capture ,gorgeous background and colours . good shooting.

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

Comment posted by Rob Graham on December 14, 2011 at 11:25 PM

I can only second what has been already been said. The pose and detail are great, the rain adds an extra element. Well done.

Registered on August 22, 2006, 842 Posts, 2824 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Schiebelbein on December 15, 2011 at 1:11 AM

Great shot Hans. Wish I was able to "kill time" getting shots like this!

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 15, 2011 at 9:08 AM

Neat shot. Don't think I've ever seen this flight posture captured. Nice light and the almost horizontal rain adds a lot.

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on December 15, 2011 at 11:14 AM

Superb - raindrops add to this greatly!

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on December 15, 2011 at 1:11 PM

Great shot Hans, love the position of the wings and the background colors.

Ray

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

Comment posted by Douglas Graham on December 15, 2011 at 1:44 PM

Love the light on this and also an excellent flight capture.

Registered on May 14, 2009, 123 Posts, 522 Comments

Comment posted by Rodrigo Sandoval on December 15, 2011 at 4:12 PM

Wow! Outstanding capture. Congratulations.

Registered on April 4, 2009, 13 Posts, 254 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on December 15, 2011 at 5:15 PM

Wow, excellent and what a unique flight shot of a Kestrel, the larger image looks great, way to go.

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on December 15, 2011 at 8:09 PM

Unique pose and conditions all add up to an awesome image. Well done! How lucky you are to "settle" for a kestrel whilst waiting for an owl

Sharon

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

Comment posted by May Haga on December 15, 2011 at 8:11 PM

Totally cool Hans. Love the look of concentration.
May

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on December 16, 2011 at 12:22 AM

Really exceptional - gorgeous bird, unique pose, great BG and rain streaks -

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on December 16, 2011 at 12:24 AM

Very cool capture Hans...even better when you look at the large version and see the sideways rain.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on December 16, 2011 at 2:05 AM

Thanks all for your kind word and comments ! Always nice to hear that others like the shot as well

. Thanks, Hans

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

Comment posted by David Williams on December 16, 2011 at 4:06 PM

I really like this "suspended" shot, Hans. The lighting and detail are great, and the bird really stands out from the BG.

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

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on December 16, 2011 at 10:28 PM

Really cool image! I always think it looks so cool when they hold like that. The raindrops are a big bonus! Really nice having that catchlight, too. The colours and the detail are great!

Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on December 17, 2011 at 4:03 PM

Wonderful shot Hans, love the head down pose and the sideways rain.

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

Comment posted by Alan Bryant on December 18, 2011 at 3:00 PM

A1 image there

Congrats

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on December 22, 2011 at 6:10 PM

An amazing shot. Terrific capture and great use of the opportunity conditions gave you. And congratulations on the EP!

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on December 22, 2011 at 10:31 PM

Congrats on the WP!
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on December 23, 2011 at 2:39 PM

W!!!

A well desrved EP Hans

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Harry Harris on December 23, 2011 at 8:56 PM

Congrats Hans. I do enjoy this image a lot.

Registered on August 2, 2010, 169 Posts, 741 Comments

Comment posted by Neal Cooper on December 24, 2011 at 2:58 AM

Awesome shot Hans. Incredibly sharp in great light. Well done.

Registered on June 3, 2009, 144 Posts, 306 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on December 25, 2011 at 9:21 AM

Thanks all for your comments and I feel honored being the chosen one! Merry X-mas to all! We are currently cycling in Morocco - so only can react now ! Internet is too slow to comment on other's pics, Will do so when back home! Cheers, Hans

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