Harrier

Gallery: AvianPosted January 27, 2012205 views10 comments

I am continuing to work on bettering my bif images. This is one of the most recent efforts, taken at Sacramento NWR a couple of days ago. This harrier was about 30 feet off the ground and went into a sharp bank, exposing its underside to the late afternoon sun. Head details seem marginal to me but I feel my technique has improved. This is a 50% crop. Please let me know what you think.

D300, 300F4, 1.4 tc, F6.3, 1/1600, +1.0 EV, ISO 500

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Harry Harris on January 28, 2012 at 8:23 AM

Jim, I like the pose with the wing and tail feathers spread. Seems that your BIF images are improving. I wish I had a Harrier image like this one. Good job.

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

Comment posted by Jay Martin on January 28, 2012 at 1:27 PM

Great job! I think you are there with your improvement.

Registered on December 6, 2005, 200 Posts, 2209 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 28, 2012 at 5:52 PM

looks good and sharp, and I like the fanned tail, Jim. I agree with you that more detail in the face would be nice, but that's a distance issue. a little more eye contact would also be a plus. keep at them though, this is a solid start.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 28, 2012 at 10:52 PM

Great pose and light, Jim. Hard to evaluate detail in the 720 pixel image, but judging by the quality of the catchlight, I'd say the head is probably a bit soft.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 29, 2012 at 10:57 AM

Not a bad effort at all Jim. Love the look at the underside plumage. I agree with others that a larger version is needed to evaluate critical sharpness and detail. Keep at it. Your flight shot skills will continue to improve.

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

Comment posted by Jim Hansen on January 29, 2012 at 1:31 PM

Thanks everyone for your comments. Yes, it is a matter of distance. The head is soft. I tried a larger image but it just magnified the softness, so I thought I would leave well enough alone. I will keep at it.

Registered on May 5, 2011, 161 Posts, 908 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on January 29, 2012 at 4:02 PM

Nice shot and good light on the bird. It would be much easier to judge the IQ with the optional larger post.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on January 29, 2012 at 9:09 PM

Very nice image Jim.
May

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

Comment posted by Luca Mussato on January 30, 2012 at 2:49 AM

I like the soft light. my only nit is the few room between the wing tips and the top border of the frame. maybe it could be easy tu cut a part of the lower BG and ad it to the top.

Cheers, Luca

Registered on November 14, 2006, 118 Posts, 855 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on February 1, 2012 at 2:54 PM

Good timing to follow the harrier and keep focus. I really like the flight pose showing those wonderful feather patterns, keep up the good work, these are some of the most difficult shots to get, way to go.

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