Red-tailed Hawk

Gallery: AvianPosted January 6, 2013162 views15 comments

This one popped up onto the post just yards ahead of me at Ridgefield NWR. I was able to get some images with my 300 that filled the screen, but I went on past and took some more distant images and liked this one from after a grooming session.

1DIV, 500mm ISL + 1.4TC, supported on beanbag, f8, 1/2000, iso 640, Av mode with no compensation, cropped to 5MP. Taken at 10:51 on January 2nd.

Your comments and criticisms are always appreciated.

Thanks for looking,

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Tonia Graves on January 6, 2013 at 8:23 PM

Dennis, I like the lighting along with the brown tones here. There is nice detail in this also. Personally I might like a little more eye contact, but overall this is a fine image.

Registered on October 29, 2011, 92 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 6, 2013 at 8:32 PM

Nice pose, nice light. The feather sticking out gives this some good character.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 6, 2013 at 8:32 PM

I like shots like this, Dennis - love the feather in disarray and the bird seeming to look at it in frustration. Eye contact with the viewer would ruin that for me. The hawk looks very good IMO.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 6, 2013 at 8:49 PM

Oh, this is excellent!
Sweet detail, nice pose with the raised leg, great BG. It would have been nice if he/she had been looking at you, but fine as is.
I have NEVER had luck at Ridgefield with ANYthing!

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on January 6, 2013 at 8:53 PM

Who needs eye contact when it's looking right at its unruly feather! This is great and I think it would make a great directional sign! Nice background and wonderful detail on the hawk. Sharon

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

Comment posted by Jerry Marella on January 6, 2013 at 8:56 PM

This is a beauty, Dennis. The foot up and head position give him a lot of charchter.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 142 Posts, 862 Comments

Comment posted by Tjie Poo on January 6, 2013 at 10:34 PM

An unusual capture of this Hawk. The expression of the bird looking down at the feather is adorable. I like it !

Registered on December 4, 2012, 51 Posts, 511 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on January 6, 2013 at 11:23 PM

Dennis: Very cool! That feather makes the image work. Nicely captured.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 7, 2013 at 8:51 AM

I totally agree with Ron and Sharon's comments regarding where the bird is looking. I like this as is. nice colors, and the look + the feather are really cool.

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

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on January 7, 2013 at 12:28 PM

I really like the pensive expression the hawk, Dennis. Looks like he's pretty involved with grooming. Great background to complement the subject.

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 8, 2013 at 1:19 AM

Love the errant feather Dennis. Not sure the bird agrees

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by John Launstein on January 8, 2013 at 2:16 AM

Dennis, this one's off the charts! Outstanding IQ and detail, great background, comp, lighting and everything else...but it's the expression and moment captured that takes it to the top level. Just fantastic.

If I was stretching to find any possible area of improvement, I might look at a SHADE more space on the bottom (if you have it) to give some breathing room for the "virtual tail," but I'm not sure that would end up being as strong a comp overall. I'm sure you looked at all possible comps when you cropped this initially, and it looks great as presented.

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments

Comment posted by James Allen on January 8, 2013 at 9:54 AM

Love the expression and feather Dennis. I can hear the bird thinking, "Right, that does it!"

Registered on December 10, 2012, 14 Posts, 232 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on January 9, 2013 at 9:59 AM

Nice work Dennis. I normally would agree about the eye contact...but not on this image. The eye looking at the feather like he is pissed about the position of it cracks me up and is what sets this shot apart from any other Hawk on a post shot. Really nice timing capturing that moment!

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 9, 2013 at 4:01 PM

Excellent shot Dennis, quality image all the way around with good detail and background, well done.

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