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Peregrine Flight
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Peregrine Flight

by Patrick O'Healy

Gallery: AvianPosted May 27, 2013150 views19 comments
May 25, 2013
Tjie Poo and I spent a morning on the cliffs in Southern California photographing these Peregrine fledges as they chased their mama. We were set up with 600mm lenses, with better beamers on tripods. They flew so close and quickly that we were unable to catch a wing, much less get a shot. I took the camera and 600 off the tripod and hand held for several shots. Miracles do happen.

Nikon D800 600mm lens ISO640 f/8 1/1250 white balance auto cropped and processed in CS6 and Lightroom.

Comments welcome

Comments

19 comments
Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on May 27, 2013 at 4:39 PM
Hey Patrick,
Congratulations. You will find that the harder you work, the more these miracles will happen. Nice work! I like the calling pose and looks like you were able to find the spot. :toast:
Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments
Comment posted by Mike Ramy on May 27, 2013 at 5:48 PM
Patrick,
Hand Held is always better for action shots IMO, I hardly ever use a tri-pod and seldom carry one along.
You made a great capture here with all aspects of the image first rate.
Well Done . . . :toast:
Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments
Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on May 27, 2013 at 6:51 PM
Very nice! congrats on a fine shot! Sharon
Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments
Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on May 27, 2013 at 8:17 PM
Great positioning. Love the head turn and the calling action. Makes me want to duck!
Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments
Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on May 27, 2013 at 8:32 PM
A very nice capture. The eye contact and call make the shot.
Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Teller on May 27, 2013 at 9:17 PM
I agree the eye contact and open mouth make the image. Great action capture.
Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 27, 2013 at 11:46 PM
Excellent, Patrick. That's quite a chore to hand hold-I have plenty of trouble with a 500. It gave you a great look to boot.

Well done.

:toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Watkins on May 28, 2013 at 2:57 AM
Patrick,

Great capture, although hand-holding a heavy lens can be irksome, but the degree of reaction you get is much better.
From a vehicle in Africa I find it is "compulsory"
Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments
Comment posted by Martin Dunn on May 28, 2013 at 3:00 AM
Great capture Patrick. Looks like you caught it just at the right moment.
Now off to the gym with you to build up those biceps for some more hand-holding.
Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Hackley on May 28, 2013 at 12:05 PM
Good timing to get this, wonderful flight pose with open beak, well done.
Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments
Comment posted by David Sewell on May 28, 2013 at 1:12 PM
I would have considered this a great shot taken using a tripod, but handholding a 600mm lens? That really is impressive.

David
Registered on September 10, 2008, 63 Posts, 801 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on May 28, 2013 at 4:34 PM
Excellent! Glad you made it over there and wish I could. Great pose and stare, nice detail and specs.
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on May 28, 2013 at 4:35 PM
And PS: now you know why I forsake tripods and handhold! Very tough with a 600, though .
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Tjie Poo on May 28, 2013 at 5:39 PM
A miraculously amazing capture Patrick ! The stare and the open beak light up the whole scene and I love the back-lighted trails of wings and tail. :toast:
Registered on December 4, 2012, 51 Posts, 511 Comments
Comment posted by KC Choo on May 28, 2013 at 10:08 PM
Very nice indeed! I'll have to wait to next year to get these.
Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments
Comment posted by Randy Bacon on May 28, 2013 at 10:10 PM
Congratulations Patrick, what a great capture - sweet!
Registered on November 24, 2008, 56 Posts, 492 Comments
Comment posted by Craig Strand on May 28, 2013 at 10:16 PM
Very nicely captured!
Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Drummond on May 29, 2013 at 7:58 AM
Great detail Patrick
Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 29, 2013 at 11:16 PM
A super pose you captured here Patrick, I feel like I am nitpicking a bit on this great shot but if you have more room on the bottom and used less on the top I think it would work better with the bird looking down like it. If you don't have more room on the bottom I think taking some from the top and making it a pano works well too. Congrats on this image :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments