Gallery: AvianPosted June 8, 2014115 views8 comments
Taken at San Tan Regional Park, Queen Creek, Arizona
1/1250 at f10 and ISO500
Canon 500mm with 1.4 TC
Canon 7D
Interesting straw-like feathering under the tail
Comments
8 comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on June 8, 2014 at 1:30 PM
The "feathering" looks like part of a cactus to me, Scott. Wonder if it got stuck to the bird at some point. Great head turn and a nicely spread wing.
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on June 8, 2014 at 2:16 PM
Scott,
Kestrels are one of my favorite birds. Your capture with the cactus bottom is certainly different. He won't be sitting soon. a small nit on my screen is that the head is slightly OOF, or it needs a little selective burning to make the colors a bit more consistent with the balance of the bird. Good catch.
Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments
Comment posted by Scott Frye on June 8, 2014 at 2:18 PM
Nice observation Dennis -- now the question is -- Does the cactus take points away from the bird shot? I believe it is a cactus as these guys live in that environment
Registered on February 3, 2007, 387 Posts, 1136 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on June 8, 2014 at 11:35 PM
I think the cactus adds an interesting natural history twist to the image. We always seem to think that birds are immune to this kind of stuff until we see it.
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by David Haynes on June 8, 2014 at 11:55 PM
OUCH!!! Looks painful. Great head turn and flared wings and tail. That cactus certainly looks painful though but I find it adds to the story here. I think the image could use some more blacks and or contrast and maybe a round of sharpening. There is also a little bit of noise under the wing.
What a cool shot though. Did she get that cactus off of her?
Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments
Comment posted by Hans Overduin on June 9, 2014 at 10:23 AM
Wonderful pose you had here ! Cheers, Hans
Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on June 12, 2014 at 12:52 AM
Terrific image, especially with the cactus. I'm sure she was able to pick it off at some point.
I agree that the head needs a bit of additional sharpening and some darkening.
Lovely image -
Sandy
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Peter J. Morrissey on June 15, 2014 at 1:45 PM
Scott
I think Patrick is right. The head is not as sharp as the rest of the Kestrels, but the eye contact more than makes up for it.
Great work.
Peter J. Morrissey
Registered on July 3, 2011, 188 Posts, 969 Comments
Comments
8 commentsKestrels are one of my favorite birds. Your capture with the cactus bottom is certainly different. He won't be sitting soon. a small nit on my screen is that the head is slightly OOF, or it needs a little selective burning to make the colors a bit more consistent with the balance of the bird. Good catch.
What a cool shot though. Did she get that cactus off of her?
I agree that the head needs a bit of additional sharpening and some darkening.
Lovely image -
Sandy
I think Patrick is right. The head is not as sharp as the rest of the Kestrels, but the eye contact more than makes up for it.
Great work.
Peter J. Morrissey