Christmas Hawk

PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
edited January 8, 2011 in Wildlife
Any thoughts on how these photos could be improved? Do you have a favorite between the two? I think this is a Broad-winged Hawk, common in our area. It was perched on a fence post that separates the pepper fields from the bordering lowland forest and cypress swamp. Shot at dusk on a windy day.

Camera settings: Canon 7D, 400mm lens, ISO 400, f/6.3, 1/125th second.

Many thanks, and Happy New Year to all! Pam

1) The "wind-blown, over the shoulder look".
1139460583_tFJD6-L-1.jpg

2) Is that my dinner?

1139460471_B3ByP-L.jpg

Comments

  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited December 28, 2010
    Two very nice captures, Pam.thumb.gif
  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited December 28, 2010
    Well done, Pamclap.gif
    Dan
    http://danielplumer.com/
    Facebook Fan Page
  • Don KondraDon Kondra Registered Users Posts: 630 Major grins
    edited December 28, 2010
    Nice work Pam,

    If I had to choose it would be #1, the bird appears a little more animated and there is less fence visible :)

    I also wouldn't have a problem if you cloned out the fence.

    Cheers, Don
    Don Kondra - Furniture Designer/Maker
    Product Photography
    My Acreage Bird Photographs
  • Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited December 28, 2010
    Nice set Pam. That's an attractive bird. Bet you were thrilled to see it. Raptors are soooooo coooooool.
    Mike McCarthy

    "Osprey Whisperer"

    OspreyWhisperer.com
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited December 28, 2010
    Ric Grupe wrote: »
    Two very nice captures, Pam.thumb.gif
    Thanks, Ric!
    dlplumer wrote: »
    Well done, Pamclap.gif
    Thank you, Dan!
    Don Kondra wrote: »
    Nice work Pam,

    If I had to choose it would be #1, the bird appears a little more animated and there is less fence visible :)

    I also wouldn't have a problem if you cloned out the fence.

    Cheers, Don

    Thanks for the suggestion, Don. I'll try it! And I think I like the same one you do.
    Osprey Whisperer wrote: »
    Nice set Pam. That's an attractive bird. Bet you were thrilled to see it. Raptors are soooooo coooooool.

    Hi Mike! There were actually 2 hawks, perched on two adjacent fence posts. One flew off before I could get a shot, but this one stayed. We were driving around near the wildlife gaps between the swamp and Avery Island, hoping to see a black bear. No bears that day, but as you said, thrilled to see these two beautiful hawks! Best, Pam
  • Brian_SBrian_S Registered Users Posts: 188 Major grins
    edited December 28, 2010
    excellent pictures Pam!! great lighting, i like #2 best, the hawk looks like he is on a mission
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited December 28, 2010
    Brian_S wrote: »
    excellent pictures Pam!! great lighting, i like #2 best, the hawk looks like he is on a mission

    Thanks, Brian! I think that hawk WAS on a mission, because it was awfullly close to dinner time! Best, Pam
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited December 28, 2010
    nice work I love the RT juv they will let us get close take shots what more can you ask ne_nau.gif but then they grow up and hate cameras :D
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited December 29, 2010
    Thanks, Jeff
  • JimJJimJ Registered Users Posts: 30 Big grins
    edited December 29, 2010
    Nice shots Pam.
    Jim Johnson
    Lecompte, LA.
    www.jimejohnsonphoto.com
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited December 29, 2010
    Excellent captures, Pam. thumb.gif I'm guessing you were using a tripod? Otherwise, you must have an awfully steady had to have shot these at 1/125s. My rule of thumb is double the focal length. So I'd normally be shooting for a minimum of 1/800s. However, there are certainly times when one doesn't have the time to adjust anything to get the shot, and I have plenty of shots at this speed as a result as well.

    Cheers,
    -joel
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited December 29, 2010
    JimJ wrote: »
    Nice shots Pam.

    Thanks, Jim. Beautiful wood duck shot on your website. Best, Pam
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited December 29, 2010
    kdog wrote: »
    Excellent captures, Pam. thumb.gif I'm guessing you were using a tripod? Otherwise, you must have an awfully steady had to have shot these at 1/125s. My rule of thumb is double the focal length. So I'd normally be shooting for a minimum of 1/800s. However, there are certainly times when one doesn't have the time to adjust anything to get the shot, and I have plenty of shots at this speed as a result as well.

    Cheers,
    -joel

    Thanks, Joel. I know you are right--Harry also pointed out that I will need a faster shutter speed most times. This was shot at dusk, and I could have (and should have) set the aperture wide open, one more stop. I shot from inside our car, with a Skimmer Sack Beanbag draped over the open window, and a Skimmer Ground Pod II with a quick release clamp and camera sitting securely on top of that. I got it from www.naturescapes.net, a site Harry recommends, and it is the best solution I have found so far for shooting from our "car blind." I can't hand hold that 400mm lens worth a flip! Best, Pam
  • GaleGale Registered Users Posts: 1,052 Major grins
    edited December 29, 2010
    Beautiful images
    Like them both
    Best Regards
    Gale

    www.pbase.com/techwish
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited December 29, 2010
    Gale wrote: »
    Beautiful images
    Like them both

    Thanks very much, Gale. Happy New Year! Best, Pam
  • PhotoHoundPhotoHound Registered Users Posts: 113 Major grins
    edited December 30, 2010
    Beautiful. Nice shots Pam!
    Scott Mikkelsen
    www.photohound.smugmug.com
  • JoemessJoemess Registered Users Posts: 112 Major grins
    edited December 30, 2010
    Wow, I really like number 1 for the items mentioned in the image title. With the wind and the head turn it just gives the bird movement that is missing in number 2 (although that one rocks as well)...
    “Tug at a single thing in nature, and you will find it connected to the universe.
    [John Muir]
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited December 30, 2010
    PhotoHound wrote: »
    Beautiful. Nice shots Pam!
    Joemess wrote: »
    Wow, I really like number 1 for the items mentioned in the image title. With the wind and the head turn it just gives the bird movement that is missing in number 2 (although that one rocks as well)...


    Thank you both so much! Happy New Year!
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 30, 2010
    Excellent pair of images of interesting subjects Pam. thumb.gif

    They are a bit too centered for my taste (especially the 2nd image). I would try to bring down the highlights a tad in my post work.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited December 30, 2010
    Harryb wrote: »
    Excellent pair of images of interesting subjects Pam. thumb.gif

    They are a bit too centered for my taste (especially the 2nd image). I would try to bring down the highlights a tad in my post work.

    Thanks, Harry! Will do.
  • sapphire73sapphire73 Registered Users, Super Moderators Posts: 1,974 moderator
    edited December 30, 2010
    Pam, I think both of these are great images. I favor the first image, liking the full alert looking over the shoulder thing. While the posture of the hawk is more intense in the second, the composition feels more static to me, perhaps because of the relative symmetry of the fence and the way the body of the hawk is balanced over the post - if that makes sense.

    We get a lot of hawks here but I'm not familiar with this one. Thanks for sharing these!

    My SmugMug Galleries

  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited December 31, 2010
    sapphire73 wrote: »
    Pam, I think both of these are great images. I favor the first image, liking the full alert looking over the shoulder thing. While the posture of the hawk is more intense in the second, the composition feels more static to me, perhaps because of the relative symmetry of the fence and the way the body of the hawk is balanced over the post - if that makes sense.

    We get a lot of hawks here but I'm not familiar with this one. Thanks for sharing these!

    Thanks, Saphire! I think Harry is right--that I need to crop especially the second one differently, like with less space to the right of his tale and more to the front where is he staring so intently. So the bird is't so centered. I do struggle, kind of like you mentioned in a different post, with the difference in how photos look, exposure wise, on my monitor versus other monitors versus how they print on my printer. Colors are always pretty good, and I have a calibrated monitor, but the light/dark thing between monitors, and between my monitor and printer is an issue for me. I just got a new monitor (since my old one was about 100 years old in computer years), and when it came out of the box it was set for computer games, at a brightness of 120, which really strained my eyes. Now it is set, through calibration, to reflect ambient light in the room, and I think it got dialed down to about 80 or 90. Well, way more than you wanted to know. Happy New Year, and thank you for commenting!
  • ashruggedashrugged Registered Users Posts: 345 Major grins
    edited January 2, 2011
    Excellent images Pam. I prefer # 1, as the coco color is a little richer on my mnitor. Best wishes for a new year.
    Robert

    http://rckimaging.smugmug.com/
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited January 2, 2011
    ashrugged wrote: »
    Excellent images Pam. I prefer # 1, as the coco color is a little richer on my mnitor. Best wishes for a new year.

    Thanks, Robert. I appreciate your opinion--it is so helpful to see your photos through the eyes of others. Happy New Year to you too!
  • PhotosbychuckPhotosbychuck Registered Users Posts: 1,239 Major grins
    edited January 4, 2011
    Great shotsclap.gif

    If you did a tighter crop on both of them you could take most of the fence out of the shot. My fav #1



    Take Care,
    Chuck
    D300S, 18-200mm VR, 70-300mm VR

    Aperture Focus Photography
    http://aperturefocus.com
  • Dennis KaczorDennis Kaczor Registered Users Posts: 2,413 Major grins
    edited January 4, 2011
    Very nice captures Pam, both a great images.
    Regards - Dennis

    Dennis Kaczor Photography
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited January 4, 2011
    Photosbychuck wrote: »
    Great shotsclap.gif

    If you did a tighter crop on both of them you could take most of the fence out of the shot. My fav #1



    Take Care,
    Chuck

    Thanks for the suggestion, Chuck. I actually have one version with the fence cloned out. Before I post my photos on our website, I run them by a few cousins to make sure we have familial harmony. What can I say? They like the fence. I do really appreciate your comment.
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited January 4, 2011
    Dennis Kaczor wrote: »
    Very nice captures Pam, both a great images.

    Thanks very much, Dennis!
  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited January 7, 2011
    Harryb wrote: »
    Excellent pair of images of interesting subjects Pam. thumb.gif

    They are a bit too centered for my taste (especially the 2nd image). I would try to bring down the highlights a tad in my post work.

    Nice Pam! I wouldn't want to make a pick from either, but Mr B has a couple of good pointers for improvement thumb.gif
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  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited January 8, 2011
    BigAl wrote: »
    Nice Pam! I wouldn't want to make a pick from either, but Mr B has a couple of good pointers for improvement thumb.gif

    Doesn't he always! Thank goodness for Harry!clap.gif
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