Know Your Subject's Behavior! New Pics Added

HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
edited February 25, 2011 in Wildlife
Hi Ya' ll,

I'm off traveling for a few days so I figured I would leave you with an educational thread.

Its really important to have some knowledge of your subject's behavior. I've have had the good fortune these last 7 years to follow and get captures of a pair of red shouldered hawks in the Vieara Wetlands. By now I know their favorite haunts and how they act pretty well.

Yesterday I went out and decided to get a flight shot of the hawks. I went to this one tree they like to hang out in the AM and sure enough one was there. I grabbed a few captures with my D300 and 500mm f/4 + 1.7 TC from my car window using my bean bag for support.

1185364061_Ryxan-XL.jpg

1185364317_5KtxT-XL.jpg

He looked like he was gong to hang around so I started to set up my tripod. Since birds are basically evil the hawk took off as soon as he saw I was distracted. No flight shot. :pissed

I saw the direction he took as he left so I had a pretty good idea where he was going. So I went to a tree in that area that the local raptors like and sure enough he was there and as a bonus his paramour was with him.

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After a bit he started to show signs that he was ready to take off (he took a dump).

1185366740_A5oQP-XL.jpg

This time I was ready for the flight shot. My seven years of experience and intimate knowledge of their behavior was going to pay off. Off he went I got this master piece that I'm submitiing to the National Geographic.

1185367661_gxA4D-XL.jpg

Hey I got two thirds of the body. Is the head really all that important. :dunno

I chimped the capture and while I was uttering some rather inventive phrases his mate took off and I snapped of a quick snap shot

1185363945_LtziT-XL.jpg
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!"
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Comments

  • Brian_SBrian_S Registered Users Posts: 188 Major grins
    edited February 13, 2011
    Harryb wrote: »
    After a bit he started to show signs that he was ready to take off (he took a dump).

    heheh....had to lighten the load for liftoff?
    great narration and pics!! Good luck with National Geographic thumb.gif
  • AllenAllen Registered Users Posts: 10,013 Major grins
    edited February 13, 2011
    I think they must be aware of Harry's behavior. :D
    Love the NatGeo shot.

    Really like the attitude in #1.
    Al - Just a volunteer here having fun
    My Website index | My Blog
  • Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited February 13, 2011
    Well done Harry....well done. Patience is a virtue (but I don't have the time). It payed off.
    Mike McCarthy

    "Osprey Whisperer"

    OspreyWhisperer.com
  • LindiweLindiwe Registered Users Posts: 606 Major grins
    edited February 14, 2011
    The NatGeo shot is priceless!
    Thanks for the narration, and the lesson, and of course the lovely photographs. :)

    (If photographers need to know their birds.... I think these birds have learned to know their photographer!)
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited February 14, 2011
    Always nice to get the pair together; sweet light; happy travels!
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited February 14, 2011
    Harry, I love the National Geographic shot, and I agree the head just isn't that important. We all know what it looks like, but we rarely see exactly the angle you captured. Great work! Best, Pam
  • NaturebiteNaturebite Registered Users Posts: 60 Big grins
    edited February 15, 2011
    Harry, thanks for sharing these marvelous photos. The fascination of bird photography is the very fact that you can combine the knowledge of bird behavior, to observe environmental conditions and image capture technology skills.
    _________________________
    Risto Talman
    NatureBite Photo
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  • puzzledpaulpuzzledpaul Registered Users Posts: 1,621 Major grins
    edited February 15, 2011
    Since the NG shot is obviously a crop, I reckon H got the head and it's been posted as a wind up :)

    What's the blue stuff in the bg, btw?

    pp
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  • Debashis_A_ghoshDebashis_A_ghosh Registered Users Posts: 78 Big grins
    edited February 15, 2011
    I like this picture story. The images are great but the narrative is interesting as well.
    Debashis Ghosh

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  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited February 15, 2011
    clap.gifclapclap.gif
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  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited February 15, 2011
    deal.gif with getting to know the behavior of your subjects.

    I like the first shot in this series best though. Don't usually see the red-shoulders looking so fluffy!
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited February 16, 2011
    Super series and great story as usual, Harry! Glad to see I'm not the only one with NG cover shots :D
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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 17, 2011
    puzzledpaul wrote: »
    Since the NG shot is obviously a crop, I reckon H got the head and it's been posted as a wind up :)

    What's the blue stuff in the bg, btw?

    pp

    The shot was cropped but alas it was cropped on frame right. If I had gotten the head this would have been a completely different post.


    That blue stuff in the BG for all of you folks from the NE and Midwest is called the sky. If you Google it you will find out some interesting facts. :D
    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!"
  • Seminole DigitalSeminole Digital Registered Users Posts: 25 Big grins
    edited February 17, 2011
    Excellent shots, thanks for sharing
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 17, 2011
    Brian_S wrote: »
    heheh....had to lighten the load for liftoff?
    great narration and pics!! Good luck with National Geographic thumb.gif

    Thanks Brian and many birds will do the same thing right before lift-off.
    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!"
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited February 18, 2011
    thumb.gif Love the pair shots!
  • SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited February 18, 2011
    Harryb wrote: »
    The shot was cropped but alas it was cropped on frame right. If I had gotten the head this would have been a completely different post.


    That blue stuff in the BG for all of you folks from the NE and Midwest is called the sky. If you Google it you will find out some interesting facts. :D

    Sky? Whazzat? (she said peering through a haze of freezing rain falling on the 10' snowbank outside her window rolleyes1.gif)

    Great story and photos, and I'm SURE NG will be calling you shortly.
    Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
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  • jackiejayjackiejay Registered Users Posts: 714 Major grins
    edited February 18, 2011
    Love these the one for National G Is amazing :):)I enjoyed the story line and a beautiful set of pictures :)
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 18, 2011
    Allen wrote: »
    I think they must be aware of Harry's behavior. :D
    Love the NatGeo shot.

    Really like the attitude in #1.

    He seemed to be saying "you again!".
    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!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 18, 2011
    Osprey Whisperer wrote: »
    Well done Harry....well done. Patience is a virtue (but I don't have the time). It payed off.

    Thanks Mike, I'm retired :cavig I have a bit of time to spare
    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!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 18, 2011
    MakeMeShutter wrote: »
    wonderful images, great looking birds!

    Thanks Shawn
    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!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 19, 2011
    Maestro wrote: »
    Always nice to get the pair together; sweet light; happy travels!
    PGM wrote: »
    Harry, I love the National Geographic shot, and I agree the head just isn't that important. We all know what it looks like, but we rarely see exactly the angle you captured. Great work! Best, Pam
    Naturebite wrote: »
    Harry, thanks for sharing these marvelous photos. The fascination of bird photography is the very fact that you can combine the knowledge of bird behavior, to observe environmental conditions and image capture technology skills.
    Debashis_A_ghosh wrote: »
    I like this picture story. The images are great but the narrative is interesting as well.
    dlplumer wrote: »
    clap.gifclapclap.gif
    raptorcaptor wrote: »
    deal.gif with getting to know the behavior of your subjects.

    I like the first shot in this series best though. Don't usually see the red-shoulders looking so fluffy!
    BigAl wrote: »
    Super series and great story as usual, Harry! Glad to see I'm not the only one with NG cover shots :D
    Seminole Digital wrote: »
    Excellent shots, thanks for sharing
    Ric Grupe wrote: »
    thumb.gif Love the pair shots!
    jackiejay wrote: »
    Love these the one for National G Is amazing :):)I enjoyed the story line and a beautiful set of pictures :)

    Thnks y'all for the kind words and for taking the time to comment.
    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!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 19, 2011
    Linda was driving to Lakeland this AM and I noticed that she forgot to take the Sun Pass with her. I called her while she had stopped for gas and told her to stay there and I would drive the Sun Pass to her. Since it was on the way to the wetlands and since I just happened to have two cameras, 5 lenses, 2 tripods, a monopod and a beanbag in my car I decided to stop by the wetlands after I gave her the Sun Pass.

    Usually I avoid the wetlands on the weekends since its infested with civilians but I wanted to see if I could get some GBH nesting images. No luck with the GBHs so I drove to the hawks favorite tree and sure there was my buddy.

    He looked a tad antsy so I took a few captures from my car using the beanbag as support for the 500mm on the D300.

    1192093173_ENDBo-XL.jpg

    1192093436_x9czz-XL.jpg

    I was about to set up the tripod for some more captures when I noticed pre-flight prep starting.

    1192093735_7KXd8-XL.jpg

    A few seconds later

    1192094178_n2N75-XL.jpg

    1192092944_cum3E-XL.jpg
    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!"
  • HDRoamerHDRoamer Registered Users Posts: 94 Big grins
    edited February 19, 2011
    You got proof for your words Harry. Looks like a tiny ping-pong ball. Great launch shots this time.
    HD Roamer
    http://hdroamer.com
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited February 19, 2011
    Oh, man. What are the odds of catching that "pre-flight prep". rolleyes1.gif

    Excellent series, Harry. thumb.gif
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 20, 2011
    HDRoamer wrote: »
    You got proof for your words Harry. Looks like a tiny ping-pong ball. Great launch shots this time.

    Thanks it only took 7 years of practice.
    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!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 20, 2011
    Snowgirl wrote: »
    Sky? Whazzat? (she said peering through a haze of freezing rain falling on the 10' snowbank outside her window rolleyes1.gif)

    Great story and photos, and I'm SURE NG will be calling you shortly.

    Thanks and I don't even want to imagine 10' snowbanks. :yikes
    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!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 21, 2011
    kdog wrote: »
    Oh, man. What are the odds of catching that "pre-flight prep". rolleyes1.gif

    Excellent series, Harry. thumb.gif

    Funny thing is that I missed it on my original work-up and cropped it out w/o realizing what I was cropping. I was thinking about how it hadn't unloaded before taking off and I re-reviewed the originals and realized what I had missed and recropped the captrue.
    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!"
  • GaleGale Registered Users Posts: 1,052 Major grins
    edited February 23, 2011
    Excellent
    Best Regards
    Gale

    www.pbase.com/techwish
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited February 24, 2011
    I love that next to last one! And how wonderful that you "just happened" to have all that equipment in your car! Best, Pam
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