Perfect Day - Perfect Light - Amazing High

PrescottPhotogPrescottPhotog Registered Users Posts: 1,174 Major grins
edited January 24, 2008 in Wildlife
Hi Everyone,

Have you ever had a day (or two) where everything just works.. Well all these shots were captured on Sunday and Monday of this week. The wind was blowing and the raptors were soaring. The sun was blazing and the afternoon light was perfect. I'm still in awe of the detail you can capture when everything just falls into place.

It is a long post so I will just let the pictures speak for themselves. I hope you enjoy the photos..

#1
geese_1.jpg
#2
hawk_1.jpg
#3
hawk_2.jpg
#4
hawk_3.jpg
#5
hawk_4.jpg
#6
hawk_5.jpg
#7
hawk_6.jpg
#8
hawk_7.jpg
#9
hawk_8.jpg
#10
hawk_9.jpg
#11
hawk_10.jpg
#12
hawk_11.jpg
--
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Here are a couple links to the full size head shots if you would like to see a close up of the eyes, especially #9 who must have just finished lunch..

http://webblinks.com/postings/sm_0122108_b/hawk_6a.jpg
http://webblinks.com/postings/sm_0122108_b/hawk_7a.jpg
http://webblinks.com/postings/sm_0122108_b/hawk_8a.jpg

In a couple months when it hits 100 degrees all these guys will be gone and I will be taking pictures of ducks again for 4 months..(and I'll be sad):rofl :rofl
'
Prescott Photog, Chris - " One Shot, One Still "
'
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Comments

  • GiphsubGiphsub Registered Users Posts: 2,662 Major grins
    edited January 23, 2008
    Wow! Awesome shots Chris! clap.gif You really do have to love those days eh! I haven't had one for a while headscratch.gif Must be just about due...

    I can't pick a favourite, so I'll pick em all! :D
    Mike Helbig

    http://www.michaelhelbigphotography.com
    http://www.thewildpig.blogspot.com
  • slodaveslodave Registered Users Posts: 57 Big grins
    edited January 23, 2008
    Very nice pictures, Chris!
    Dave

    On a steep learning curve...
    Nikon D100, Nikon 18-135mm, Tamron 5.6 200-400mm
  • SloYerRollSloYerRoll Registered Users Posts: 2,788 Major grins
    edited January 23, 2008
    Gret shots Chris!
    It's hard to tell who was checking out whom more!

    These kinds of shots makes me want to be a birder thumb.gif
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited January 23, 2008
    #s 7, 8 and 9 are spectacular. You certainly had a great day. Nice series.
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited January 23, 2008
    Sweet series Chris. thumb.gif What focal length lens were you using ? headscratch.gif
    Mike McCarthy

    "Osprey Whisperer"

    OspreyWhisperer.com
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited January 23, 2008
    Wonderful shots Chris, don't you just love it when the light is right.
    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!"
  • PrescottPhotogPrescottPhotog Registered Users Posts: 1,174 Major grins
    edited January 23, 2008
    Giphsub wrote:
    Wow! Awesome shots Chris! clap.gif You really do have to love those days eh! I haven't had one for a while headscratch.gif Must be just about due...

    Hi Mike.. Thanks for your comments. A day like this sure makes up for all the dark and blurry photos I've got stored on my hard drive.
    '
    Prescott Photog, Chris - " One Shot, One Still "
    '
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  • PrescottPhotogPrescottPhotog Registered Users Posts: 1,174 Major grins
    edited January 23, 2008
    slodave wrote:
    Very nice pictures, Chris!

    Hi Dave.. Thanks for viewing and for your comments.
    '
    Prescott Photog, Chris - " One Shot, One Still "
    '
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  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited January 23, 2008
    #9! clap.gifclapclap.gif

    #8! thumb.gifthumb.gifthumb.gif
  • PrescottPhotogPrescottPhotog Registered Users Posts: 1,174 Major grins
    edited January 23, 2008
    SloYerRoll wrote:
    Gret shots Chris!
    It's hard to tell who was checking out whom more!
    These kinds of shots makes me want to be a birder thumb.gif

    Hi, Thanks for viewing and for your comments. This is why I like shooting BIF's so much. Every day is different and new. It is very frustrating but the rewards seem well worth it to me.
    '
    Prescott Photog, Chris - " One Shot, One Still "
    '
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  • PrescottPhotogPrescottPhotog Registered Users Posts: 1,174 Major grins
    edited January 23, 2008
    Maestro wrote:
    #s 7, 8 and 9 are spectacular. You certainly had a great day. Nice series.

    Hi Stephen.. Thank you for your very nice comments. I was like a kid in a candy store shooting these.. I knew it would be a good day because it was breezy going on windy, the perfect type of day the raptors love for soaring and hunting.
    '
    Prescott Photog, Chris - " One Shot, One Still "
    '
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  • PrescottPhotogPrescottPhotog Registered Users Posts: 1,174 Major grins
    edited January 23, 2008
    Bird Man Photographer wrote:
    Sweet series Chris. thumb.gif What focal length lens were you using ? headscratch.gif

    Hi Mike, Thanks for viewing. All these shots were taken with a Mark III I just got last Friday (a replacement Blue Dot version for the one I had that died) using a 500mm f/4 (no extender) on a monopod with a full Wimberley. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this Mark III holds up as they promised. So far so good.
    '
    Prescott Photog, Chris - " One Shot, One Still "
    '
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  • Bud1880Bud1880 Registered Users Posts: 500 Major grins
    edited January 23, 2008
    PrescottPhotog wrote:
    hawk_4.jpg
    This one does it for me. thumb.gif All incredible shots Chris. You're lucky to live near such an area but also very talented to get such shots. Thanks for letting us look.

    Bud
    www.dabudman.com
  • PrescottPhotogPrescottPhotog Registered Users Posts: 1,174 Major grins
    edited January 23, 2008
    Harryb wrote:
    Wonderful shots Chris, don't you just love it when the light is right.

    Thanks Harry.. It sure was fun..wings.gif
    '
    Prescott Photog, Chris - " One Shot, One Still "
    '
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  • PrescottPhotogPrescottPhotog Registered Users Posts: 1,174 Major grins
    edited January 23, 2008
    Bud1880 wrote:
    This one does it for me. thumb.gif All incredible shots Chris. You're lucky to live near such an area but also very talented to get such shots. Thanks for letting us look. Bud

    Thanks for the nice compliments Bud. They don't stay long but while they are here is sure is a fun time.
    '
    Prescott Photog, Chris - " One Shot, One Still "
    '
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  • PrescottPhotogPrescottPhotog Registered Users Posts: 1,174 Major grins
    edited January 23, 2008
    Ric Grupe wrote:
    #9! clap.gifclapclap.gif #8! thumb.gifthumb.gifthumb.gif

    Hi Ric.. Thanks for the clap.gif and the thumb.gif .. They are very much appreciated :ivar
    '
    Prescott Photog, Chris - " One Shot, One Still "
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  • jonh68jonh68 Registered Users Posts: 2,711 Major grins
    edited January 23, 2008
    Some of the best harrier pictures I have seen.thumb.gif
    www.jonimages.com
  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited January 23, 2008
    Great series Chris! Love the Harrier shots! clap.gif
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
  • jonh68jonh68 Registered Users Posts: 2,711 Major grins
    edited January 23, 2008
    Some of the best harrier pictures I have seen.thumb.gif
    www.jonimages.com
  • Jack'll doJack'll do Registered Users Posts: 2,977 Major grins
    edited January 23, 2008
    Wonderful set. As I went through it I tried to keep track of which ones I thought were really really special. I ended up with 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,.9,10,11,&12 clap.gifclapclap.gifclap
    jrg.smugmug.com

    Jack
    (My real name is John but Jack'll do)
  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited January 23, 2008
    Very nice Chris - you're right about great light thumb.gif

    I really like the way the harrier eyeballed you in #8 clap.gif
    Birds
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  • Mark EdellMark Edell Registered Users Posts: 672 Major grins
    edited January 24, 2008
    Sweet! Excellent flight shots!
    www.markedell.com
  • NanaMoNanaMo Registered Users Posts: 189 Major grins
    edited January 24, 2008
    Give up your day job and do this full time! You obviously love it and do a magnificent job!!! clap.gif

    Wonderful pictures as usual and I love the look in the eye of the one in #5....great capture.

    Keep shooting till the ducks come home! rolleyes1.gif

    Maureen
  • PrescottPhotogPrescottPhotog Registered Users Posts: 1,174 Major grins
    edited January 24, 2008
    jonh68 wrote:
    Some of the best harrier pictures I have seen.thumb.gif

    Thanks Jon for viewing and for your compliments
    '
    Prescott Photog, Chris - " One Shot, One Still "
    '
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  • PrescottPhotogPrescottPhotog Registered Users Posts: 1,174 Major grins
    edited January 24, 2008
    raptorcaptor wrote:
    Great series Chris! Love the Harrier shots! clap.gif

    Thanks for viewing Glenn.. and for the compliment.
    '
    Prescott Photog, Chris - " One Shot, One Still "
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  • PrescottPhotogPrescottPhotog Registered Users Posts: 1,174 Major grins
    edited January 24, 2008
    Jack'll do wrote:
    Wonderful set. As I went through it I tried to keep track of which ones I thought were really really special. I ended up with 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,.9,10,11,&12 clap.gifclapclap.gifclap

    Thanks Jack.. very much appreciated.
    '
    Prescott Photog, Chris - " One Shot, One Still "
    '
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  • PrescottPhotogPrescottPhotog Registered Users Posts: 1,174 Major grins
    edited January 24, 2008
    BigAl wrote:
    Very nice Chris - you're right about great light thumb.gif
    I really like the way the harrier eyeballed you in #8 clap.gif

    Hi BigAl.. I was going to post.. "none of the subjects were paid to pose" especially #8..rolleyes1.gifrolleyes1.gif I'm glad I wasn't a mouse.
    '
    Prescott Photog, Chris - " One Shot, One Still "
    '
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  • PrescottPhotogPrescottPhotog Registered Users Posts: 1,174 Major grins
    edited January 24, 2008
    Mark Edell wrote:
    Sweet! Excellent flight shots!

    Thanks for your compliment Mark !!
    '
    Prescott Photog, Chris - " One Shot, One Still "
    '
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  • PrescottPhotogPrescottPhotog Registered Users Posts: 1,174 Major grins
    edited January 24, 2008
    NanaMo wrote:
    Give up your day job and do this full time! You obviously love it and do a magnificent job!!! clap.gif Wonderful pictures as usual and I love the look in the eye of the one in #5....great capture. Keep shooting till the ducks come home! rolleyes1.gif Maureen

    Hi Maureen.. Thank you very much for the compliments. I've had a heck of a time capturing a good picture of these (#1 thru #5). I taken a few shots and they all come out looking weird, these came out much better. I believe it is a Immature Swainson's hawk. There are about a dozen variations just to the immature so it is hard to tell from my book.
    '
    Prescott Photog, Chris - " One Shot, One Still "
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  • riddim_makerriddim_maker Registered Users Posts: 1,835 Major grins
    edited January 24, 2008
    Get while the getting is good:D
    Chris, these are just awesomeclap.gifclap.gifclap.gif
    #5 and #9 are outstandingthumb.gif
    Russ
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