In order to escape some severe wind this male American Kestrel chose to perch very low to the ground at the base of a large cottonwood tree. He was mostly in deep shade but occasionally the effect of the wind on the tree would put some dappled light on him.
1/1250, f/6.3, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in
Most of the shots were throw aways because of the shade and lack of light on the face and in the eye but I got a few I liked as he went from this perch to another. This kind of dappled and dramatic lighting may not appeal to everyone but occasionally it works for me.
Ron
I think it works well with the light on the face, Ron. I like these little falcons.
It certainly appeals to me! I think it’s beautiful and very dramatic!
Charlotte
“chiaroscuro” has come to mean basically, “light from within the subject”, as it does from your little Kestral. Many of the Dutch masters of Rembrandts time worked in this fashion. Many of the Master class portrait photographers in the US have used this concept for portraiture. To be able to line up a subject in nature for this effect to play out is the makings of a great photo, as you have here.
I love the way some of the plumage is almost a lavender blue in this light. Such a stunning bird – thank you.
I love it. I think that a lit up subject against a dark background is spectacular. I’ve been working out ways in my mind to search for a shot with that aesthetic. Anyway, you are building quite the archive of exceptional kestrel photographs, Ron. Keep it up!
Thanks, Bryce. I think it’s hard to “search out” shots with good light on the bird against a dark background – in my experience it just happens occasionally. You can sometimes move your shooting position a little to achieve it but birds being as flitty as they are you run the risk of missing the shot altogether.
It happened again for me today with a Sage Thrasher on an old, weathered post. I just moved a short distance to get the dark, green background and this time the bird stuck around long enough.
I really like the way the colors in the background echo the Kestrel’s plumage and yet the angle, elevation and pose cause him to stand out in the image. More nice work!
I hadn’t noticed the colors in the background being similar to some on the kestrel but you’re absolutely right, Wally. Thank you.
I agree with Susan… chiarascuro! Such a beautiful photo of one of my favorite birds!
Ok, couldn’t wait. I looked up chiaroscuro after you and Susan both mentioned it and I learned something. Thanks, Julia.
Ron, it probably doesn’t surprise you that I love this type of lighting and dimensional portrait. Susan mentioned Renaissance painting as analogous. Portraits like this also make me think of photographers like Edward Steichen — for example, the image he shot of Margaret Horan for Vogue, using streams of filtered light and heavy shadow. I realize that feathers and fur respond differently to light than human facial and body angles, but to me, the expression of shadow and light in nature is fascinating in all of its forms.
I’m glad you like the light here, Ingrid. I do too but certainly can’t express why I like it as well as you do (and others who have commented).
This photo makes me think of chiaroscuro, the light-dark modeling method used by certain painters during the Renaissance to heighten emotional impact. Your photos are beautiful for many reasons, and so is the Kestral but I love this one!
Thanks, Susan. You’ve got me curious about “chiaroscuro” so I’ll have to look it up. It’s a new term for this art-ignorant photographer.
My favorite using the technique is the Italian painter Caravaggio, a master of dramatic emphasis when putting paint to canvas. And also in his life, but then that’s another subject lol!!!
Gorgeous shot of one of my very favorite birds. I like the lighting because it is different, but none of the color or patterns is diminished. So you can easily see his beauty.
Thank you, Susan.
Perfect lighting and and Portrait all together Ron.
I’m glad you like the lighting, John.
The lighting appeals to me as well– beautiful colors on the bird…. and the background colors are very complimentary. Nice shot.
how far off the ground did he get? This is such a beautiful little bird I can’t imagine any “throwaway shots”…the subtle blend of grays and siennas in the background softly echo the colors of the bird perfectly. the bounce of stronger light from the weathered wood of the perch gives some nice highlighting. As for dapples, i love all things dappled, from dappled horses to dapples sunlight on a fawn or a mossy glen.
Thanks, Patty. He was roughly a foot off the ground for this shot.