I’m posting this image for its shortcomings, not for its strengths.
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I photographed this Swainson’s Hawk ten days ago as it took off from a tree in Box Elder County. I like the dynamic, vertical wing position, the clean background and I think that bulging crop is interesting.
But I’m not particularly fond of the image overall because the light was just too harsh. It has reduced some of the detail in the hawk and two wing primary shafts in the right wing are so bright that they’re very nearly blown. During processing I removed those two bright areas from my sharpening mask (sharpening increases brightness) but they still grab my eye every time I look at the image. In my view harsh light generally has a negative effect on my bird images.
The higher the sun is in the sky the harsher the light tends to be. Sharp-eyed and knowledgeable viewers will get a hint as to the position of the sun when this image was taken by noticing where the catch light is on the hawk’s eyeball. With the bird’s head level that catch light is right at the top edge of the eye. If the sun had been low and behind me the catch light would have been about in the middle of the eye. Not long after this image was taken the sun would have been so high that I’d have had no catch light at all.
As I’ve discussed before, catch lights are so very important to give “life” to our subjects – yet another reason to photograph with the sun relatively low in the sky. And it’s particularly important with raptors because their heavy brow ridges tend to shade the eye (that’s exactly their purpose) when the sun is high so catch lights are more difficult to get in raptors than they are in most other birds.
This image was taken at 10:31 AM. This time of year that’s just too late to get the light quality I prefer. Winter would be a different story.
My general rule of thumb – if my shadow is shorter than I am I usually pack it in for the day.
Ron
Have it told you lately you certainly are a perfectionist? I hope it’s only in photography. It’s, a fantastic shot!
Charlotte
I’m always especially happy with what I think of as a “fling” (into air) takeoff shot…this is another beauty…so nice to see such a healthy looking bird with a full crop, indicating that hunting is good….
Yup, I think this bird was eating well. Thank you, Patty.
In MY world, this image is a serious OH WOW! The whole bird is in the frame, no parts are amputated and heck, it’s a Swainson’s hawk for pity’s sake, LOL!! Yes, I GET that you have a Perfectionist Self screaming into your consciousness and that Perfectionist Self is often a PITA that’s far too critical. I’ve got one of those Perfectionist Selves, too, sitting on my shoulder, watching which words I string together and how. But sometimes, you just gotta tell that Perfectionist Self to back off, shut up and be quiet. This is one of those times! (I just had to tell my Perfectionist Self that these words are good…move on with the second cup of coffee.) 😉
Bottom line, this is a beautiful image. Thanks for beginning my day with it!
I’m glad you like it, Laura. But then you do have a thing for raptors…! 🙂
Yes, I DO have a thing for raptors (and birds/critters in general)–you noticed. HEHEHE! I LOVE that full crop and the take-off posture and just the sheer beauty of that photo. Yeah, I’m admittedly very easy on raptors/birds/critters. There’s also the issue that there’s not even a little, itty, bitty, teeny, tiny minuscule chance that I’d ever get a shot like that. NOT in my wheelhouse. I do words.
I truly admire your talents and that you share your knowledge (almost) every morning. It’s a special way to get the day going and you just ROCK! Thank you doesn’t get it, but THANK YOU!
Ron, I SO appreciate that you share info on capturing the best photo!! Really appreciate the info and the comments on this photo. It is a beautiful raptor but I can see how the bright sun has washed out color and contrast too. I’m afraid many of my photos have been taken at Green cay between 12:30 and 2:30 PM because I was out on the boardwalk then while my friend was in her Watercolor class at the Nature center. My best photos were taken in shady or filtered light areas. I’m off to California to visit family so when I’m back I’ll be visiting Green Cay at 7:00 AM when the gates open!!
“I can see how the bright sun has washed out color”
Exactly, Jo Ann. I wish I’d used those words in my post.
Thanks for the tip.
I see what you mean about the brightness on the wing but nevertheless I like the image very much. It is powerful.
“nevertheless I like the image very much. It is powerful”
Thanks, Jorge. I agree, that takoff posture is very athletic.
Like the picture even with the light issue and loss of some detail from that. 🙂 Appreciate the commentary and your general rule of thumb – I’ll have to keep that in mind! 🙂
I like it fairly well too, Judy. But every time I look at it I think of how much better it could have been if it had been taken in softer, warmer light.
Yep, all true!
However, I like to shoot before 10 in summer and after 3.
But, I have to admit when a butterfly is on a flower in our garden I will shoot anytime of day! Just sayen.
Dick, I agree, it’s only my “rule of thumb”. I have images I like that were taken later than that but my keeper rate at that time of day takes a serious nosedive. There’s lots of variables, including diffused light from clouds, reflected light from snow, etc.
“just sayen” – where I am often! 🙂