There are many items of interest in this photo besides just the hawk and in this case I find them interesting and appealing.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I created the image about six weeks ago as this juvenile Red-tailed Hawk took off from a very old power pole near Montana’s border with Idaho. I think the birds takeoff posture is pretty spectacular and I love the background. Previously I’d have thought the clutter of unnatural wires, insulators and wood was distracting and aesthetically lacking but with these ancient poles and their accoutrements my view is evolving. For my tastes they add interest to the image instead of distracting from the bird.
After my eye has enjoyed the hawk it wanders over the rest of the image. The first thing I notice is how crowded it is on that wooden beam – there’s barely enough room for the bird to perch there. In fact its front toes are actually beneath the insulator closest to us and some of the feathers of its “britches” enshroud the top of the insulator as the hawk leans into its takeoff. I can’t help but wonder why the bird didn’t land on the pole instead of the crowded beam.
But what I enjoy most about the pole and its hardware are their obvious age. The wood is extremely weather-beaten (this area has some of the harshest winter weather in the entire nation), several of those antique insulators are missing, one of the three bare mounting bolts is missing its mounting wedge and the horizontal beam has actually split on one end from decades of pressure and weakness caused by the mounting bolts.
Some element-rich images like this one draw me in because there’s so much there to entertain me. And I’m finding that the older I get the more I appreciate the longevity and character of “old stuff”.
Hmmm, at the ripe old age of 69 I wonder why…
Ron
Notes:
- These old power poles carry low-voltage railroad signal lines and are adjacent to railroad tracks. They haven’t been used for decades and I’m fearful that Union Pacific may soon tear them down. That will be a sad day because raptors love to perch on them and they’re only about half as tall as modern power poles so they’re perfect for raptor photography.
- Over the past few months I’ve posted several photos of raptors on these poles so some readers may be tiring of them. I promise to cease and desist posting them, at least for the time being.
I promise to cease and desist posting them, at least for the time being
oh please don’t. Hopefully you will spot more and more. love the image
Spectacular shot Ron!
Charlotte
Gorgeous! I love these action shots! I also like the weathered wood and antique glass insulators juxtaposed with the action of the hawk. To me,this adds to the feeling of transition — old to new. The britches on this hawk are really cool, although the word “pantaloons” keeps popping into my mind.
Marty, the word “pantaloons” has been bandied around here too. I think Elephant’s Child was the originator of both terms as applied to some raptors here on my blog. I like both of them.
Not tired of these images at all. No way, no how, no chance.
Age AND beauty. Together. And britches.
As for the bird perching on the beam rather than the pole? Did you really expect it to take the easy option?
EC, when it comes to raptors I’ve learned not to EXPECT much of anything. When I do they nearly always confound me!
I went looking for old poles with old glass insulators . Found nice old weather beaten poles with nice blue glass insulators but……. No bird .. Did see 7 golden eagles and no amount of wishing was going to make them land on these poles. Fun day anyway.
Marina, I know the feeling of having access to great, photogenic perches but no birds will land on them. I can think of several that I’ve wanted to photograph birds on for many years and it just hasn’t happened. You’d think birds would be a little more thoughtful than that!
Your red-tailed hawk looks just like the gorgeous athlete he is. He(she) reminds me of a swimming team member flying off the block as the starting gun goes off.
Interesting analogy, Bonnie. Both types of takeoffs are certainly explosive.
At the ripe YOUNGer age of 69… I’ve got a couple of years on you, so if you are old, what am I? I also like this photo, for all the detail, but especially the bird’s body position for takeoff. I can feel the tension and energy involved in takeoff. I am amazed when that kind of tension/energy can be communicated by a still photo.
“I am amazed when that kind of tension/energy can be communicated by a still photo”
I agree, Susan. Video of such a takeoff would allow us to see more of the dynamics of the action but it all happens so fast that most of it is never noticed and certainly not remembered. But a single moment captured in time like this allows us to really look and pay attention to that moment. I saw the entire takeoff transpire through my lens but I have very little memory of it.
The take off “fling” position of the bird is beautiful, one of my favorites…the bird’s colors are set off by the soft, water-blues of the old insulators, and I always like weathered wood, but one of the things I like most it the contrast of man-made stuff being worn out and obsolete and a young, vigorous, full of life, natural element, the bird, surviving…yin yang–(to me, 69 is still barely out of infancy, but dream on!)…
Age is relative, Patty. In some ways I’m an old man, in others still a kid. But that’s probably true for most folks my age.
Patty, I liked the way you contrasted worn-out man-made stuff and the vigorous life of the red-tailed hawk in Ron Dudley’s wonderful photo.
Elizabeth
Raptors and glass…what’s not to like. Plus, good action, lighting…it’s a winner Ron.
Glad you like it, Zaphir. Thanks.
I find it very interesting as my dad used to work for the telephone company and worked with those insulators a lot. I remember he had a whole collection of them sitting on a bookshelf for display.
Curtis, Antique insulators like these are in high demand by collectors. That’s one reason I’m glad these poles are on private property (owned by the RR). That’s probably the only reason most of the insulators are still there.
Beautiful! I’ll never tire of old poles and insulators! The shot of the bird is gorgeous. 🙂 Like many “old” things, the poles have “character” 🙂
“Like many “old” things, the poles have character”
Agreed, Judy. Thank you.
I wonder if that means I have a LOT of character–69 year olds, not so much…..
Please do not cease and desist.
Probably only temporarily, Frank. But I’ve probably already posted most of the best ones anyway.