Yesterday morning I had to drive about 100 miles north before I escaped the foggy, smoggy mess in the valleys that we call air during these extended inversions. This beautiful hawk was one of my rewards.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Soon after takeoff he banked enough to give me an excellent look at his entire ventral surface and as a bonus he turned his head back to look at me which gave me both eye contact and light in the eye. I love the curved arch of his wings and the beautiful underside colors and patterns. This is one of my few images of any raptor that shows the two alulae (bastard wings) being held at dramatically different angles.
The chance at a shot like this is one of the (many) reasons I prefer to shoot with the sun low in the sky (usually mornings). Much later in the day and the underside of this bird would have been completely shaded (although some of the light under the wings of this bird was reflected from snow).
This flight posture is similar to those I often see in the photos of others who use setups to manipulate the behavior of their subjects. I refuse to use setups so on those rare occasions when I get a flight pose like this I’m thrilled.
The image isn’t perfect. Ideally the top of his head wouldn’t be shaded and the hawk is slightly less than tack sharp when viewed at 100%. But I can live with those relatively minor imperfections.
Ron
Not enough superlatives for this one Ron–it’s so unique and lovely. Thanks for always sharing the front and back stories that go along with your images–we learn so much and join in the wonder 😉
Hi Mr. Dudley, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and truly amazing photographs with all of us. I am truly thrilled to see your work.
Judy
Thanks very much, El Judith.
Oh my. Oh my, oh my, oh my.
And rather a lot of superlatives.
Thank you. So much.
Thanks, EC.
Wonderful photo, worth the trip just to see the sun. I think I will try to get out this afternoon. I too like the morning sun but it was gray a hazy this am. It looks like some of it is burning off.
Good luck, April. A lot of it is burning off, finally. I just had good light for a couple of hours at some of the local ponds.
Absolutely gorgeous! I totally respect and admire the fact that you “take ’em as you find ’em.” In my book, that’s the hallmark of a REAL nature photographer. 😀
Marty, the way some “nature photographers” go about their business I think it’s more like studio or zoo photography. That style holds absolutely no interest for me.
Ron, you did it again! What a shot!
I also didn’t know that the Salt Lake area got the inversion effect. I grew up in Pasadena, CA and often the smog was so bad we couldn’t see the 5,000 ft mountains nearby. However on January 1st the air was clear and you could see snow on those mountains! Always a perfect Chamber of Commerce Day!
Pat, In these inversions we often can’t see the very close Wasatch Mountains and they rise almost 8000 ft above the valley floor. Can’t see the Oquirrh Mountains to the west either. Hell, sometimes I can barely see the neighbor’s house across the street!
Well you just seem to always pull it off!! I chanced a rough legged female yesterday she was sooooooo beautiful but my pictures are nothing like yours !!! And I encountered 5 goldens and needless to say I’m down in dumps today ….
Marina, Believe me, my record falls way short of “always” pulling it off. Skunked is my middle name. I just keep at it and keep at it and eventually things come together once in a while.
I echo to Susan’s comments…Beautiful!!!
Thank you, Patty.
Worth the trip. Very nice. Always enjoy the pictures and comments.
I’m glad you included mention of enjoying the comments, Trudy. Thanks.
Hi Ron, lovely shot. Love it when the bird turns perfectly to show off his underside in full light. Knowing you were in your pick up, still looks like the bird noticed toy and is flaring in response, especially considering he is checking you out. Sorry about the drive. Did not realize thar Salt Lake area suffered from air pollution like that. I grew up in LA in the 50’s and 60’s. I understand.
Our air is often terrible for weeks on end, Frank. We’re in a bowl and when it’s cold with snow on the ground the inversion sets in and it’s simply awful.
I also lived in SOCAL (Escondido and Poway) in much of the 50’s and 60’s but back then our air there was quite good. Visits to LA were a shock…
I’ve never seen a shot from that angle before – this one is gorgeous. Whatever the “failing” (which I can’t see), it’s a definite keeper. I love all the same things about it that you do.
Susan, I’ve seldom been able to get a flight posture like this from a raptor so this was a fun shot for me to get. I’m glad you like it too.
Superb shot! Love the position and look of the Roughy! I can see another caption here!!
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Dick. Are you teasing us? 🙂
Nooooo….., I wouldn’t think of doing that………. LOL
He or she is looking right at you, the expression and it has its leg and talons showing. Just thought the image should have a caption. 🙂
Absolutely beautiful. I feel so blessed to have another Osprey follower from Missouri send me a link to your site, Ron. I am out almost every day to practise shots of birds near Nelson, BC Canada. I am so inspired by your photography that I will keep trying(lol) Thank you!
That’s what we all do if we want to improve, Shirley – endless practice. Welcome to my blog!
Thank you for welcoming me to your site. We have an area just outside of town with Osprey, Bald Eagles, Cormorants on occasion, Swans, Mallards, Barrows Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-Tailed Hawk and Merlin. Last year we counted thirty plus Osprey nests including the two that I built and had put up on poles. Will forever enjoy your site, again thank you! I
Spectacular, Ron! Simply spectacular! I won’t use the “b” word- but love the leggings!
Then I’ll use it for you, Diane – this shot doesn’t show off the “britches” the species is named for as well as some other images but they’re still easily seen. Thank you.
Hi Ron,
Short-winded: This image has just become the visual equivalent of an ear worm. Beautiful. Thank you!
Cheers,
Dick
That was a unique way to say it well, Dick. Very creative!
Hi Ron – I’m a newbie to your blog site after friends from Oregon highly recommended I look at your photography. I’ve enjoyed it very much! Was this photo taken from your vehicle or did you have time to set up the tripod? Thanks,
Jim
Welcome to Feathered Photography, Jim!
This photo was taken from my pickup as are about 99% of my images. Using a vehicle as a mobile blind is very effective, partly because birds are generally much less skittish around vehicles than they are a person on foot and shooting from a tripod.
My recent post of a Male Common Merganser in a Natural Vignette is one of the very few images I’ve taken from a tripod in the past year.
Oh what a beauty! And what a beautiful slice of time and posture. That you don’t stage your shots is one of many, many reasons why I love your photography!
IF I were a photographer, I might could have caught a spectacular photo yesterday (alas, no). Two redtails were soaring in the sky, gliding in spirals upward. As I delighted in that image, a bank of semi-tightly woven wispy clouds moved over the sun resulting in a simply gorgeous corona effect with the redtails dancing below. Just WOW! However, since I’m NOT a photographer, that image will have to remain in my mind’s eye where I can only share it with my words. Harrumph!
Laura, with all the time you spend in the field with your birds I imagine you see a lot of memorable things that you wish you could photograph. Too bad that with all your falconry gear, carrying a camera would likely be too much to juggle. Thank you.
Yep, there’s just not enough of me left to deal with the birds’ needs (and the dogs–although they’re not out there yet) and all the wonders I see out there plus a camera. I just don’t have enough hands. And that would assume I could operate a camera properly. The Great Out There is simply spectacular, and since I’ve been a falconer, I want to be there rather than deal with our stupid human constructs. The rules out there are different and make much more sense. In fact, heading out there with Jack the Harris’ hawk now 😉
Glad to hear you are Out There and wishing you all the best. Hug the dogs and smile at the birds for me. El Judith
I’m usually a little more long-winded, but one word would have covered this one….Outstanding! Best…Mitch
I’ll take either long or short-winded, Mitch. 🙂 Thank you.
Awesome shot Ron! Thanks for sharing!
Charlotte
You’re very welcome, Charlotte.
Just beautiful!
Thanks, Sharon.
Wow! Simply yet amazingly beautiful. Than you Ron.
I’m glad you like it, Linda. Thanks.
Beautiful! Great detail of the whole ventral side PLUS the hawk looking at you. 🙂
Thank you, Judy.