It took me about six years to get a shot like this that met all my requirements and in the four years since then I haven’t been able to do it again.
Almost from day one of my bird photography “career” I’ve been fixated on Northern Harriers (my HARRIER vanity plate is ample evidence of that). They’re beautiful (especially in flight), they’re masters of the sky when it comes to flight skills, their extreme sexual dimorphism (for a raptor) provides an interesting mix of plumage colors and patterns for the photographer’s palate and their legendary elusiveness makes them more than a worthy quarry. And they’re common in northern Utah so over the years I’ve had plenty of practice with them.
But almost from the get-go I’ve had a particular harrier image in mind as a goal. That photo, if I ever got it, had to meet all of the following qualifications (the two I’ve found most difficult to achieve are in bold). Any single one that was missing was a disqualifier:
- either sex is ok but it must be in flight
- the bird is in a vertical 90 degree bank so we can see its entire ventral surface (this is the most difficult one by far)
- eye contact with a catch light in the eye
- good light
- the bird must be large enough in the frame to show good detail
- no clipped or cut off body parts and adding canvas for pleasing composition must not be necessary
- a background more interesting than homogenous sky
- the harrier must be sharp
That’s a very tall order but over the years I did come close quite a few times by only missing one qualifier and the “vertical 90 degree bank” was usually my Achilles’ heel. I hope you’ll bear with me while I try to explain why photographing harriers in flight while they’re banking that steeply is so very difficult.
Keeping active focus points on a harrier in flight is tough enough but when they bank steeply it becomes instantly and exponentially more challenging. Almost by definition banking causes them to alter their trajectory or flight path and the steeper the bank the more drastic the change in trajectory and the more quickly it happens. It typically occurs too fast for human reflexes to react and keep the focus points on the bird so the results are usually soft images, clipped or cut off body parts or “air shots”. And it’s yet another strike against you if the background is close to the bird because the focus points keep wanting to lock onto something behind the bird.
But on November 25, 2013 at Farmington Bay WMA I finally succeeded.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
The harrier had been coming toward me as it hunted low to the ground. It had been looking down as it approached but when it glanced up again it apparently decided it was a little too close to me for comfort so it instantly banked steeply in order to make a quick getaway. My shutter fired at just the right millisecond to catch it in the pose I was after and before my focus points lost their lock on the bird.
All of my qualifying conditions were met (the harrier isn’t quite perfectly vertical but it’s close enough for me) and I had the added bonuses of beautiful warm morning light and a good look at both partially deployed alulae (bastard wings).
I’m surprised that it took me as long as it did to get a shot like this and that I haven’t been able to do it again in the last four+ years. Perhaps it’s been my own personal curse but on that beautiful November morning at Farmington it did feel good to finally get that monkey off my back..
Ron
Note: I posted this photo back on November 26, 2013 but for this edition of Feathered Photography I’ve reprocessed the image and hopefully I’ve done a better job of it this time.
Your patience and skill really paid off for this incredible photo. Your first qualification “either sex is ok…” sent me to Sibley and it appears to be a juvenile? In any case, your photo will make me look closer the next time I see one gliding over a field.
Lyle, It would be nice to have an almost matching pair of this kind of harrier short – one adult female and the other the male “gray ghost”! 🙂 Maybe some day…
Lots and lots and lots of inarticulate shouts of appreciation from here. What an amazing image to capture to have on the wall/screen instead of only in your heart and mind.
Thanks very much, EC.
The Northern Harrier is my favorite hawk. I was fortunate to receive one decades ago when I was a wildlife rehabilitator. She was amazing. She recovered from her broken wing and was successfully released. Your exquisite photo reminds me of why I admire the Harrier so very much. I hope you are able to achieve your goal of capturing another perfect Harrier photo. It is definitely worth your efforts.
Melanie, as you can probably tell I share your enthusiasm for harriers. Thanks.
Wow! What a stunner! I can only imagine the joy you must have felt when you realized that it all came together at the same time!
Yup, I was pretty darned happy, Diane. Thanks.
Ahhhh, the northern harrier: my absolute favorite!!! She is magnificent and so is this picture, Ron! (This may be inappropriate, but do you ever sell your images? I have a new home and would love to see this beauty and her mate, the Gray Ghost, on one of my walls!)
Emily, when someone twists my arm a little I’m known to sell a print or two but I don’t market my images for prints because I’ve found the process time consuming and often more trouble than it’s worth. You asked, and that’s the honest answer.
No worries! I totally get it 😊
Thanks, Emily.
Ditto to all the previous comments. 🙂 This is definitely a “wall-worthy” image — the position of the bird, the warm light, the background, the alulae, the feather patterns, the DOD, the dark leading edge…Sigh! I’ll even add one more: the bit of his last meal still on his beak.
Soooo, is it up on your wall?
Nope, it isn’t, Marty. Maybe you’ve planted a seed…
Ron:
That warm early morning light really makes that photo for me. And I like how the background colors echo the colors on the bird. Just a great photo
Thank you, Jack. Yes, that warm light adds a lot to the photo.
This is such a beautiful, beautiful image–from the subtle angle of the bird, to the beautiful background, the colors and the detail in the bird…I don’t see how it could possibly be better…perfection on the wing. It’s fun to watch them sweep across a field. I can remember the first time I saw one…Years ago. I look for it every time I pass that field!
I remember my first harrier too, Patty – maybe 35 years ago at Bear River. Back then they were called Marsh Hawks. I’d probably seen a few before that but I didn’t know what I was seeing. We didn’t have them on the Montana farm that I remember.
Spectacular image, Ron, especially considering the degree of difficulty! I get to see the resident Harriers almost every day when I take Jack out. They buzz him and move on doing their fancy-flying routine, and several times, I’ve lost track of Jack as he continues to hunt and I have my focus on the Harrier magic! I don’t sense any territorial aggression. If I did, we’d vacate that field until next fall. Instead, it feels/looks more like curiosity, and with a closer look, they go on about their business. Jack ignores them, so all is well.
Of course, I don’t have a camera in the field OR the ability to use it if I did. Alan Kearny is right–if it were easy, everybody would be doing it! 😉
Laura, I’m convinced that harriers get a certain joy out of buzzing other raptors, including other harriers. And pheasants on the ground. There seldom seems to be anything serious about it, they just like to do it.
That’s the feeling I get Ron…they’re just buzzing on along, singing a song, bye, bye blackbird.
And there’s another thing that’s happening to me. Every day I get a new earworm, but they’re songs from the 20s, 30s and 40s. What the heck is up with that? Usually, the earworm doesn’t happen until I’m out in the field, so I’m bush whacking singing about a bicycle built for two or some other such ditty. Occasionally, it’s a song from the 50s, but the vast majority are from before I arrived on this spinning rock. Life is good, but it’s often a little weird, too!
It’s called “HAPPINESS”… 🙂
What a beautiful shot of a gorgeous bird, Ron Couldn’t be better. Glad for you and us.
Thank you, Alice.
Ron, if it was as easy as you make it look EVERYONE would have pics like this ;’). Congrats on a marvelous shot of gorgeous bird in flight!
“if it was as easy as you make it look EVERYONE would have pics like this”
Believe me, it certainly isn’t easy! At least it isn’t for me… Thanks, Alan.
Love Northern Harriers and love the shot – especially the colors and seeing the way his talons are tucked in for flight
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
Thank you, Everett.
So gorgeous. On my morning walks I often see hawks but don’t know what type. I have seen them do the most amazing acrobats while flying. This image is really amazing.
Arwen, From your description of their acrobatics in flight there’s a good chance that at least some of your hawks are harriers. Look for a white patch on top of their rump. It’s easy to see from a distance and that’s a dead giveaway for harriers.
Wonderful Wonderful Very beautiful capture. Always once in a life time, but we all keep looking for another chance to repeat. I hope you are in the right place at the right time many times from now on.
That would be nice, Trudy. But at this point I’d settle for even ONE more time!
Just stunning in every regard—-to me, the “icing” on the “cake” of this gorgeous image is the sharp, unbroken dark line made where the shoulder line slashes a strong diagonal
across the frame–so dynamic !
Interesting observation, Kris. Yes, that dark line certainly marks the leading edge of the bird well. Thank you.
Spectacular image Ron! and I like that it’s not perfectly vertical.
Thank you, D.
Just Perfect!!
I was going to go out early today with my camera, but looked outside, strong wind, very cold, still a fair amount of snow on the ground, and I buckled, closed the door and stayed in. A few years ago I would have gone out anyway! Man how times change.
I marvel at your ability, stamina, and focus on detail
Having a cup of java and opening up your blog, I can say in all honesty, is a highlight of my morning!
Dick, if it makes you feel any better our weather for shooting has been absolutely dismal for months! And at this point there’s no relief in sight. I don’t remember it ever being this bad for this long.
I know what you mean about coffee. Don’t think I’d be blogging without it and I’m not kidding!
It is a perfect shot, the angle, colors, background, eye contact and the lovely golden light.
I agree they are a difficult bird to photograph. I have mostly “birds on a stick” or butt shots when it comes to harriers. I would love to capture them sparing in the air.
April, I have a few shots of them sparring but it’s always been from too far away. Or one of the birds is soft. Or I’ve clipped body parts. Or my exposure has been wrong. Or… well, you get the picture. 🙂
Spectacular Ron !
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
Jaw dropping gorgeous, Ron! 🙂 The bird/background – everything “fits” 🙂
I agree on the background, Judy. That gorgeous warm light on the harrier and the out-of-focus vegetation in the background tickles my fancy – love the bokeh.
Love this shot Ron, and love the northern harriers. Gorgeous!
Thank you, Colin.
Beautiful photo Ron!! Warm, yummy, good catch light and a stellar brown beauty in a flattering position. You indeed did check all the blocks with this photo. For my brief 3 years in this hobby, I have found the Harrier to be the most frustrating bird to achieve focus on…especially if it’s coming right at you. These birds seem to possess an almost “anti-focusing” capability…think stealth fighter vs. radar. Countless times I have mashed that back button focus and all that happens is a blurry bird in my view finder gets bigger and more blurry as it flies towards me. Frustrating, but fun too as the chase continues. Home run photo of a bird that you honor with your photographs and your license plates. Thank you for sharing.
Yup, you get it, Zaph – harriers are tough all the way around. That’s why eventual success with them is so fulfilling. That old “degree of difficulty” thing. Thank you.