And some thoughts about rotating our images to level during processing when we have conflicting leveling cues.
1/4000, f/5.6, 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
Six months ago I spent some time with this Cooper’s Hawk in a Wasatch Mountain canyon on two consecutive mornings. Based on photos of this species I see from others I’d say that they’re photographed most often in suburban settings but I tend to have better luck with them out of the city and neighborhoods and I’m fine with that.
Here I captured “him” stretching his tail. I believe he was also stretching his left wing but we can’t see it because his body and the perch were blocking it.
Photos like this one can be a little confusing to the eye, especially straight out of the camera before they’ve been processed. Fence rails like the one this hawk is perched on tend to be level or fairly close to it and our brain uses that fact as a cue to suggest what is truly level. But I was shooting at a peculiar angle on this bird, from above it and to one side, which places the fence rail at an exaggerated angle in the frame. Throw in the fact that the rail may not have been perfectly level in the first place and the photographer has a potentially confusing task when he/she attempts to rotate the image to level during processing.
So I used the grasses in the background as my primary leveling cue. Even though mature grasses often lean when they’re this tall they initially grow vertically and they attempt to stay that way so I assumed their average angle was vertical and rotated accordingly.
In the end the image still may not be perfectly level but I did the best I could with the cues I had.
Ron
Really love the photo. I’m in the woods right now trying to photograph a Cooper’s Hawk nesting. The local government is trying to sneak in a development here, the last wooded dunes remaining in town. We want to get evidence of nesting hawks and others to maybe slow down or stop the process. I’ve spotted over 10 nests in a five block stretch of woods. This is the last remnant of Halston Beach, an ancient shoreline of Lake Michigan. Its about three miles and 4000 years from the lake. A pair of Cooper’s are working a nest in a tree near my blind. Hope I can get some shots. Just an amateur.
You caught that stretch and fanning of the tail feathers at just the right time. When I look at a hawk my brain wants the bird to be holding its head in a horizontal position, so I thought its center of gravity looked too far forward. Of course it is bending forward as it stretches. Our common hawk here in south Florida is the Red-shouldered, which seems always to be looking down, probably because they are hunting for small creatures which are close by.
Beautiful Hawk, beautiful photo, love the angle of the perch. I didn’t notice any distraction at all. Just a really great photo. Thank you for sharing with us.
My visual confusion came from seeing “conflicting. “ my kind went immediately to “conflicting” views. :/
Goes to show there’s all kinds of confusion…
I thought the perch was a downed tree too. Wild-eyed roughnecks indeed!
Leveling can sure be tricky in some cases. What do you do when you have a flight series with a level waterline in the mid-distance background in the first images, but then the next images have a waterline that is curving toward you so it appears to be an un-level horizon type of line? Got me perplexed.
“Got me perplexed.”
I know what I’d do. I’d have the waterline level in the first images and keep that angle in the rest of them, even if the waterline doesn’t look level in them. When in doubt err on the side of reality… 🙂
erring on the side of reality is a good message even beyond leveling
Your choice of leveling works for me. I’m still working on the Coopers’/Sharp-shinned differences so I appreciate this detailed image (especially the tarsi).
Their distinction is a tough one for me too, Lyle.
I also thought the Cooper’s Hawk was balanced on a branch. To me, the bird’s foot and leg positions seem to point to a perch that is not exactly horizontal. It’s hard for me to focus on the surround because I am so entranced by the beautiful stretched tail fan.
Coincidentally, as I read the title, I felt the need to join in. 🙂
Hope you enjoyed your stretch, Marty. Now I’m yawning. Time for a nap I guess.
Ahhh, the power of suggestion! 😉
I love all the elements of this image, especially the hawk’s beautifully fanned tail and piercing look. Funny, I always think Coops look like ruffians, a little wild-eyed and -feathered — not as “beautiful” as their brethren (accipiter or buteo). May have something to do with their frequent pursuit of my backyard birds, but they’re still great raptors and I am always happy to see them (though hoping they don’t catch a meal right in front of me!).
I heartily agree about their wild-eyed look, Chris. They have that look down pat.
I hadn’t realised it was a fence post and at first (and second) glance assumed it was a branch.
It really doesn’t take much to mess with my mind (both cells) so I am glad that it was you and not me wrestling with this conundrum. Leveling to the grass sounds inspired to me (though on a windy day it could create difficulties of its own).
And, as an aside, why are bird stretches a thing of beauty, where our own species are not?
“why are bird stretches a thing of beauty, where our own species are not?”
Possibly because birds are things of beauty to start with and humans generally are not… 🙂
that makes sense to me.
Ron,
I’m glad I am not the only one with leveling issues (although I can better fix level in post than out of focus!). I have set the leveling feature in my Nikon Z7 to appear in the view finder. It helps immensely but does compromise a little on composition at times.
BTW, I went to Antelope Island yesterday morning and met a line of cars a half a mile or more long that didn’t move for a half an hour… so I left. Don’t know why.
I think photography in these semi-isolated areas is great social distancing! Except, as usual, the birds got the same memo!
Wash often, stay healthy,
Stephen
“Don’t know why”
Stephen, from what I’ve heard it’s because the island is being overwhelmed with visitors in these troubled times. Many folks aren’t working and the island is a place to get away from it all that’s close to the heavily populated Wasatch Front.
I too thought the perch was a fallen tree. So I love the diagonal. I think if it looked like a fence post, I might have accepted it, but it would have distracted me. Did it fall, or was it pushed?
Lovely shot.
“Did it fall, or was it pushed?”
Neither, Sallie. It was where it should be as part of the fence. That’s what I mean, it’s confusing when you know it was part of a fence rather than a fallen tree.
The photos that give me the most grief are photos that have multiple horizontal lines all at different angles. BRMBR can cause this often with it’s layers of reeds, angle of the canal, clouds, and distant mountains.
Yup, I’m familiar with that phenomenon at Bear River.
If you could only choose where and what a bird lands on 😁
Not being a photographer just a bird lover, I go straight for the bird❗️And this ones is a beauty.
Take care everyone ❤️
Not being a photographer may be a distinct advantage in this case, Diana… 🙂
My first and last impression of this very artistic photo is the same. I never felt it was wrong in any way. I just focused on the bird and the perch was just something the bird had chosen to rest on. I never thought it should be level with the scene. Beautiful shots.
Thanks, Betty.
From a compositional point of view, totally vertical/horizontal elements
tend to be rather static—a diagonal ( in this case the fencepost ) adds
a dynamic visual ( we artists tend not to get totally hung up on the
actuality of the situation, and can settle for whatever adds some interest,
aesthetically ! ) I like the angle of the log, and Mr./Ms. Cooper’s placement near the left side is also dynamic–appears to be “ascending”.
I like it !
I like diagonal elements too, Kris – unless my brain tells me it should be level. Then I can’t see past it and not in a good way.
I too figured the rail was a fallen tree and so the photograph did not appear “wonky” to my eyes. Nice shot.
Interesting. Thanks, Joanne.
Upon just opening up the post and seeing the “tree” that is what I supposed it to be – a fallen tree. Due to its angle I never would have thought it to be a fence rail. For me here in our area it is much more common to see Cooper’s in backyards (mine especially) and around the neighborhoods than in the wild. Having a hanging suet feeder during the winter along with scattered sunflower seeds brings lots of birds and of course that can often attract Cooper’s Hawks. As soon as spring really takes hold we will remove the feeder etc.
Everett, I never considered the possibility that folks would think the rail was a fallen tree but you’re right – it sure could be. Just goes to show – perspective is everything.
“Leveling” does get dicey at times! with our wind posts/grass lean, cross beams sag or the angle is confusing particularly on some of or “vertical acres”. 😉 Beautiful Hawk……… 🙂
Thanks, Judy. You make a good point – virtually none of the old buildings on the farm are level anymore thanks to the wind.