A short flight series.
1/2500, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM, not baited, set up or called in
These are older photos of a Northern Harrier banking in flight as it hunted over the frozen marshes of Farmington Bay WMA in January. The tilted flight posture allowed the morning sun to illuminate all of the hawk’s ventral surfaces and the face and eye.
I like that we can see the frosty marsh at the bottom of the frame. It anchors the harrier in flight and demonstrates that I was shooting horizontally rather than aiming my lens upward as the bird flew by overhead.
1/2500, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM, not baited, set up or called in
In the next photo in the burst I had more room on the right side of the frame so I had the option to crop the image to a horizontal composition. There’s little difference in the flight posture of the bird in the two photos but the horizontal framing in the second image provides a very different feel that I like.
During much of the month of February I have to get my “Farmington fix” from older photos taken there rather than actually visiting the place. Right now it’s pandemonium out there with hordes of photographers and others looking for eagles and other raptors and acting crazy.
Yesterday I heard more reports of photographers in vehicles stopping in the middle of the fairly narrow dirt road to photograph birds so they were blocking the road and making it difficult or impossible for others to get by. And when they were called out for it they were completely oblivious regarding their poor manners and selfish and narcissistic behavior. Thankfully most veteran photographers know better but the newbies can make tensions run pretty high out there.
C’mon folks, all you have to do is pull off to either side of the road when traffic approaches. And avoid parking on those narrow bridges.
My blood pressure can’t take Farmington right now, even though after much unnecessary hassle I finally got my prescription for hypertension medication refilled late yesterday afternoon.
Those little red pills are miracle workers but they do have their limits.
Ron
I’m late to this one, but I just had to say these are amazing photos (both crops). Harriers are so beautiful, male or female – and it’s as if she’s really trying to show off. You captured it well Ron, including the great background.
I’m in the “vertical” fan club. And the Harrier fan club—what a gorgeous raptor! His eye in this image is mesmerizing (probably why I prefer the vertical composition).
I’m also in the not-a-fan-of-inconsiderate-behaviors-or-trolls club. And way too much of both nowadays. 🙄
Chris, I’ll admit to some surprise about how many of my readers prefer the vertical crop. I’d have predicted otherwise. Shows you how much I know…
They are beautiful photos, I like the horizontal for overall composition but the vertical for tight focus on the bird. I won’t say anything about the bay, I think you know where I stand.
Yup, I know April. And I agree.
When humans dance on your very last nerve, as they are often wont to do, keep repeating that your followers so appreciate your work and your ethics. We KNOW that you’re not adding to the problem. Also remember that you almost always take out breath away with your stunningly beautiful images and that’s a good thing!
As a species, humans suck!
Thank you Laura. An emphatic YES from here.
I appreciate the confidence you have in me, Laura. Thank you.
LOVE them both, but tend towards the vertical crop.
And a huge sigh at our self entitled, oblivious and frequently selfish species.
Thanks, EC.
Beautiful shots! I like the vertical version better (I’m sure you’re surprised😂) because the bird is larger in the frame, but I can definitely see what you’re saying about the second shot. 🙂
As far as idiots and assholes go, this is why we can’t have nice things — in real life and on the interwebs. Glad you got your Rx. I agree that there are certain things that all the BP meds in the world can’t fix. (I often find my own medicinal arsenal to be lacking in effectiveness with respect to certain things.) 🤬
Thanks, Marty. The only thing worse than having to take those pills is not having them to take. How’s that for convoluted logic…
Sadly that convoluted logic makes complete sense to me.
I’ll bet it does, EC.
Me too! 🤪
WOW! This took my breath away. Beautiful!
Thank You and stay safe,
Kaye
Park City, UT
I’m glad you like them, Kaye. Thanks.
Absolutely beautiful
Thanks, Mark.
So beautiful! Motion, pattern, color…as I looked the thought came into my head, the vision, of Native Americans dancing in their feathered regalia!
Thanks, Ron
Thanks very much, Mary.
I guess if I had to choose I’d pick the vertical crop just because it complements the wing position. But they are both frozen-in-flight beauties.
Not surprised to hear about the cretins on the causeway. Give a man a camera and he takes beautiful pictures; give a hundred people cameras and the picture turns ugly.
Thank you, Lyle.
I don’t mean to imply that most photographers are like that, they aren’t. But it doesn’t take many to make things pretty uncomfortable out there.
By the way, this wasn’t on the causeway – that’s going to Antelope Island. The road I’m talking about is the dirt road at Farmington Bay WMA.
I stand corrected on both counts. BTW, I wish you would have deleted BM’s (appropriate initials) comment. It raised my blood pressure and I don’t have a prescription. For hypertension or trolls.
🙂
Pot calling the kettle black, I’ve seen your truck angled across the road at Farmington Bay on more than one occasion. It actually blocked my progress once until you got your shot, unless there is another truck with the HARRIER license plate. I fully expect this comment to be deleted by the way.
Fully expect what you want, Bryan.
Of course I’ve angled my truck across the road before. And I’ll probably do it again. But I always watch (and listen) carefully for approaching traffic and move my pickup before any vehicle gets close.
If I’ve ever actually blocked traffic I sure don’t remember it. That’s something I try to be very careful about.
Both photos are excellent and very hard to choose between. No problem here with lack of sharpness caused by your lens hood in the cold. Did you have it on or removed for these two?
Just the mention of all those people out there gives me chills. I cannot tolerate crowds of photographers. I understand how everyone including myself wants the opportunity to get photos of eagles etc, but that kind of hysterical photography is not for me. I would rather forego it than participate.
“I would rather forego it than participate”
That’s me exactly, Everett.
My hood was on for these photos. Until recently I’ve never photographed with it off.
I enjoy both photos here. The softness of the colors of the background work really well. Simply put…a beautiful photo! I hear you on the ‘poor manners’ issue. It has gotten really bad here at the marsh with actual screaming matches between birders and the locals who use the road as a part of daily life. One went home, got his snow mobile and drove up and down the road after he had difficulty getting through. Of course some of the birders didn’t see where parking on the road and setting up tripods was an issue. I fear the next step is the DNR putting up ‘no-parking’ signs which will ruin it for those who are are ethical. I find myself hesitant in going there ; It isn’t worth the frustration of watching people chasing the owls as they are trying to feed.
Kathy, ruining it for others is one of the things I’m afraid of at Farmington. At some point refuge managers may have to step in and the results may not be pretty for any of us.
Beautiful! Both are delightful for different reason. 1st is just a stunning picture of the bird and the detail of it’s ventral side. 2nd is more of the “in motion” feeling……😀 Yeh, trying to get those needed meds is sometimes a REAL hassle – glad they showed up, and, yes, they only go so far dealing with BP particularly when dealing with shit-for-brains crowds😌
Don’t know what kind of owl it is but other sounds it’s making lessen the chance it’s a LEO. Wish I could get a look at it! 😉
Judy, I was down to my last two pills so I was getting nervous.
Good luck getting a look at your mystery owl. Could it be a Western Screech Owl?
Hadn’t thought of Western Screech since, to my knowledge, we haven’t had any here. Will have to do some “listening” on line. What flushed by me the other evening didn’t seem large enough for a LEO but too large for a Northern Saw Whet. A challenge! 😀
The very light colored eyes make me think this is an immature male. Lovely shots.
Thank you, Sallie.
The both takes are terrific, Ron, whatever the formats used. My preference goes to the second one because we can see the head and beak better. Unfortunately, the bad behaviors of selfish photographers are something we can see anywhere we go to.
Thanks, Laval. You’re right but at some places at certain times it’s worse.