Two days ago my good friend and neighbor Shane Smith and I spent the morning in the west desert.
I’ve mentioned Shane several times in the past so I figured it was about time you ‘met’ him.
Having Shane along made the seven hours of driving seem shorter and definitely more enjoyable. Fairly recently Shane has become a serious bird and nature photographer. He’s a quick study and he remembers what he’s learned, which makes it all the more fun and rewarding for this retired teacher.
When I asked him to pose for a couple of photos I could have chosen a more photogenic spot but this photo still represents our morning pretty well. We put those pool noodles to good use all morning.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
When we found this Red-tailed Hawk I didn’t have high hopes for photos I like very much because the bird was partially side lit and I knew that if ‘he’ took off in the direction his body was facing (my left) I’d have no light on his face. But just before he took off he turned his head and looked intently to his left.
If he took off in the direction he was now looking, my chances for takeoff and flight shots I like would vastly improve.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
And that’s what he did. He turned his body in the direction he’d been looking and…
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
took off in that same direction, which kept light on his face.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I got (mostly) lucky with this one photo when he banked so sharply it put his entire body in an almost vertical position, with the morning sun lighting up most of his ventral surfaces.
I really like this photo, even though what we see here isn’t exactly what my camera captured.
This version of the same photo is what my camera captured. I didn’t clip his right wing but I came very very close. Too close for my compositional tastes so in the previous version of the photo I added 200 pixels of blue sky canvas up top.
Ahh, some breathing room.
You can’t come much closer than this to clipping a wing without doing it. Considering that I was about 100′ away from the bird when I took the photo, that’s very little wiggle room.
A “squeaker” indeed.
Ron
Once a teacher, always a teacher.
Hi Shane.
That final photo did need the canvas, but I am glad that you showed us just how close it was.
And despite me criticising you for your nitpicky ways I am guilty myself.
That’s a fantastic shot. Agree, the added sky does make a big difference to have a little “breathing room.”
That brief instant where all the feathers – wings & tail – are flared, was an incredible capture! I keep staring at it, trying to take it all in. Once again you have provided a photo with details that one can never see in real time, since it happens so quickly.
Thanks for sharing that one!
Very much appreciated, Quentin.
Nice flight images, Ron. I am glad you and Shane are going out together. It’s neat you are teaching your knowledge and skills.
Thanks, April. Shane’s one of the good guys so I’m happy to share what I can with him.
Whew, that is CLOSE! I guess that’s what they mean by “photo finish,” eh? If you weren’t in Utah, I’d tell you to go buy a lottery ticket. 😉
Shane is very fortunate to have both an awesome photographer and an awesome teacher as his friend. We all are. 💜
Thanks, Marty. Believe it or not, I’ve never bought a lottery ticket for myself. I did buy one for someone else once though.
What’s not to love about a gorgeous Red-tail on the rocks or on the wing, plus or minus 200 pixels? It’s all good, either way, and so glad your hawk cooperated after all that driving! 😊
“so glad your hawk cooperated after all that driving”
Me too, Chris. We photographed about a half dozen hawks that morning but this was the only one that did.
That is a great shot even almost clipped. And then you have both the equipment and the ability to fix it. Great job.
Thank you, Everett.
Marvelous series! Hi Shane!
I always think that you’re too critical of your photos, however I understand because I’m overly critical of everythjng I do 🤣
“I always think that you’re too critical of your photos,”
That’s just the way some of us are. Thanks, Nicky.
Amazing shots.
You are and I believe you were an excellent educator. It is evident too, that you like to teach. I was teacher, so I am confident saying this.
Take Care,
Kaye
Thanks, Kaye. Yes, teachers know what I’m talking about.
Beautiful! The photography gods were smiling on you for these shots! Adding a bit of canvas doesn’t bother me at all tho I “get” why you don’t like to do it.
Glad Shane got some time in the field with you! I’m sure that helps further is “education” when it comes to photography….. 🙂
Thanks, Judy. It’s about time those gods smiled a little.
I’m grateful to have such a friend. A teacher and neighbor that becomes more like a dad to me everyday.
❤️
Ron, what luck! The hawk turned into the light, and you did not clip his feathers. You have more good luck than anyone I know. But Dad was right, “we make our own luck.” And boy oh boy, good luck sure takes a lot of commitment, doesn’t it. Even for talented folk like you. Seven hours in the car and untold more hours in the field. I’m glad you sometimes have a like-minded buddy with you.
P.S. My husband has been searching for a year or more for pool noodles with a tunnel inside. He has not had any luck. Might you identify your source, please?
“You have more good luck than anyone I know.”
Marcia, it might seem like that but it’s only because you don’t see my failures. Which are aggravatingly plentiful.
I don’t remember for sure where those pool noodles were purchased but it might have been Walmart. It’s hard to find pool noodles that are thick enough and sturdy enough but most of the noodles I see around here have “tunnels”.
Thanks Ron. And thanks for your commitment through all that aggravation.
Walmart used to have them tho it seems to be seasonal………
Yes, it’s seasonal with them.
You might check a hardware store for foam pipe insulation. It’s a little more expensive, but one of the thicker ones should do the trick.
A close one for sure. It needed that framing edit to make it pop.
Glad you agree, Michael. I don’t like adding canvas but sometimes it’s the best option available.
Wow Ron! I like and enjoy almost all your photos, but this one took my breath away. Just beautiful. Thank you.
Good to know, Richard. Thanks. Folks tend to have such different tastes, they often prefer different photos than I do. It’s good to know that we agree on this one.