![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/american-kestrel-0130-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"american-kestrel-0130-ron-dudley\\"")
<\/p>\nIt’s unusual but occasionally I can (mostly) overlook significant technical flaws in one of my photos and still appreciate it for other reasons.<\/p>\n
One of my consistent photographic goals with kestrels is to catch them in one of my favorite action poses. It’s what some of my blog followers call the “wing fling”, a side view of the kestrel taking off with its wings in a vertical position as it pushes off the perch with its feet and legs. I’ve captured that pose often with other larger and slower raptors but I’ve only succeeded once before with a kestrel and I’ve tried many, many times.<\/p>\n
I believe the incredible speed of relatively small and unusually fast kestrels at takeoff is the primary reason for my dismal track record. My reflexes just aren’t fast enough to capture the wings in that initial vertical position. The difficulty of the task is compounded by the fact that unlike many other raptors kestrels typically don’t signal imminent takeoff with a behavioral cue that allows me to anticipate the moment of takeoff. They’re there and then they’re gone, in a nanosecond.<\/p>\n
Two days ago I succeeded for a second time but other things went wrong.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
1\/3200, f\/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n This male kestrel at Farmington Bay WMA posed nicely for me for several minutes but he was perched on a relatively unattractive sign post and he was strongly side lit so I hoped to get lucky with a takeoff or flight shot. To be honest I didn’t even think of the wing fling pose because I assumed he’d be too quick for me.<\/p>\n But unlike most kestrels this guy performed a little stutter step just prior to takeoff which gave me just enough time to catch him in the wing fling pose.<\/p>\n But there’s a couple of flies in the ointment. Because of the side light I don’t have a catch light in his eye. And worse than that, he’s soft. I had enough shutter speed to get him sharp but his unexpected stutter step caused me to jerk the lens slightly (I twitched when I shouldn’t have) which caused both the bird and the perch to be a little too soft. Terrible long lens technique!<\/p>\n Normally an image this soft without any light in the eye would be consigned to my delete bin but I’m gonna keep this one. Even with its flaws I can see and appreciate the beautiful colors and plumage patterns of the male kestrel revealed by the dynamic wing fling posture that appeals to me so much.<\/p>\n And it shows me what’s possible if I get lucky again with a kestrel stutter step.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It’s unusual but occasionally I can (mostly) overlook significant technical flaws in one of my photos and still appreciate it for other reasons.<\/p>\n