![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/american-kestrel-2881b-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"american-kestrel-2881b-ron-dudley\\"")
<\/p>\nI’d give my shutter finger and my last chocolate donut to be able to change one tiny thing about her takeoff shot.<\/p>\n
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1\/4000, 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 Two weeks ago I was undecided about whether I should even attempt to approach this female American Kestrel on a weathered old post because she was so strongly side lit. I knew the high contrast of the bird would be accentuated by the mostly dark background and she was unlikely to let me get close enough anyway. But imagining the shot in the mind is often a poor predictor of actual results so I decided to give it a go.<\/p>\n She let me approach and I like the results. I managed to get plenty of detail in the shadows on her back without overexposing her sunlit belly, she gave me a head turn that put light on her face, I like the weathered perch with vegetation actually growing out its top and I think the dark background enhances the dramatic light on the bird and perch.<\/p>\n My next goal was a takeoff or flight shot so I removed my teleconverter to give me more room in the frame. Many things have to go right for a good takeoff shot but for a spectacular one the number of requirements is nearly endless and most of them are completely out of the photographer’s control.<\/p>\n You’re at the complete mercy of the unpredictable bird and the capricious gods of photography.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/5000, 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 So it’s incredibly frustrating when everything falls into place for a spectacular takeoff shot except one. I won’t even try to list or describe all the things I like about this photo but if not for a single glaring fault it could have been one of my best takeoff\/flight shots ever.<\/p>\n There’s no light on her &#%!@? face! She’s even looking back at me and we can see her eye, at least we could<\/em> see her eye if it wasn’t in such deep shade. I’ll forever look at this photo and lament what could have been.<\/p>\n I know, I know – things like this happen to every serious bird photographer on the planet. But that sad but completely irrelevant fact doesn’t make it one bit easier when it happens to me.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I’d give my shutter finger and my last chocolate donut to be able to change one tiny thing about her takeoff shot.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/american-kestrel-2901-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"american-kestrel-2901-ron-dudley\\"")
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