{"id":96219,"date":"2021-03-19T05:25:57","date_gmt":"2021-03-19T11:25:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/?p=96219"},"modified":"2021-03-19T06:16:51","modified_gmt":"2021-03-19T12:16:51","slug":"mated-red-tailed-hawks-and-the-fleeting-nature-of-the-golden-hour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2021\/03\/19\/mated-red-tailed-hawks-and-the-fleeting-nature-of-the-golden-hour\/","title":{"rendered":"Mated Red-tailed Hawks And The Fleeting Nature Of The ‘Golden Hour’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Harsh midday light is not the photographer’s friend but the warm glow of the ‘golden hour’ is transitory and often elusive, especially if you aren’t a ‘morning person’.<\/p>\n

The first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset are coveted by experienced photographers for the signature warm glow of the light it provides. The natural light of the golden hour is easier for the photographer to work with. It’s less likely to overexpose or underexpose parts of the image because the light is more even and has a pleasing golden hue. With the sun low in the sky the light is softer, more directional and warmer.<\/p>\n

But it sure doesn’t last long.<\/p>\n

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1\/1250, f\/14, 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<\/em><\/p>\n

Two days ago when I arrived on site to photograph one of the nesting pairs of Red-tailed Hawks I’ve been following I found both of them basking in the early morning sun in a tree near the nest. Even though they were perched low and close to the road they were incredibly relaxed in my presence. The larger female is the bird on the right and the gorgeously dark male is the hawk at upper left.<\/p>\n

This photo was taken about a half hour after sunrise so the light is quite warm, but not as warm as it would have been in the previous 30 minutes. The warm light has softened the typically harsh light on the cliff face behind them and intensified the rich colors of the male in particular.<\/p>\n

Soon after this photo was taken I inched my pickup forward a few feet to the viewer’s right in an effort to make the smaller angled branch in front of the female’s right wing and tail…<\/p>\n

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1\/3200, f\/7.1, ISO 500, 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

less obtrusive. By now both birds were becoming a little more active so I caught the female in a wing and leg stretch and the male was beginning to look below him for nesting material to deliver to the nest. I may post photos of his efforts at a later time.<\/p>\n

This image was taken 29 minutes after the previous one (I told you they were relaxed). By now the desirable effects of the golden hour were dissipating so the light is noticeably harsher, the colors of the cliff face and the male in particular are much less rich and saturated and there’s little detail in some of the whites of the female’s outstretched left wing (although I do like the way the brighter light makes the shadow of her talon stand out).<\/p>\n

I’m not saying the warm light of the golden hour is a panacea, it isn’t. Depending on taste, in some situations very warm light can be too warm. For example I’m not a fan of warm light on black and\/or white birds. But overall most folks in most situations covet warm light in their photos and I’m one of them.<\/p>\n

Personally I much prefer the warm light in the first photo over the cooler light in the second but your mileage may vary.<\/p>\n

Ron<\/p>\n

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Notes:<\/em><\/p>\n