Peregrine Falcon

[David Salem]

I had a great run in with this second year female Anatum Peregrine Falcon. Notice the #1 & 2 primaries still growing in and the few unmolted brown feathers on the left wing.
A friend and I were driving down a dirt road when we unknowingly spooked this falcon off of her kill, a Mourning Dove.
We were amazed that she didnt get scared of the car and hovered next to us looking for her kill in the grass. This was almost full frame and we both got some great shots of her in the clean early morning light.

1DMkIV---700mm---f6.3---ss1/3200---ISO500---HH from truck window---10% crop

Thanks as always for looking and for your input. I appreciate it.

David

[dankearl]

David,
Nice different color BG than is normal for this bird.
Your usual superb IQ.
I think at iso500, you could bring out more light and detail in the tail.
Nice Sharp photo of a tough subject.

[David Salem]

Thanks Dan for the comment, always appreciate your thoughts.
The tail is the only part that was shaded and I worked it to the edge of my comfort zone. It was much darker and any more and it started looking bleached.
Thanks again

[Vivaldo Damilano]

Stunning sharpness David, good flight pose with upright wings. I like the colours and smooth BG. Lovely catch light as well and crop works nicely. A looser crop would also work if you have it, nicely done.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Lovely shot I would suggest desaturate the yellows a little and also lower the highlights, it makes quite a difference.

[Doug Brown]

What a cool encounter! Great sharpness and a perfect BG. Only a 10% crop too!

[MohsenVahedipour]

Excellent flight pose with lovely light, detail & BG. TFS David

[Danny Laredo]

Wonderful image. Love the flight pose and BG.

[Carl Walker]

Super image David. Stunning smooth BG and flight pose.

[Grace Scalzo]

Pretty darn sweet!!

[David Salem]

Thankseveryone for the comments. I appreciate it
Jonathan, I will try that and let you know how it works. I did reduce the highlights already a bit but not the yellow.
Our early morning desert light produces some of these color casts to our images but they are natural and as seen.
Doug, it was an awesome encounter and my friend and I couldn't believe she was hovering right in front of us, we were barely ready for it.
My friend had a 600 and was clipping the wings, that's how close we were.
The sound in the cab of my truck was a crack up, 2 cameras shooting like Gatling guns.

[Bill Dix]

What an amazing encounter, and you were skillful enough to take full advantage. I've never seen a Peregrine shot so close and with such great detail, and nice complimentary BG to boot. Well done.

[Daniel Cadieux]

That was a terrific opportunity you guys were handed, and you made the most of it! The yellows look good to me. Nice details and overall pose. Did it come back and feed on the kill?

[Richard Flack]

Incredible image David! Wow!

[Sidharth Kodikal]

You made the most of the opportunity, David. This is one sweet image. Great light, details and bg color.
I'm more than fine with the shaded part of the tail, in fact, I'd ease up on the brightening a bit. Excellent work.

[David Salem]

Thanks for the comments everyone.
Daniel, not only did she come back and pick up the Dove right in front of us but she landed in an open field and let us get some other great shots of her sitting on the Dove. The opposite of murphy's law 4 a change:)

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

This is one I have yet to get on film or should I say pixels! Very nice David. Love the light and detail. Great bg too

[Mervyn Marsh]

Hey this falcon in full flight is tight :)
Great stuff
Merv

[gail bisson]

What a wonderful opportunity that you made the most of. Sweet light and your usual awesome IQ.
Gail

[Stu Bowie]

Hi David, a bit late, but you have received all the accolades already. :w3 It must be great to have a raptor as a subject for a morning shoot, and you certainly made the most of the opportunity. I like the concentrated hunting stare, and I do like the underwing detail and colour of the near wing. Superb BG too. Well captured.

[Satish Ranadive]

Spectacular flight pose, David.

Regards,
Satish.

[David Salem]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate your comments.

[arash_hazeghi]

heck of a shot David, wish this one was mine

[Shawn Zierman]

You've definitely got a recognizable style. I guessed this was yours before I saw your name. Awesome image in all regards. What a gorgeous variation of this species!!!! I hope this is awarded image of the week sir.

[yogesh_puranik]

amazing details freeze and great background with cathclight..very difficult to capture you nailed it sir. How are you doing? I am back in India wish i was there to see winter migrants..:(