Greater Kestrell with dune/sky background

[Richard Flack]

143203

Greater Kestrel

I came across this beautiful kestrel on an early morning game drive across one of the dune roads in the Kgalagadi. I liked the unique BG the dune and sky gave to this image.

Location: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Date taken: 16 June 2013
Photo details:
ISO 640
Shutter speed 1/2000
F stop 6.3
Exposure bias 0
Sharpened for web

[keith mitchell]

Richard I like the puffed up relaxed pose of this fine looking Falcon, it,s a pity that the branch cuts through the tail but that's the way it is sometimes, nice soft hue in the BG,I would be vey pleased to have this image.

Keith.

[Shawn Zierman]

Great light quality, pleasing eye level for a perched raptor image...exposure is well handled, especially in regards to the branches which can look hot very easily when worn like this without bark...beautiful little falcon with a nice puffed up pose.

[Bill Dix]

Sweet. Love the bird, pose, perch and background. Techs look great. I don't mind the twig across the tail at all. I could have imagined just the tiniest bit more space on the left, equally tiny bit off the right. But that's a nit and personal preference. A fine image.

[Doug Brown]

Excellent sharpness and a nice exposure. I'd like the head angle slightly towards us, and I would prefer that the branch didn't pass in front of the tail feathers.

[Paul Kusmin]

really nice image, the BG is sublime, the perch is so great it's ok that it crosses the tail a bit.
did you get any shots of it's head turned a bit more?

[Karl Egressy]

Beautiful raptor in great light. Nice pose and background.

[David Salem]

Nice sharp frame Richard. I like the two tone BG and the overall colors and exposure. I dont mind the tail being covered so much but it would have been great to get a little look at the camera, next time ;)

[Ishmeet Sahni]

Richard, I agree with you the BG is amazing. I agree with Keith, I too wish the branch wasn't cutting across the tail, but we never get everything we want.
To me personally the HA works. A beauty of an image.

[Petros Petrou]

You have a very nice image here Richard of this female individual. Light looks great, detail also and the perch has character. I do not mind the tree branch intersecting the tail. I would leave just a bit more space to the left so that the edge of the last tree brach (up left) was in the frame. The HA is not perfect but I think that in this frame works as it shows the falcon overlooking her area. TFS

[Richard Flack]

Thanks so much for all the comments! I appreciate each of you taking the time. I will post another image as soon as I have chance.. with what may be a better HA and will take into consideration spacing. :) Thanks again!