Northern Harrier

[Bill Dix]

Taken yesterday afternoon at a local preserve. We positioned ourselves on the edge of the field where we thought we had the best chance of getting a raptor with the afternoon sun at our backs. This juvie didn't quite cooperate. He popped up out of the tall grass well to our right, so I got a few side-lit frames before he was gone in a flash. (Speaking of which, a subtle fill-flash might have helped.) Still, for a bird that eluded me for years, I was glad to get a fairly close look. This is cropped to about 65% of full width.

D500, 500f4 + 1.4 TC, ISO 1600, 1/2500s @ f/7.1 manual.

[Mike Hitchen]

Very good for a grab shot, Bill. I agree a bit of flash would not have gone amiss but can you lift the shadows a bit more, especially round the face?

[William Dickson]

Well captured Bill. Yes, to a better flight pose, but, what a great bird to capture in flight. Well done

Will

[keith mitchell]

Bill I would be thrilled to bits if this was mine,understand what you say about the light but still as lots going for it.Very well done.

Keith.

[Roger Smith]

Lovely image, love the sharp separation from the background. Thank you for sharing

[Alex Becker]

Hi Bill, Nice shot especially given it was a fast sighting. I haven't had tons of luck getting close enough to these guys in nice light yet

[Jonathan Ashton]

Bill - lovely shot I would suggest lower contrast a tad or lift shadows or a combination

[Bill Dix]

Thanks folks. I've used Curves to lift the shadows just a little, with a slight added boost around the eye. Does this look any better?

[keith mitchell]

Yes that as certainly lifted it Bill.

[Geoffrey Montagu]

Nice split second capture, Bill. We had the benefit of the forrest backdrop which created excellent separation popping the Harrier. Good work on the repost.

Geoffrey




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