Juvi Peregrine eating juvi Common Tern

[Dorian Anderson]

This bird was feasting when I walked onto the Nickerson sand before sunrise. My unassembled rig was still in my backpack, so I immediately fished it out, put it together,
and quickly closed the 100-yard distance to ~40 yards as the bird ripped the prey apart. I dropped to my stomach and crawled another 20 yards, at which point the sun
cracked the dunes behind me (see reflection in eye). I was able to fire off a burst of frames just as two adult terns started mobbing the falcon. The harassed falcon flew
moments later, so I was happy the sun didn't arrive later or the mobbing tern earlier! It was only lit for 20 seconds before the terns flushed it, so I was really stoked to
have captured it. I only wish it hadn't flown directly away as it took the beheaded tern with it.

Canon 600mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x III on EOS 1DX2
1/1000 at f/5.6, ISO 1600
Processed in LR CC

I did remove one distracting black blob on the sand behind the falcon. I am not interested in additional cloning to obtain a cleaner frame.

Hope the frame isn't too pink, but that was the lighting at the time!

182842

[Paul Burdett]

Stunning shot! That look it's giving you is priceless. Well worth the "crawling" on the sand. The only thing I'd do would be to crop a little off the bottom, from about that red blob on the lower left.

[arash_hazeghi]

sweet shot Dorian, love everything but wish you had shot this one a bit higher so we could see the prey a bit better, sweet light

TFS

[gail bisson]

This is fantastic Dorian.
What a wonderful moment for you- everything lined up perfectly (and that rarely happens!).
The light is great, the IQ rocks and the action depicted is "rock star".
The view of the decapitated head is really sobering.
I agree with Paul about taking a sliver off the bottom.
Gail

[Jonathan Ashton]

Well caught your determination paid off. Arash makes a very apt point and one which Artie has made a few times, i.e. the low angle may usually be optimal but be aware that occasionally a slightly higher viewpoint can be beneficial, I was taught this lesson back in 2008, one which I now always recall.

[Arthur Morris]

I like the low angle here. I am a bit envious :). Great that you came away with something excellent. I am not sure that I can ever forgive you for removing the single black blob ... That is one fine line and one slippery slope :)

with love, artie

ps: you did a perfect job of compromising sun angle with subject to film plane orientation,

[Bill Dix]

Talk about being at the right place at the right time; and you used your fieldcraft and technical skills to perfection. Congratulations.

[annmpacheco]

Super shot here Dorian, very nice field craft positioning yourself and nailing some frames. Beautiful light, all looks spot on good, trade you a soft oystercatcher inflight?

[dankearl]

Your one of those guys who show up and things just happen...
Bird whisperer's.
Great fortune and nicely done.
Glad you took the blog off.

[Tim Foltz]

Dorian, excellent grab my friend your GI Joe crawl came in handy, nice light, BG and prey.

-Tim

[Aditya Sridhar]

This is spectacular Dorian! Love everything about this shot and there isn't a single thing that I'd change. I echo all the positive comments above and I'll add that I'm a fan of the green strip at the top of the frame. Great work!

[John Mack]

Very nice. Your timing was right on. Talk about the right place at the right time. Low angle and the prey makes this one. That sweet morning light doesn't hurt either.