Northern Harrier

[Doug Brown]

This is about the best flight pose I've ever caught a Harrier in. Unfortunately it's more of a crop than I would have liked. I think there's enough detail for web presentation so I decided to share it with you.

http://birdwhisperer.smugmug.com/Animals/Birds/BPN/20091208-MG3623-Northern/738543752_Po97Y-O-1.jpg

Canon 7D, 600mm + 1.4x, f/7.1, 1/3200, ISO 640, -1/3 EC, hand held

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Cool banking pose, fanned tail, BG and the open beak adds to it. I might sharpen it a tad more.

[Danny Laredo]

Super sweet flight pose and the open bill really adds to the image.

[Doug Brown]

It doesn't take well to sharpnening due to the crop Axel, but here's a repost with a bit more sharpening. I've processed this image probably 10 different times trying to figure out optimum sharpness.

[arash_hazeghi]

Sweet wing position and open beak, stands out well against BG. Fanned tail is a plus too. I actually prefer the original, the repost looks over sharpened and slightly grainy on my screen. Well done. It must have been really far!!!

[Arthur Morris]

The repost looks better esp. on the head. I am confused as to the -1/3 stop in what looks like soft light.

Killer on the fanned tail.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

The repost might be a little grainier but I think the additional sharpening looks good. Have you tried to do an advanced sharpening and scale back the shadow sharpening?

[Doug Brown]

I am confused as to the -1/3 stop in what looks like soft light.

I was photographing a Pintail, when I saw the Harrier out of the corner of my eye. I was dialed in for the Pintail and didn't think to change my exposure.

[Attila Seprenyi]

I like the spread wings and tail the light also looks great it is a nice picture. I take a vote for the first one IMO it is sharp enough.

[Tony Whitehead]

Super pose and light, Doug. Pity about needing the big crop but works for web.

[Bill Dix]

Terrific fanned tail and open beak. Good feather detail considering the crop. Well captured at the spur of the moment.

[paul leverington]

Doug-- your self asessment is spot on bro., but what a capture! I dream of the roundhouse dive to the kill shot on these guys someday--this is maybe the closest I have seen to that wish shot. If only you were closer---but your gonna get this shot close up someday--I got a good feeling on that!

Paul

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Awesome flight pose Doug and I love the open beak and eye contact. So often this species is looking down and it is a challenge to get their eyes in good light. Fine work and big congrats.

[Danny J Brown]

Hey Doug: I really like your vertical framing of a great flight pose as described by P.L. Caught this baby in mid-scream as well. Fun shot.

[Arthur Morris]

I was photographing a Pintail, when I saw the Harrier out of the corner of my eye. I was dialed in for the Pintail and didn't think to change my exposure.

Been there. Done that. Best to make the image and worry about the EXP later. Was this at Bosque?

[Doug Brown]

Was this at Bosque?

Bolsa Chica in So. Cal.

[Ofer Levy]

Fantastic pose and awesome light! The issue with the sharpness was mentioned. I am still not convinced that the 7D can deliver perfectly sharp images of birds in flight. In almost all the BIF images I saw so far sharpness is not perfect regadless of the SS. I hope I am wrong as I own the 7D and after selling my 500 f4 I really need the 1.6 crop factor.

[Doug Brown]

I am still not convinced that the 7D can deliver perfectly sharp images of birds in flight. In almost all the BIF images I saw so far sharpness is not perfect regadless of the SS.

I know you're speaking about a large number of 7D images when you make the above statement, but remember that this image was posted for the pose, not the sharpness. FWIW I think the 7D is capable of very sharp flight images.

[Ofer Levy]

I know you're speaking about a large number of 7D images when you make the above statement, but remember that this image was posted for the pose, not the sharpness. FWIW I think the 7D is capable of very sharp flight images.

I am pleased to hear that Doug. Will give it a try when we hopefully meet in Israel soon....;)

[Harshad Barve]

Lovely banking pose Doug , Your experience on 7D must be quite formadible now and trustworthy results
TFS