Cooper's Hawk Landing

[Jean Chang]

This Cooper's was pretty far away, but I liked the pose with its talons ready to land. Unfortunately, because of the heavy crop and the low light, it was pretty noisy.

Nikon D300, 300mm f/4, 1.4TC
1/2500, f/5.6, EV +1¹/³, ISO 450

Heavily cropped, and I removed a few extraneous twigs. Also, the hawk's left wing tips were right behind its beak, so I removed them, but I'm not sure if maybe I should have left them there.

Thanks for looking. Any C&C appreciated!:)



http://www.jeanachang.com/photos/785354458_jxYeK-XL-1.jpg

[Bill Dix]

Very nice action shot. I love the talons at the ready. The high key look works well and the translucency of the wing is nice. He does seem like he wants a left wing, but not much you could do. There are signs of a large crop but to my eye this held up well. Nicely done.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Cool pose and the positive exposure compensation was a good move, too. I wish the head were angled toward you and too bad that it is a heavy crop. I would sharpen a bit less and try to remove the greenish CA on the branches.

[Jean Chang]

I'm thinking I could back off on the crop a bit. This is the same shot without removing the left wing tips. I like that he has a left wing, but it's just in the wrong place, darn it. It takes away from its eye. Or does it?

http://jeanchang.smugmug.com/photos/785381419_6zA6K-XL-2.jpg