American Kestrel "Look out I'm coming at You"

[James Salywoda]

American Kestrel
Southern California

This shot was taken a few months ago I really like the eye level pose captured as this
Kestrel made its way over my head. I'm not the biggest fan of the bg but the dynamic pose makes the shot for me. I cloned out a distracting branch and blurred the bg. ;)

Nikon D300s AFS 600 F4 1.4 TC
1/2000 F8 ISO 800

Thanks For Looking

Jim

[Stu Bowie]

Jim, certainly a good pose, and I like the eye contact. I really like the colours and detail on the kestrel, and dont mind the BG at all.

[Doug Brown]

Before I read your description, 'dynamic pose' popped into my mind. I guess great minds think alike! :cool: Eye contact is excellent.

[Indranil Sircar]

Jim, I too like the pose and eye contact. Great colors and details. The bg with oof vegetation looks good to me although I would have preferred to lighten the dark spot on the left. Still an excellent composition. TFS.

[Tony Whitehead]

Great pose and excellent plumage details especially in the dorsal view of the far wing, Jim. Is a little more space available on the left to decentre the kestrel a bit or does that bring in more of the BG that you're not a fan of?

[Tim Munsey]

Hi, neat shot, as with the previous poster like the eye contact, has the d300s look.

Tim

[Pieter de Waal]

That is an incredible image James, as mentioned the detailed plumage and colours are awesome and eye contact and outstretched talons just add to it. Great capture.

[dave blackwell]

hi jim superb capture the detail is spot on and color just magic

[Danny J Brown]

Hi Jim,

It seems that all of your flight images are spectacular but the position in which you've captured this kestrel is really something special. Even though kestrels are common in Missouri, I still haven't even managed to catch one on a fence post! The eye contact and feather detail here are at typical Salywoda standards so I don't need to say much. I'm wondering if a smidge more off the bottom would make it even better but probably not. Good one.

DB

[Troy Lim]

James,

Always enjoy your shot...love the wing position and the sharpness. ;)

[Sid Garige]

James,

You rock with 600 and 1.4x. Exceptional details.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

The pose is great Jim as is the detail in the feathers! I love this image mate. Well done!

[Craig Brelsford]

Well done, James. The position of the kestrel makes for an exciting photo. You say you don't love the background but you don't specify the problem. Perhaps it's that spot on the left. The bottom vegetation is not a problem at all in my eyes, but yes, perhaps something could be done about that spot on the left.

[Mital Patel]

superb image and pose. well freeze

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

James, yes....terriric pose indeed. eye contact, talons down and those colors. WOW shot.