Mouth Full of Feathers

[Mike Landwehr]

This peregrine falcon completely devoured a laughing gull while we watched. We spotted this falcon at midmorning, just as we were starting to leave the beach, so the light was a little harsh, but it didn't spoil our fun! This image is a bit messy--don't know quite how it will be viewed for that reason. Do you prefer bloodless shots, like the one posted yesterday, or shots which bluntly illustrate how the raptors survive? All C&C welcome.

1D Mark II N
500 mm
ISO 250
1/2000 @ f/5.6
manual exposure
tripod

[arash_hazeghi]

Fantastic image, great dynamic pose lovely feather details and the action take this over the top.

[Dan Behm]

Mike,
A powerful and dynamic image, the low angle and subject Isolation is absolutely killer. Not to mention the prey and action the image provides... Epic

Dan

[Ofer Levy]

I love it! An impressive image indeed! Light looks fine to me! You could have easily used a slower SS in order to get a smaller aperture for more DOF but it worked very well anyway.

[Tony Whitehead]

Very well captured, Mike. Low angle isolates the falcon and prey beautifully. Mantling pose and falling feathers really capture the mood of a Peregrine over it's kill.

[Ken Watkins]

Beautiful shot of nature in the raw:cheers::cheers:

[Humberto Ramos]

I prefer this one to the last image, this is a behavior shot. IMO the DOF is OK, with small aperture, the BG would not be as smooth.

[Grace Scalzo]

This one for me too...it is so much more interesting. Even the falling feather is cool. Well done, Mike.

[Chris Martinez]

You must feel privileged to be able to photograph such an event :eek3:
I like the floating feather and the bright light has been handled very well.

There is a dust bunny top left corner.

[Charles Glatzer]

Stunning image, way to make the most of an opportunity.

Chas

[Brendon Cremer]

stunning image so very well captured!:w3

[Marina Scarr]

What a great capture, and I find this one far more powerful than the last without the blood & guts!

[Geir Jensen]

Great captured, I like it very much:5

[Jonathan Ashton]

terrific shot wonderful moment well caught. I like both of your images, this for me has more impact, it is the fact that it is feeding, the blood is of little consequence to me, I expect to see it so it doesn't bother me. ( I suspect I am so indifferent to the sight of blood becasue I have worked in pathology for 30yr and in the forensic science for 10 years.)

[Satish Ranadive]

Wonderful image with great pose and lights....loved the expression in his eye....

[Matthew Studebaker]

over-the-top outstanding in my book. amazing shooting angle, detail, pose. just wow.