Eye-level -- Red -Shouldered

Red-Shouldered Hawk at Crew's Lake near Spring Hill, Florida

1/2000 at f5.6 and ISO400
Canon 500mm with 1.4 TC
Canon 7D

At one time Crew's Lake was big enough and deep enough for water skiers. Now, its 100 acres of lake bottom as it dried up about 5 years ago. There are small ponds throughout and mostly waist high weeds and grasses with a few small trees here and there.

It was in this environemnt that I saw the hawk. He would let me get just about within camera range and fly off -- not too far off. Rinse, repeat for about 30 minutes before he allowed me to get in close.

Getting eye level with a hawk under any conditions is a naturific experience.

A thrilling experience , to say the least. Captured very well. The beautiful BG makes this pop. The detail is fantastic. All the sticks make it a bit busy , but this is the environment it lives in. I might crop it a bit tighter as I feel there is a bit too much negative space on top. Also might lighten up the head just a little. Still love looking at this image.:5

Great capture. I only am distracted by the one OFF twig in the foreground. Bob
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Beautiful bird in it's environment. Agree with a bit of brightening (bird only). Nice bg. Well done.
TFS
Todd

Looks like it was a challenge! I like the overall image, but would have preferred a light angle coming more from directly behind you to avoid the shadow on the bird's body, and the OOF FG branch is too bad. Be careful of cloning artefacts (LRC). Saahrp as posted, and nice BG.

Did this lake drain naturally, or of human interference?