Sharp-shinned Hawk

[Nancy Bell]

or possibly a Cooper's Hawk as I have both in my area. They occasionally feed on the smaller birds attracted to my feeders. It was actually a Chicory squirrel chirping and racing around that first caught my attention. My second big clue was a House Finch utterly frozen in position on the rocks a mere 8 feet from the hawk. The hawk never saw the finch.

I always find it difficult to create a pleasing image when I have a busy bkgd such as the granite rocks I have here. The bird was in a slight dip in the granite and this was the only clear shot I had. Any suggestions, maybe in post-processing?

Canon 40D (my back-up camera that was the quickest to reach), Canon 70-200 f2.8 L IS @ 175mm, 1/500, f4.5, ISO 800. Image taken through open window, camera resting on the window.

Comments and critiques most appreciated.

[Troy Lim]

Nancy, nice pose captured. The colors of the bird and BG are too closely matched, have you apply any Gaussian blur to the BG? Maybe that would help to separate them more.

[laurie golden]

Nancy,

I would try adding sky to the background above the rock - I have attached a quick redo. I just masked the bird and rock and added a blue layer in front of the background. I also changed it to a vertical because I think there needs to be more space on the top but think I should have left more space on the left.

I love Cooper's/Sharped Chins, they hunt in my yard all of the time but always fly away when they see a camera.

You have done a great job capturing this one.

[Troy Lim]

Nancy,

I would try adding sky to the background above the rock - I have attached a quick redo. I just masked the bird and rock and added a blue layer in front of the background. I also changed it to a vertical because I think there needs to be more space on the top but think I should have left more space on the left.

I love Cooper's/Sharped Chins, they hunt in my yard all of the time but always fly away when they see a camera.

You have done a great job capturing this one.

Personally, I don't like that the redo.
1. It doesn't look natural.
2. On the ground with blue sky? Doesn't make sense.

[Robert Holguin]

Nice shot. Great pose, nice details, and I dont mind the background.
Well done.

[Satish Ranadive]

Excellent image of Hawk.Love the pose,colors,details and colorscheme.

Regards,
Satish.

[Bill Jobes]

To me, it's a pleasing photo of a beautiful raptor.

I'd accept the BG as-is, and not alter the reality of its environment.

[Nancy Bell]

Thank you everyone for your comments and suggestions. Laurie, putting sky in the bkgd is an interesting option. I never would have thought of that. Thank you so much for working on it. I like the vertical crop.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Nice encounter, and I love the perfect view of the talons. Although I understand your concern about the BG, I'm OK with it. The subject seems to have some noise to its plumage, and contrast seems strong.

I'd be willing to bet the hawk knew full well the finch was there, but it simply knew it did not have a chance from a standing position (they like to ambush their prey from the air).

[David Salem]

Nancy, Nice shot of a juvi female Sharp-shinned hawk. The head and beak on a female sharpie is smaller than even a male coopers. Also in flight the sharpie has a squarish looking tail opposed to a rounder one of the coopers.

The GB is ok with me too but I like the idea of blurring the BG. Pose and details are nice but I do see a little noise in the bird. Good Work...

[Nico Steenberg]

Great exposure and eye contact with sharp details captured. I like your version that how you have seen it Well done Nancy !

[Nancy Bell]

David, thank you for the positive ID on the hawk.
Daniel, I also noticed the noise in the plumage. Possibly due to the limitations of the 40D? I'll see if I can process a bit differently. It's way better than my 1st images which were thru the window glass!
Thank you, Nico.