Red-tailed Hawk

[Karl Egressy]

I went to visit my RTHA friend in the afternoon. After about one hour we spotted her in a tall tree but she flew away and kept flying.
I noticed earlier that she depleted the food supply of this field.
Originally every hunt was successful then a weeks later it was one out of nine.
It was time to move on.
I hope she will find a nice area for herself. One day she might come back.
This shot was taken when the hunt was still very good.
Thanks for looking.


Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Manual Exposure
Tv 1/250
Av 8.0
ISO 800
EF500mm f/4L IS USM
Flash Exposure Compensation -2 2/3

[annmpacheco]

Karl, A most beautiful portrait. I enjoyed reading your field observations and I hope she fairs well down the road. Would you explain flash exposure compensation (-2 2/3) for me here as your choice? Thanks and Merry Christmas

[Karl Egressy]

Karl, A most beautiful portrait. I enjoyed reading your field observations and I hope she fairs well down the road. Would you explain flash exposure compensation (-2 2/3) for me here as your choice? Thanks and Merry Christmas

Thanks, Ann.
I use a Canon 600EX-RT flash with Better Beamer, mounted on a Wimberley arm above the lens and off center, attached to the side of a Wimberley gimbal head.
The flash is more powerful than the one I used before (580EX and 550EX) so I have to be careful with setting.
I find that the range between -2.0 and -2 2/3 are good most of the time. For the rest of the time I go below -2.0.

[Roy Priest]

Karl, nice light and I like the perch. Looks like she has something in her crop and the blood on one of her toes is evidence.

[PhilCook]

Lovely pose Karl, the sharpness/focus is there, liking the light showing backlighting the small tufts of feather on the legs and back, a slight shame I thin k the head/eye was not catching the light fully, but still heaps of character and detail showing

[gail bisson]

Man, you really did well with this raptor!
I love the light and the curve in the perch,
Gail

[Nick Palmieri]

I like this a lot. The head looks very sharp and the wind blowing the feathers adds to a great pose. Wish the head was in a slightly better position but this works very nicely as presented.

[stuart wanuck]

nicely done love the pose and sharpness

[dankearl]

What a great perch you have for this guy!
The leaf is a big plus for me and the great regal pose is very nice.

[Robert Holguin]

Teriffic shot!!
Excellent pose wit ha great head angle, I really like the curved perch and those leafs really add to an already great perch. Very nice light and background.
Very well done.

[Satish Ranadive]

Karl:
Magnificent image of hawk on very nice perch with leaves under foot.I like the pose,colors,sharpness and beautiful BG.
If mine ,would trim on either side and go for 3x2 format composition.

Regards,
Satish.

[Uri First]

beautiful image