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Thread: Harrier Head Angle and your thoughts.

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    BPN Member dankearl's Avatar
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    Default Harrier Head Angle and your thoughts.

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    Arthur Morris commented about how horrible he thought the HA was on the last Harrier I posted and he was
    probably right.
    In between looking at me and the ground.
    This one is in complete hunting mode and staring at the ground.
    Does this work for anyone? It is how Harriers are about 99% of the time when I photograph them, if they look at me they are flying away!
    I sort of like this intense hunting look but it probably doesn't work for most?
    I was close, the near wing could be more in focus I think.

    1/1600, f6.3, iso 800, 600mm, D800, HH


    DSC_3756bp4.jpg


    Last edited by Peter Kes; 12-29-2012 at 06:27 AM.
    Dan Kearl

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    Super Moderator arash_hazeghi's Avatar
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    Hey Dan,

    If you want my honest opinion this HA is not ideal. I shot like 100 harrier frames the other day and all had HA like this one except for one frame that I posted. They were sharp and nice like this one but I deleted them because of the HA :D

    They will eventually give you a sweet HA just have to keep shooting :)
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    I actually like the intense look the harrier is giving in its search for prey. To me the near wingtip doesn't seem to be anymore OOF than the tip of the far wing. Also, I really like the background and the position of the harrier aginst it.

    Colin

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    Nice BIF picture overall, I wish it were mine, Dan.
    I agree with Arash that the ideal head turn is the one turning towards you and having eye contact.
    However, this hunting position is nice as well IMO as you actually can see the eye and face.

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    Like the BG, like the wing position, and the exposure looks good. HA isn't ideal but certainly not a throw away! Does look like he is concentrating on looking for some prey...

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    Hi Dan, Frankly I like the image exactly as presented. IMO the HA does not always have to be facing the viewer while I admit it is often preferable. In this case you are showing a classic view of a Harriers behavior which alot of it is spent searching for prey. Technically its well handled and one to be genuinely proud of...

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    Very nice shot Dan.
    I personally like this image.
    Great IQ, very nice light, and wonderful background.
    You captured this hawk doing its thing and still being able to see it's eye is good enough for me.
    Well done.

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    BPN Member dankearl's Avatar
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    Thanks for the comments, I appreciate hearing from Dave, and I want make it clear that I appreciated Arthur's Critique, it was not a complaint, I enjoy his straightforward comments along with Arash's, always to the point review.
    I would love to get eye contact, I will keep trying!
    Dan Kearl

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    Hi Dan. Is it a bird that is displaying a characteristic behavior of its species, or does it somehow have to have a connection (by eye contact, for example) with the viewer? One is capturing a behavior, the other is a portrait. I think either is equally valid. Two different categories. One isn't any better, or worse, than the other.
    Behavior shots, often in which the subject is rivetted on something else in the environment, often preclude what appears to be eye contact with the viewer, and although position of the subject is important, this has more to do with being more esthetically pleasing or being able to see important characteristics such as faces and eyes.
    Head angles, and percieved eye contact, seem to be more in the realm of portraiture, whether a bird seeming to pose, or what I would call a flight portrait. I might add that eye contact is often an illusion, due to head and eye positions, and the bird has more important things to look at, like real predators or something to eat.
    This harrier is doing his thing, hunting; clearly a behavioral shot, and well done at that. You might really like, or even specialize in, in what I call flight portraits, and this image wouldn't fit the bill and you might reject it. Otherwise, there is nothing wrong with it! I'm sure most of use delve in both categories, but I personally find behavioral shots more dynamic, hold my interest longer, and are often more challanging to capture. regards~Bill

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Hi Dan, great IQ, light and colours in this, and its always great to capture any raptor, posed, or hunting. This is tack sharp where it counts. With regards to the HA, Arash makes good sense, and as long as you are motivated and keen as you are, you will capture your dream shot. Maybe a little off the top.

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    agree with comments above,a very nice image,well done.

  12. #12
    Richard Mc Donald
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    I like this one better Dan because the head is now seperated from the body so that we can now clearly see the intence consentration on the Harrier's face, sharp where it matters also.

    Agree very much with William adding that I too prefer the behaviour shots rather than boxed in bird ID exposures. Unfortunately most shots posted, because the animal isn't looking at the photographer, score low points that I put down to a mind-set driven by commercial purposes.

    Richard

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    Like the shot as is. Honest to the natural history of the bird and situation. A quick question about h/a though. If you throw away all your images until you are left only with the harrier looking at you, would it not be a very boring portfolio of very similar looking images?

    regards.
    Stu.

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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    As for me - well quite simply I think this is a great shot of a harrier displaying typical behaviour. The exposure and focus is optimal. As alluded to previously there are "ideal" head angles, we have our own concepts of ideal, it just depends upon what you wanted to capture. I think we are all after a perfect shot, then when we think we have it someone goes and tops it and then we go looking for more! I think most members would be very pleased to have taken an image of such quality, I certainly would.

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    Lifetime Member gail bisson's Avatar
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    I really like this Dan.
    Great IQ and love the hunting mode. Great BG as well.
    I struggle continously with the desire to take an image of something different and the publics' desire for the perfect picture ie. perfect HA and BG.
    Gail

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    Great image Dan! I like the sharpness, behaviour, exposure and BG.

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    Magnificent image.Very nice colors,sharpness and BG. I like the hunting mode and staring at the ground.

    Regards,
    Satish.

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