Broad-Winged Hawk in the Rain

[Doug Brown]

While in Costa Rica last year, we were staying on the second floor of a hotel at Arenal. There was a deck facing some trees, bringing eye level to 20 feet off of the ground. One rainy morning, my girlfriend thought she saw a nest in one of the trees. I grabbed my binoculars to take a look and found this Broad-Winged Hawk. We took some photos and then realized that the rest of our group was on the bus waiting for us. I ran down and had everyone grab a memory card to use in my camera rather than unload their gear.



Canon 20D, 400mm, f/5.6, 1/125, ISO 200, -1 EV, flash, tripod
These are not the settings I would have chosen, but so many people used the camera that things must have gotten screwed up.

[Arthur Morris]

Very nicely done. Love the COMP, the soft light, and the sharpness. Having the perch enter from the corner works well. The flash surely helped.

Did you ever see the nest? I am concerned about the ID. Young red-shouldered is virtually inseparable from young Broad-winged in the field...

[Doug Brown]

Never saw the nest Artie. As to the ID, my Costa Rica field guide doesn't list the Red-Shouldered Hawk. Does it reside in Costa Rica?

[Kaushik Balakumar]

nice composition. looks like it was raining. was it ?

[Raul Quinones]

Nice picture, like the sharp subject and soft background, nice colors also.
I am not sure why you should have use different settings in your camera?... Did you have to do a lot PS work? Close the aperture for more DOF?

Anyway I like it.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the composition, mood and BG. It could go a tad brighter for my taste.

[Doug Brown]

I wouldn't have used ISO 200 and -1 EV in the rain. The post you see had the original exposure boosted by +0.74 in Lightroom. I don't mind the aperture. PS work was minimal.

[Arthur Morris]

Not sure if there are re-shoulders in Costa Rica. Did a fruitless web search...

[Dave Phillips]

whichever species it is, it's a nice healthy one with a really large eye.

very nice BG....hard call on the crop, bird is positioned well.....calling the "cropmasters"

[Greg Basco]

Hi, Doug. I remember this guy. I think you did very well on this image, especially considering the fact that everyone was popping their cards in and out, giving you little time to concentrate on your own shot. By the way, to my knowledge we don't have red-shouldered hawks here in Costa Rica, so I think broad-winged is the most likely ID.

Cheers from Costa Rica,

[Freddy Franzella]

Gorgeous image! great detail!

[Raymond Barlow]

fabulous image., the hint of rain really makes the shot.

[Chris Dodds]

Great capture of this species. Good on ya, for being out there in the rain - love the color saturation.

Great!

[Doug Brown]

Yes it was raining