Red Tailed Hawk

[David Salem]

Took this a few months ago at a local wildlife refuge. My friend Glen, and I, were watching and photographing a Peregrine on a pole when this juvenile Red Tail came off a pole and hovered over a gopher about 50ft away. The light was at our back and I managed to get three keepers from that three second burst. 10 fps sure helps to catch that one good frame when your shooting BIF. I like this one because the legs are hanging down.

1DMKIV---700mm---f6.3---ss1/2000---ISO 640---HH@ 7:45am---25%crop.

Thanks as always for looking and for your input. Appreciated

David

[Lyle Gruby]

Really nice job David, great wing extension, great HA, love those talons!

[gail bisson]

This is very nice.
I think I would prefer more of a vertical composition and would add some canvas at the bottom of the frame.
I really like the HA on this guy.
The BG is nice with the hint of wispy clouds.
Are the legs that pale yellow color? If yes then colors are great. If not, might bump up the saturation a bit,
Gail

[Nick Palmieri]

I love the pose. Very nice capture. I think there may be a slight color cast??? Blue or green??? Let's see what others have to say about that. I like the tighter crop.

[Karl Egressy]

Love the pose captured very well, David. It is interesting how different the pattern ancd colour of the Western subspecies, there is.

[J van Noordwyk]

WOW!!!! THIS IS A STUNNING PIN SHARP IMAGE.

[Loi Nguyen]

David, this is a beautiful shot, tack sharp, good light, nice pose. Like the head angle and the tags extended.

[Daniel Cadieux]

You took good advantage of the opportunity David. The dangling legs are nice, but even better for me is this particular HA. I suspect you needed to lighten under the wing...either way you could warm up the whites under there. I would laso sharpen the face a bit more. I like the comp as is.

[David Salem]

Thanks everyone for the comments.

Gail, yes that is the color of the juveniles feet. Sometimes they are almost a green blue hue.

Daniel, I didn't do anything to the underside of the wing I have reduced the highlights overall though.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi David, great inflight pose with the raised wings and hanging legs, and we have a good view of those mean talons. Comp wise, I would add a bit to the bottom.

[Peter Dexter]

Really nice capture and I I really like the head angle. Says it all. Bye bye gopher.

[dankearl]

David, Very nice pose and details.
The color caste does look off to me.
The eye is green, I have never seen that color on a Hawks eye.

[arash_hazeghi]

nice pose complimented by a nice HA. you had some nice light too

well done

[David Salem]

Thank you all for the comments and crits. Much appreciated

[Brendon Cremer]

Great image well captured, i like the comp as is and would agree to lifting a white a tad under wing and to a little selective sharpening in the head..