Backyard Predator

[Roy Priest]

This is my resident female Sharpy that supplements her diet with some birds from my feeder. This is the first time she has landed on a branch with no obstructions. She had just completed a stretch. I blurred the BG to isolate her more. Taken on another dark and dingy day here in the wet coast of Canada. How I miss Arizona at times like this.
D4, 1/100 @ F5.6, 700 mm, 500F4 + 1.4 TC, ISO 200, -1/3, tripod.

[Julie Brown]

Hi Roy. Nice tail fan and feather detail. I am really impressed with the 1/100sec shutter speed.

[Roy Priest]

Thanks Julie, I too had to double check the shutter speed, I didn't think I would shoot so slow.

[Ron Bernstein]

Congratulations on this great image, Roy! I love the unusual presentation of this beautiful specimen. The fantail is gorgeous .
Imagine how unimpressive this would be with a bird with beaten up wings.
Love the OOF background; marveling at the 1/100 sec capture.
My only minor suggestion is that about one inch up the right border is a white line that I'd clone out.
Nicely done from capture to post!

[PhilCook]

I'm thinking the dark and dingy day has been kinder with lighting, I find the exposure very good in this, lots of detail showing through and no brights. Well done on getting it out in the open so well and loving that feather spread. Personal tastes maybe, but I find the applied background blur a bit strong and unnatural looking

[christopher galeski]

nice one,nice pose,sharp with good detail,agree with Phil about the BG.thanks.

[gail bisson]

I really like the wing spread and fan tail.Excellent IQ. Tack sharp at 1/100. Impressive.
I am OK with the BG as is but I see a hint of a magenta cast.
Gail

[Bill Dix]

Terrific wing stretch with fanned tail. Nice and sharp. I also noticed that the bg seemed a bit over-blurred, but a handsome image.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Roy, I like the attentive stare, together with the fanned tail - shows off the feather detail nicely. Comp works well, and Im fine with the BG too.

[Karl Egressy]

Nice pose and feather detail, Roy. Background looks goot too.

[Robert Holguin]

Very nice shot.
I really like the fanned tail, excellent details, great perch and background.
I agree with Gail on the color cast.
Well done.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Great pose and excellent detail, very good eye contact. You did extremely well with the low SS.
I have never had the good fortune for a bird of prey to land on a decent perch in the back garden, they always land where it is cluttered or on the garden fence!

[Sandy Witvoet]

Unique and fascinating.... BG is good for me...hawk is even better. Superb capture!