Northern Harrier in Flight

[Ashleigh Scully]

Hi -

I am posting for my daughter, Ashleigh today. She was up last night editing this image with me and asked me to post it today while in school. Let's hope Dad doesn't screw this up!

Shot with her first camera, Sony a55 with a Tamron 200-500: (500mm, 1/2000, f/6.3)

About a 20% crop.

Adjusted Levels, Saturation slightly, and sharpened to 200/0.2/1.

Just want to thank you all for providing her with feedback. This has been a great experience for her.

[dankearl]

I think your daughter is off to a fine start in Avian photography!
As for the photo, she had nice light and an attractive BG.
This is the typical Harrier pose, sometimes it is tough to get them looking at you, but
that would be preferable.
Also getting the head separated from the wing is nice.
Nice work though, as is, keep it up and keep posting!

[arash_hazeghi]

Welcome to BPN and thanks for your membership support.

I like the nice warm tones and the BG! this is one of my fav. raptors. a few issues:

-The image will make a stronger connection to the viewer with harrier's head turned towards us. Harriers constantly scan the ground for prey, but they do give you eye contact, you need to capture that moment for full impact.

-Image quality is poor, background is noisy and the harrier looks soft, lacking in details. this could be due to original RAW capture being soft or due to post processing. If you posted a close crop from RAW it would be easier to tell but my guess is it was soft original capture given you were suing one of those super-zoom lenses.

hope this helps

How old is Ashleigh and how long has she been photographing birds?


Arash

[Ashleigh Scully]

Thank you both. Ashleigh is 11 and has been photographing birds for two years.

[arash_hazeghi]

She is only 11 ? My compliments she is very talented !

[Ashleigh Scully]

Thanks, Arash. She learned alot from Jim Neiger via a pair of his one-day sessions recently in Florida. He is a great guy, as you know - very patient and helpful. Alot of manual exposure attention, which she has been embracing.

Naturally, she struggles with large lenses, but can manage hand-holding a Canon 400mm fixed long enough to get some good in-flight shots. Many of the harriers she has posted came via braced on a car window with a puffin pad or beanbag, so that helps. She is exploring macro now, which should be easier equipment-wise, but just as challenging to get right!

Thanks for the interest and be well.

[Alan Murphy]

An excellent image. Any flight shot is not easy at any age.

[Karl Egressy]

Congratulations, excellent BIF image, Ashleigh.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Hi again Ashleigh. I too am amazed at your age and I would be happy with this shot if it were mine and I'm just a little older than you. As mentioned the head angle is so important for the viewer to connect. I think Arash made some great points.

[arash_hazeghi]

Thanks, Arash. She learned alot from Jim Neiger via a pair of his one-day sessions recently in Florida. He is a great guy, as you know - very patient and helpful. Alot of manual exposure attention, which she has been embracing.

Naturally, she struggles with large lenses, but can manage hand-holding a Canon 400mm fixed long enough to get some good in-flight shots. Many of the harriers she has posted came via braced on a car window with a puffin pad or beanbag, so that helps. She is exploring macro now, which should be easier equipment-wise, but just as challenging to get right!

Thanks for the interest and be well.

she sure is talented and I think the Canon 400 f/5.6 is a great lens for her to start and build up her skills. I look forward to her photos here!

[Sandy Witvoet]

Congrats on a wonderful BIF of this incredible raptor! You are very talented! Keep up your great work!