D800, 300/2.8, ISO 640, f4, 1/250, Flash at full power.
This was a new species for me and became the 550th North American species photographed. I used a Fenix pd32 flashlight tucked into the lenscoat cover on my lens hood. The nighthawks were hunting at an intersection catching moths around the traffic lights. When one would come close, I would raise my lens putting the flashlight beam on the bird and allowing me to auto focus as I tracked the bird. The red eye was adjusted in PhotoShop. Thanks for taking a look.
lovely image Alan
we get the nightjar in India but i am not sure i have ever imagined clicking it in the night, many images are of it sitting on the ground
this one is special for the technique and more special due to it clicked in the night, IQ looks fantastic
great image and congrats on the 550
Hi Alan,
Great detail on this image. Sometimes it takes special technique to "get the shot". Nice improvisation on the light source. Hope you have a great time next month at Lac La Jeune. Stopped by there on a birding trip to the Kamloops area this week.
Lesser Nighthawk
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