American Kestrel

[David Salem]

This was taken at the start of the winter last year. This is right before lady kestrel showed up to this spot. This male was very approachable but only stayed in this spot for a few days.
I managed to get some nice IF and portrait frames during his short stay. Here he is coming back to the perch in our warm evening light after a successful hunt.

1DMkIV---700mm---f6.3---ss1/3200---ISO640---HH from truck@ 6:15pm---35% crop

Thanks as always for looking and for your input. I appreciate it.

David

[Grace Scalzo]

This one checks all the boxes, David. Your usual top notch images.

[Ron E Racine]

Wow David that is one beautiful action shot. My only comment would be that I like the warmth, but I think it could be reduced just a touch using a minor WB adjustment.

Ron

[Robert Kimbrell]

Nice action, He just glows in that light. Super job on the background, really gives depth to the subject.

[Loi Nguyen]

Lovely image, David. Great dynamic landing pose in good light. Your exposure is perfect. Loi


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[David Salem]

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Ron, thanks. I could cool the white balance down a bit on this frame and Im sure it will look good but I personally like the glow that this last hour of sun creates.
The first hour and the last hour of the day is where my best shots come from, but the last hour is the special one, it's the golden hour. Thanks again.

[Binu John]

Stunning action shot of this beautiful tiny raptor, David! Beautiful light and perch and love that prey in his beak! Well done!

[christopher galeski]

Magic image Dave,nice BG,love the pose and perch,good light and the insect in the beak is a bonus.well done.

[Frank Schauf]

Great light and flight pose.

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi David great shot in very nice golden light.
Overall a tad light and and thin in HL and 1/4 tones .
I think the image could be improved by following these steps.
Duplicate BG layer and set blend mode to "Luminosity"
Apply image - Green channel to the whole image. Select the Red channel and use the selection as mask on the duplicated BG. You will have more density in the HL and 1/4 , set opacity to taste.

TFS Andreas

BTW - image has no embedded color profile .

[gail bisson]

Another wonderful BIF image. The prey is icing on the cake.
I like the warmth and appreciate that you do as well but I would lower the yellow a tiny little bit (personal taste)
Gail

[David Salem]

Thanks again everyone.

Here is a repost with some of the yellows removed and Andres suggestions and added. I do like it. Thanks,

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi David looks better to me .
But still you have no color profile embedded in your file , when i open this up in PS it looks horrible from color POV.
In other words we all see the colors differently depending on our device , not good in my opinion for judging the image from the color POV.
Thanks Andreas

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Gorgeous, warm light and BG. Killer pose and love the insect. Terrific photography as always Dave.

[David Salem]

Thanks everyone for the comments. I appreciate it.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi David, sweet sweet light, and very well captured, as I find perching shots far more difficult than take off shots. I do like the near wing, and his meal a bonus.

[Diane Miller]

What an awesome image!!

If I just open in straight in my working space, ProPhoto, the colors are badly misrepresented. But I have the warning set to warn me of missing profiles or mismatches, and if I assign Adobe RGB, it's a little overdone. If I assign sRGB it looks the way I assume it was meant to look, which is wonderful.

I do prefer the second version, although I appreciate the warm light. It's a fine line and a strong preference where to correct it.

[Richard Flack]

Wow, beautiful light and incredible image David!

[Gabriela Plesea]

Hello David!

Each time I view one of your images I tell myself " David only shoots in beautiful light". Love the golden glow as well as this special pose captured , great colours and those spread wings with lots of detail - what beautiful patterns! Stunning capture,just like all your previous posts

Kind regards,