Juvenile Peregrine Falcon

[arash_hazeghi]

I spent some time photographing peregrines with Dave Salem. Peregrines are the fastest birds on the planet flying at more then 200 mph when they dive. They gain speed really fast. This juvie was coming right at us when I got this frame. I hope you like it

1DX 600II + 1.4XII f/5.6 1/2500sec ISO 1600 handhold.

[Doug Brown]

Love the eye contact and sharpness Arash! Wish I could have been there with you!

[Binu John]

Killer shot, Arash! Tack sharp shot with excellent pose and eye contact! TFS

[Enrique Patino]

simply awesome.

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Stunningly beautiful Arash! Love the in-coming angle and the eye contact! Superb techs, can't wait to see more from your outing.

[Mike Poole]

I've got a pair of these just fledged near to me so I know how tough this must have been - technically spot on and great head angle

[Grace Scalzo]

Arash, An amazing capture. So difficult to execute, and you do it time and time again. May I ask….do you use center point and four surrounds? Which AF case? Do you put your focus point on the head? And is this much of a crop? I am surprised at the dof if not at f 5.6. Really a superb photograph.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

That's an awesome shot with the fanned tail Arash!

[arash_hazeghi]

Arash, An amazing capture. So difficult to execute, and you do it time and time again. May I ask….do you use center point and four surrounds? Which AF case? Do you put your focus point on the head? And is this much of a crop? I am surprised at the dof if not at f 5.6. Really a superb photograph.

Hi Grace, sure.

I don't use any particular case, I edit the settings individually. I use center point plus expansion usually, but I have programmed the AF-stop btm. on my lens to switch to single point when pressed. With the peregrine flying fast in low contrast situation, initial acquisition is critical. I used single point to pick him up first from the BG then quickly expanded the AF area as he got closer. You can't put the focus point on the head of an accelerating peregrine with that precision when working with 840mm FL but if you lock on early the servo will track the closest part which is the head so long as you keep the bird centered in the frame. If your tracking is not perfect the bird drifts off center, focus may grab the tail and you will be done for that pass.

For more detailed explanation of the settings please refer to my guide.

To answer your other question this is slightly more than 50% of the frame.

best

Arash

[arash_hazeghi]

Thanks everyone

[Grace Scalzo]

Both your NR and avian flight guides just purchased and am looking forward to studying them. I hold no illusions tho that I will ever do flight shots like you do, given your extreme skills.
Thank you for your answers!

[gail bisson]

Superb! All been said above,
Gail

[David Salem]

Sweet incoming shot Arash. The pose is great and the detail is perfect and I like that light blue BG. That was a fun shoot and I'm glad we stayed in touch and we timed your trip down here just right.
Look forward to lots more from your productive trip down here.

[Frank Schauf]

Really nice flight shot and great details.

[Morkel Erasmus]

Another stunner. We have a few peregrines in South Africa but mostly see and photograph their cousins, the Lanner Falcons.