Sparring Sharp-Tailed Grouse

[Jon Groves]

These two male sharp-tails were having quite a battle on the lek. Photographed an hour after sunrise from a prone position in a blind. Southern Alberta, Canada. I just managed to keep the upper bird in the frame and added some canvas, thankfully I didn't clip a wing.

7D2 | 70-200 @ 200 | 1/4000 | F4 | ISO400

[keith mitchell]

Jon you have done so well to get eye contact and sharpness on both the birds,lovely piece of action photography very well done.

[shane shacaluga]

Great action image! Both birds appear sharp and I like how the brown background makes the lower birds head really pop

Very nicely done

[Jonathan Ashton]

Jon that is really quite a feat well done. I like the exposure, and the timing is brilliant. I am mightily impressed well done.
My only suggestion would be that if you should ever be so fortunate as to have a repeat scenario I would take a step back, this would reduce magnification and increase your DOF.

[arash_hazeghi]

Excellent interaction, great to get both sharp in the frame. I like everything including the nice light

the image can benefit from boosting the contrast a bit

TFS

[William Dickson]

Fantastic looking action image. Love the detail, light, and facial expressions

Will

[Lorant Voros]

Powerful interaction indeed, very well captured, good timing, shooting angle, eye contact. Well done.

[Marina Scarr]

Killer frame. What amazing behavior you captured. One of the reason it works so well is b/c you managed catch light in both of the eyes.