Juvenile Falcons and their prey

[arash_hazeghi]

This frame shows two juvenile falcons right after breakfast (starling) was delivered by dad. You can see the starling's head by the upper bird's talons.



1DX MK II. 600 II + 1.4X III. ISO 3200. f/5.6 at 1/3200sec. processed with DPP 4.4

can anyone tell how I could get both birds sharp wide open ? :D

[Jim Keener]

That's very interesting, as the rock under the left bird is OOF, but the bird isn't. Focus stacking?

Amazing photograph however you accomplished it. As soon as I saw falcons were the subject, I thought it might be yours.

[Edit ]
Did it involve pre-focusing on the upper bird, setting that in the lens, focusing on the lower bird, shooting, and quickly resetting focus on the upper bird?

[Randy Stout]

Arash:

I would think that you blended two images as well, but will be interested to hear the details.

Rather a coincidence, as I was in a 12 story building in Ann Arbor, Michigan today, and two Juvi Peregrines flew back in forth in front of me several times. I was not there looking for them, just happenstance. I saw something go by the window out of my peripheral vision, figured it was a pigeon, but it went by again, and the color made me think it could be a peregrine, so I looked out the window, and sure enough , they were practicing flying right in front of me.

Cheers

Randy

[Loi Nguyen]

Hi Arash, interesting photograph in an impossible situation to get both birds sharp whether you shot open or not. at this focal length, you don't have much DOF. So I'd venture that this is a blend of two images and the boundary is the interface between rock and sky. TFS. Loi

[Marina Scarr]

Great to see the story unfold in this frame. I would guess you blended 2 images as well! It seems the fledgling in the FG is a little ticked off about not getting to eat enough.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Arash, I too would think it's a composite, however if not then it would be good to know.

If however it is a composite, then I would also have the 'rock' under the birds feet in the BRG sharp too. The FG bird & rock is sharp, the BKG bird is sharp, but the OOF part does jar IMHO.

[Jonathan Ashton]

I would go for composite, the area of OOF rock between the feet of the upper and the head of the lower doesn't make sense to me. Having said that the details in the birds are first class.

[Glenn Conlan]

Having shot these birds a lot it may be the angle of shooting down on them keeping the focal plane similar but more than likely a composite. Great image thanks for making us think!

[David Salem]

Lots of great frames you got on your visit. Nice shot with the starling visible and the other eyeas screaming in the FG. I will go with a composite too??

[Ritesh Nangare]

Beautiful images and great to see two bird in frame..... Love the details

TFS.

[arash_hazeghi]

Thanks everyone, you are all right. it is a composite and the giveaway was the OOF area mentioned. When I took the frames I never thought about a third shot with the edge of cliff on the focus :D