Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: Northern Harrier

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Albuquerque, NM
    Posts
    11,879
    Threads
    917
    Thank You Posts

    Default Northern Harrier

    I photographed this Northern Harrier female in light snow in February. I think this image has a lot going for it with the exception of eye contact. I'm interested in feedback about how much the lack of eye contact hurts this image. The bird is hunting, and you can see the eye, but it's obviously not ideal. Thanks for the input.



    Canon 1D Mark III, 700mm, f/8, 1/1250, ISO 1250, manual exposure, no flash, hand held
    Last edited by Doug Brown; 06-15-2008 at 01:19 AM.

  2. #2
    Raul Quinones
    Guest

    Default

    I don't have the experience of some regulars one in this forum, but here are my two cents: you should sent the image to the trash bin... right after you send me the raw files :)

    I realize how important is the eye contact, but the wing display is priceless.

  3. #3
    BPN Member Steve Maxson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Bemidji, Minnesota
    Posts
    5,801
    Threads
    818
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Doug. This is a very nice image in all respects. IMHO, the lack of eye contact does not hurt this image at all. Maybe it's the biologist in me, but I like images that show that birds have other things going on in their lives besides looking at cameras. :) Eye contact is nice, but it's not the only thing.

  4. #4
    Roman Kurywczak
    Guest

    Default

    Hi Doug,
    This was a tough one because wing spread and pose is awesome.....I do see the eye...but maybe what is missing for me is that we don't see ground to see where he is looking. Don't know if that makes sense but i'll check back and see what others chime in.

  5. #5
    Judy Lynn Malloch
    Guest

    Default

    While in Bosque I spent hours trying to photograph this beautiful bird . Personally I think this is outstanding. Love the flight pose and being that he is hunting you could not have acheived better eye contact than this. The BG is a killer and the colors contrast beautifully with the Harrier. I love it as posted and wish it were MINE !

  6. #6
    BPN Viewer Steve Canuel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    5,444
    Threads
    444
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Doug,
    I agree with Steve M on this one. Eye contact is great but I too like to see them looking at something else. I Like Roman's point as well about seeing what he's looking at. Maybe you clone a mouse into the photo inplace of your sig:) Nice soft light and good details by the way.
    Steve

  7. #7
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Costa Rica
    Posts
    4,547
    Threads
    253
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Doug, this is a very good image, the eye contact is fine to me. He is more interested in what he is doing. If I where you, I would increse the saturation on the BG a bit more, the details are great. jc

  8. #8
    Lifetime Member Loukie Viljoen's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Johannesburg, South Africa
    Posts
    449
    Threads
    142
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Doug, the bird was not hunting your camera, it is looking for food! I am sure it has eye contact with its prey. Good shot.

  9. #9
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,506
    Threads
    1,433
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    With apologies to the OK with the bird looking away group, the image is spectacular but is weakened by the head position. Yes, it was hunting something to its right; in an ideal world it would have been hunting something to its left, or you would have been positioned a bit more to the right and in front of the bird. That said, perhaps brightening the face a bit would help.
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

    BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.

    Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,

    E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.










  10. #10
    Steve Wheeler
    Guest

    Default

    I supose we're all looking for what makes the most powerful images. The "what if's" and "If only's" drive me crazy here sometimes. I guess that's what make THE most powerful images THE most powerful images. EVERYTHING the way we'd want it.

    I would love to capture an image like this... I'd love to have the eye contact needed to push it absolutely over the top too.

    Steve

  11. #11
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    157
    Threads
    9
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Very nice Image!! The head position doesn't bother me at all!!!!! But the image appears to be a little low in contrast, partcularly the head and eye. That is the only criticsm I have with this image!!

  12. #12
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    1,671
    Threads
    140
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Doug overall I like this one even without the head turn. For people like me who have only be photographing birds a few years I still try and add to my collection of species as well as trying to improve my images overall. I wish that I had something this good on this species.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics