Peregrine Falcon

[David Salem]

Iv'e been having a fun time with this nesting female Peregrine this season. I posted a topside flight shot of her about a month ago. I was fortunate enough to catch her as she left the cliff side on a beautiful sunny morning and I got 3 or 4 nice frames with different wing positions, this one is my favorite.
My shooting position was set up with my shadow pointed directly at the bird. Even if I am a little further from the bird, I would rather have the right light angle rather than being closer to the bird. If the light angle is off, you can almost always count on some shadows. I try to set myself up so when the action happens, the chance of getting heavy shadows on the bird is greatly diminished, or the chance of getting something special is greatly increased. Notice there aren't any shadows on this falcon, besides the back feet, which makes a big difference in your images, especially flight images. I was also really stoked that this frame happened to be really sharp.
I hope you like her.

1DX---840mm---f6.3---ss1/3200th---ISO800---Hand held@9:40am---25%crop

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

David

[Loi Nguyen]

Wow! Catching a peregrine falcon in good light and at 840mm. The cliff is such that it's really hard to catch these guys in good light. Tack sharp and there is hardly any shadow. Nice BG too. When you said 25% crop, does it mean 75% of FF?


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[David Salem]

HI Loi,

Thanks for the comment. Glad you like it.

Yes, when I wrote 25% crop it meant that I have cropped(removed)25% of the original file and I am left with 75% of the full frame file that you are viewing.
I know there are different ways to write it, or look at it, but that is the way I learned it years ago.

Thanks again

[Ian McLachlan]

This is just great David ,wings right up and the light perfect and no shimmer at 9.40 am! Enough depth field at 6.3 to get it all sharp.You will be pleased to Know the last evening 8000 miles away I was sitting on a log shooting Kestrels with the setting sun exactly behind, me because of your lesson 1 [I think you called it] some 5 months ago in Socal. Great background too.

[Bill Dix]

This is stunning! I know you've posted other images of her, and all are great. But this can't be beat. Wing position, sharp detail, feet, background all very nice.

[Krishna Prasad kotti]

Amazing shot. Thank you for the sharing and providing us with the information.

I agree getting correct sun angle is very important.

[David Salem]

This is just great David ,wings right up and the light perfect and no shimmer at 9.40 am! Enough depth field at 6.3 to get it all sharp.You will be pleased to Know the last evening 8000 miles away I was sitting on a log shooting Kestrels with the setting sun exactly behind, me because of your lesson 1 [I think you called it] some 5 months ago in Socal. Great background too.

Thanks Ian,
I am so glad that the workshop time you spent with me paid off!! I can see you sitting out there now
Glad you are doing well.

[David Salem]

Thanks Bill and Krishna!

[Michael Thompson]

Nice job getting that light angle perfect! great sharpness, wing position, well done!

[Jonathan Ashton]

David that really is impressive great action and colours.
I suspect you may disagree but I would lower the brightest highlights a little, (there is slight clipping).

[Isaac Grant]

I said it with the other shot and will say it again. That feeling after the bird took off and you nailed the shot is why we all do this. When you make sure and look at the back of the camera and see this on there that is worth all the time, the energy, the expense and the failures as well. This image is just to die for. Perfect light, sharp, wing position and that amazing background. Congrats on a perfect image. I don't think the configuration of the cliffs that we have in New Jersey allow for this type of image. The birds typically just fly straight away from you or fall straight down to pounce on something flying on the river below. This certainly will be inspiration to try some more.

[sasan nejadi]

wowww....amazing flight shot ,image quaity & pose& light is excellent ..... TFS

[John Mack]

Excellent image, love the pose and wing position of the bird.

[Tim Foltz]

Dave, cool take off shot, nice BG, action, and wing position.

-Tim

[David Salem]

David that really is impressive great action and colours.
I suspect you may disagree but I would lower the brightest highlights a little, (there is slight clipping).

Thanks Johnathan. I just looked at the histogram and yes there is just a tiny bit of clipping from the brighter part of the bird. I won't re-post but I will lower it a bit on final if I print it.

Thanks for keeping an eye out.

[David Salem]

Thanks again everyone.

[annmpacheco]

Late to the party, but hooray David, superb skill and such an awesome image! thanks for the inspiration.

[arash_hazeghi]

lovely shot Dave, looks like they are active this year too

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Dave, tack, tack sharp, and well timed for the take off with and the raised wings. The feather detail shows up so well, and the light looks great too. Pretty neat BG - Is it a distant mountain or sky.

[David Salem]

Thanks Ann and Arash.

Thanks Stu,
The BG is actually the Pacific Ocean below. Because of the constant waves and surges, the BG is ever changing making it fun and interesting to see what you get. It can go from high key, in the white foam, to beautiful shades of green to vivid gorgeous blues, all in fhe same sequence.

[Glenn Conlan]

Great shot Dave, even madder at myself knowing that I was two feet away from you and missed this shot because I became impatient and turned away, not the first time either!