Red-shouldered Hawk... Tangled up with a snake

[Joseph Przybyla]

I captured this image this morning at Circle B Bar Reserve in Polk County, Florida. Comments and critique welcomed and appreciated. Thank you for viewing.

Nikon D500
Nikon 80-400mm F/4.5-5.6 VRII AF-S ED image captured at 400m
1/2000 F/8 Matrix Metering EV 0 ISO 1000 AWB
Post processed in Lightroom Classic CC and Photoshop CC 2018
Cropped from horizontal to vertical for composition and presentation

[Jonathan Ashton]

Impressive Jo, well done! My only suggestion would be to make it a little wider if possible, I am not a fan of the narrow portrait.

[Isaac Grant]

Super cool action here. And nice pose as well. I think the colors on the bird are a bit thin. I also see a slight blue cast. Crop is fine for me.

[William Dickson]

Well done Joe. Super capture. The crop is ok with me as well. I love the prey wrapped around the leg. Nice flight pose, FG and BG.

Good work

Will

[Noel Heustis]

Great capture Joe, really low to the ground still after catching that Florida Water Snake (formerly known as a Banded Water Snake). It looks like the snake wasn't going to give up easily...but it was going to give up nonetheless. I like the upwing position of the bird. You had to be pretty close to this action. For some reason, those snakes are so much nicer when you pick them up gently, without the Talons :).

[arash_hazeghi]

I love the pose and the action, the bokeh is a bit busy and I see some blue on the darks, love the dangling feet and the fully raised wings. Curious was the RAW tack sharp here?

[Joseph Przybyla]

Curious was the RAW tack sharp here?

Hi Arash, regarding your question... I would say sharp but not tack sharp.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Thanks everyone for viewing and commenting, very much appreciated.