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Thread: Sparrowhawk

  1. #1
    BPN Member William Dickson's Avatar
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    Default Sparrowhawk

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    Canon 1DX Mk2
    f/4 400mm DO Mk2
    f/4
    1/800
    ISO 2500

    Being in isolation, I was photographing Gulls yesterday, from the balcony....Then...One of those moments, we all dream about, happened, in front of my eyes..This Sparrowhawk took out a Starling and landed on the ground below me...I quickly grabbed the camera and headed out. The time I got out, the Sparrowhawk had moved to a corner of the building into a small ditch, so good light and a decent BG was limited. Fortunately, for me, the bird did not mind my presence and I photographed the action for approx 30 mins. I got the kill, which took 10 mins, the pluck and the eat. The bird then moved on with prey and landed under another bush about 20 yards away. I left it to get on with eating dinner.

    Will

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    Wow, now that is cool... Nice and sharp on that face and eye. The painterly BG adds interest and along with FG grasses adds to a superb overall composition IMHO. The use of the narrow DOF puts this over the top for me. TFS

    ps could use a little NR on BG. Or, that may be compression artifacts...

  3. #3
    BPN Member William Dickson's Avatar
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    Thanks David...Yes, I liked this one as well because of the DOF, especially the drop off on the birds left wing.

    Will

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    Always a treat when this happens. Nice and sharp where it matters on that yellow eye. Ahh dinner always getting in the way of nature photography.

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    BPN Member dankearl's Avatar
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    This is nice.. look forward to more.
    Dan Kearl

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    Super Moderator arash_hazeghi's Avatar
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    now that'a close encounter, too big in the frame but enjoy the close up details., some noise and artifacts in the BG

    TFS
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    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
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    William:

    Striking image, sharp were it really matters. The BG does need some attention to smooth it out a bit. A slightly looser crop as Arash mentioned might work well.

    Fortune favors the prepared

    Cheers

    Randy
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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    Wow that's pretty close, it must have been a most memorable experience, well done Will I enjoyed viewing.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    A great encounter Will, lucky it stayed and it wasn't spooked. The one that predates our garden here is really shy, go to the window and it's off, so to have something like you did is very unusual. Agree with Arash's points, but also you still have a habit of keeping SS low, if this guy went, at 1/800 you would have had a blur. If you had time to grab you camera you could easily change settings or even dial in C1,2 or three for no thinking.

    Well done.

    TFS
    Steve
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    BPN Member William Dickson's Avatar
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    Thanks guys, much appreciated....I had to crop tight because the BG was sooo distracting. I have plenty others different POV etc...Most of them will be as a 'nature' look, rather than a 'nice' photograph.

    Will

  11. #11
    BPN Member William Dickson's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Kaluski View Post
    A great encounter Will, lucky it stayed and it wasn't spooked. The one that predates our garden here is really shy, go to the window and it's off, so to have something like you did is very unusual. Agree with Arash's points, but also you still have a habit of keeping SS low, if this guy went, at 1/800 you would have had a blur. If you had time to grab you camera you could easily change settings or even dial in C1,2 or three for no thinking.

    Well done.

    TFS


    Steve
    Thanks Steve....I took different images at different exposures...I even took some on auto ISO, that gave me ISO 6400, f/8, 1/800...a bit oot my comfort zone, but still to have a good look at the ones I kept...

    Will

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Keeping your distance I would have thought f/5.6 would have been enough and so SS would have increased. Auto ISO, ETTR, Manual you are all set. ISO6400 won’t melt or break your camera Will, it’s rugged!!!
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    Will, This is a spectacular capture and there will be scores who rightly tell you that! But along with the visual, what your offering also provides is the cantus firmus, the underlying theme, of what we encounter every time we go out in the field. It's this -- everything of beauty we see out there time and again is a "gift." Sure, we can do certain things, make certain choices, that up the ante to improve our chances, but all in all, it's up to God, or whatever you call that ultimate mystery. It comes from somewhere beyond our control of what we shall be shown on any particular day. And what we see and discover is pure gift, pure joy. You grabbed more than your camera that day, you grabbed your element of surprise. That's a pretty good medicine to be taking right now. I'll be looking for a dose myself this afternoon. -Dave Harwood

  14. #14
    BPN Member William Dickson's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dave Harwood View Post
    Will, This is a spectacular capture and there will be scores who rightly tell you that! But along with the visual, what your offering also provides is the cantus firmus, the underlying theme, of what we encounter every time we go out in the field. It's this -- everything of beauty we see out there time and again is a "gift." Sure, we can do certain things, make certain choices, that up the ante to improve our chances, but all in all, it's up to God, or whatever you call that ultimate mystery. It comes from somewhere beyond our control of what we shall be shown on any particular day. And what we see and discover is pure gift, pure joy. You grabbed more than your camera that day, you grabbed your element of surprise. That's a pretty good medicine to be taking right now. I'll be looking for a dose myself this afternoon. -Dave Harwood
    Thanks for that David, very much appreciated...

    Will

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