Red Shouldered Hawk

[Mark Schmitt]

I'm new here and not sure if this is the porper method for up-loading images. Any help is appreciated.
This hawk was frequenting the local lake area during the winter. It was not timid and would alow close approaches.

Canon 30D: EF 500 IS L @ 4.0:
Exp: 1/1250 @ f 9.0; apeture priority; pattern mode metering; -.66 Ev comp.
Fill flash: Canon Ex 580 gun; - 1.33 comp
Monopod
Winter; early morning.

[Doug West]

Welcome Mark!

You started off with a real nice properly exposed, sharp image here.
I also like the fact that the blue sky doesn't cut through the hawk's
head.

I love the head turn, but I especially love the catchlight in the eye.

Doug

[Fabs Forns]

Red carpet welcome to BPN, Mark, good to have you over :)

Beautiful image of the RSH, with great colors, sharp and well exposed, as mentioned by Doug. The angle is steep, but that's where he is perching :)

I'd try and place him a bit off center for a stronger composition, with more space in front of him.

Will be looking forward to more!

[James Salywoda]

Welcome to BPN and a very nice post I agree with Fabs on taking the subject a little off center. I look forward to seeing more in the future.

[Mark Schmitt]

Welcome Mark!

You started off with a real nice properly exposed, sharp image here.
I also like the fact that the blue sky doesn't cut through the hawk's
head.

I love the head turn, but I especially love the catchlight in the eye.

Doug

Thanks for the welcome and comments. This will be useful in learning. There isn't any sky in this image. The BG is actually a mountain that was compressed with the 500mm lense. It was by design as I could see the variances in the hues of the mountain and used the lense to create the BG. Once again much thanks. ;)