Red-tailed Hawk Hunting

[Raymond Barlow]

Hamilton Ontario, Canada
D300 / 200-400 VR
1/320s f/7.1 at 550.0mm iso250
1.4 tc used

hand held, natural light, 80% of ff

Just wondering, for a fine art print, or publication in a magazine, would images using the tc with this lens make the cut? I hope to have this one done as a 24x36" print, and hope the IQ and bokem stands up., any advice would be appreciated.

[Daniel Cadieux]

If sharp enough, I don't see why it couldn't pass? Just like a bad image without a TC wouldn't. You could always print a cropped test area and see if it works. Although I've enjoyed your flight images of this guy this particular photo really emits something special with all the snow falling. Hope the big print works out as I'm sure it would look great :-)

[Jim Fenton]

Ray...

I do print and sell a fair bit of raptor stuff and I find the what attracts buyers on a static shot is head / body position and eye contact.

I like the snow falling, the ruffled head feathers, but I don't find the head position and eye contact to be solid enough based on my experience? To me, the head is a bit too tucked, there is interferences with the beak and shoulder feathers and not enough real definition /contact with the eye.

The background is a bit busy as well and without taking out the nicety of the snow falling, there isn't a whole lot you could do with it to blur it at all...I don't think?

Overall, I've told myself that in order for most of my images of this type to be successful, they must show the soul of the creature....otherwise they are just another image which anyone with a digital camera looks at and says..."I could have taken that"!

Not trying to be overly critical...just stating my observations / thoughts.

[Manos Papadomanolakis]

I really like the pose,mood and the rain!!!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the mood, composition and pose. The snow adds to it.

[Raymond Barlow]

thanks everyone!

Ray...

I do print and sell a fair bit of raptor stuff and I find the what attracts buyers on a static shot is head / body position and eye contact.

I like the snow falling, the ruffled head feathers, but I don't find the head position and eye contact to be solid enough based on my experience? To me, the head is a bit too tucked, there is interferences with the beak and shoulder feathers and not enough real definition /contact with the eye.

The background is a bit busy as well and without taking out the nicety of the snow falling, there isn't a whole lot you could do with it to blur it at all...I don't think?

Overall, I've told myself that in order for most of my images of this type to be successful, they must show the soul of the creature....otherwise they are just another image which anyone with a digital camera looks at and says..."I could have taken that"!

Not trying to be overly critical...just stating my observations / thoughts.

thanks Jim, I agree 100%, and appreciate the education.

[Mark Schmitt]

Whether or not it gets published, the image does make an impact and penetrates to something elemental at the soul level. It speaks of things that are elemental to anyone who has taken solitary account while on a walk in a place such as this. You capture the elemental characteristics admirable and evocatively. BTW did I mentioned I like ;-)