Kestrel Hawk (male)

[Mark Schmitt]

Rescued this from some older archives.
Self critique: The head angle could be better, i.e. better eye contact; more detail in the darks, esp. in the eyes (some PP had been done, any more and there would be some deridation of image.); could see no other way than to crop as a vertical since the bird is looking directly into frame and all of the elemental lines are vertical.

EXIF
Camera: Canon 20D
Lense: Canon EF 500 IS L + Canon 1.4 T/C; effective focal lenght 700mm
Mode: Av priority
ISO: 200
White bal: custom - 5600 K
Exposure 1/400 @ f 8.0; +.33 exp compensation.
Metering: evaluative

Comments and critique welcome.

[Dave Mills]

I agree with your self critique. Looks like it was shot on an overcast day. Warm light would have helped the image. I think you cropped it well.

[Daniel Cadieux]

I guess we have different definitions of "eye contact"...the bird is looking straight at us (to me that is extreme eye contact)!! I do agree with making them lighter though. I kinda wish there was a bit more of the perch to see.

[Don Lacy]

Beautiful bird and i love the stare, maybe a little fill flash to add some life to the eyes.

[David Powell]

Actually, a Kestrel is a falcon, not a hawk.