Juvenile Northern Goshawk in Flight

[Desmond Chan]

D300 200-400 +1.4TC @320mm, hand-held. Manual exposure mode, no flash. ISO 1600 f5.6 1/800sec.

I went back to the pond for the forth time today to try my luck with the goshawks (one juvy and one adult there) again. Lucky for me this time, after waiting for a couple of hours, the juvy goshawk flew towards a tree near and beside me after its failed attempt on the ducks on the other side of the pond. Here is one of the shots for your critique. I do have shots with wings up, wings down, and even wings flat on both sides. I chose this one for your comment because I find the wing positions...unconventional :) Let me know what you think.

It was cloudy and the background is the frozen pond. Cropped. I have a bit more room on top because the hawk was flying low and I as a result was shooting from a high perspective, relatively speaking.

Thanks for looking !

[Dave Leroy]

I like it as presented Desmond, although i am still learning relative merits of wing positions. Nice blurred wing tips give feeling of motion. good job at 1600ISO also. Pretty stocky, powerfull looking bird. Looking forward to next one. Dave

[denise ippolito]

Desmond, nice shot and HA . I like the composition.

[Lance Peters]

Hi Desmond - exposure looks spot on - I like the HA and eye contact. Nice use of High ISO to get shutter speed you were after.
well done :)

[Katie Rupp]

Great capture, Desmond, sharp, good eye contact and lots of detail. I like the wing position because it gives a sense of determined speed toward it's prey.

[Harold Davis]

i love the eyes and the wing blur. way to go! nice capture.

[Alfred Forns]

Desmond as you say wings are not in the conventional position but the head and eye contact are so strong I find the image very appealing and wouldn't change a thing !!!

[Arthur Morris]

Yes, the wing position is different yet powerful. There is a blue cast to the image that is most evident in the light feathers on the bird.

[Gus Cobos]

Hi Desmond,
I like the image as presented...a powerful intense look...well done...:cool:

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Nice shot Desmond. Nice and sharp and freezes the great sense of motion from in flight. Tried to get rid of the colour cast. Not sure if it is any better?? Seemed to make it high key.

[Desmond Chan]

Tried to get rid of the colour cast. Not sure if it is any better?? Seemed to make it high key.

Definitely a different look, Jackie, but you have also removed the background though.


Thanks for the comments everyone !