Harris's Hawk Juvenile beside Fish Pond

[Gus Hallgren]

Hi, This young Hawk was photographed beside a fish pond in our housing development in Green Valley, AZ. Note that it is standing on one foot. Falconers have determined that standing on 2 feet is considered "Sharp Set", and standing on one foot is considered "At Rest" or "Well Fed." Hawk stayed in that spot for longest time with me sitting in my car at the curb about 30' with the door open and 1/2 dozen people gathered around, There were 4 Hawks in the park, one in a tree, one on the railing obove the fish pond and one bathing in a small waterfall pond, all 3 in the shade with the other one beside the pond in full sun with a few shadows from the reeds. all were juveniles. Settings were: Olympus E-510 IS, with 70 - 300 ED Zuiko Lens 1:4-5.6 140mm - 600mm Equiv. Hand Held sitting on seat, 1/25/2008, 1:26PM. Aperture Priority, F6.3 1/125s, ISO 200, Auto WB, 0.00EV . . . Gus

[George DeCamp]

Gus,

How lucky were you to have caught that bird and made this image! Very cool indeed!

Couple things I see here. Looks like you have some hot spots on the bird...the bottom white feathers, they can be fixed in photoshop. Composition is good but may need a little clockwise rotation.

Pretty darn good for hand held too! You are getting some nice images Gus!

[Richard Kowalski]

Gus,
Nice strong image. For my personal taste, I'd like to see the corners on the right side burned down just a touch, especially the lower corner. IMO it looks a little 'unbalanced'. With such a dark left side and dark body of the bird, the brightness of the corner draws my eye out of the frame.

Richard

[Gus Hallgren]

Hi George & Richard, Have a look at edited photo and see if it looks any better. Liked your suggestion to level, George. Gus

[Richard Kowalski]

The rotation looks good, but I think the burning is a bit heavy. I was thinking just in the corner, more of a slight vignetting than anything else. Sorry if I wasn't clear.

[Gus Hallgren]

Hi Richard, I should say neighbour, as we live close to each other. Thanks for your comments. I didn't do any burning, but brought the colour up to match the rest of the railroad tie. Take care . . . Gus

[Nonda Surratt]

What a wonderful bird and image!!! Everything else has been covered

[George DeCamp]

Hi George & Richard, Have a look at edited photo and see if it looks any better. Liked your suggestion to level, George. Gus

Now you're on the money Gus!!! :D

ps: If you think of it next time just post the redone image under the old one so other folks can learn as well.....that includes me ;), I pick up good tips here from the gurus myself!

[Gus Hallgren]

Hi George, Thanks for the tip, I'll give it a try. Just posted Owl with trees :) and lost thumbnail when site closed down for a short while. . . . Will try to post original HawkGus

[Gus Hallgren]

Hi George, please correct me if I'm wrong. I think I should have left the original where it was and then post the edited version above with message? Sort of a thick skulled Swede :D . . Gus

[George DeCamp]

Hi George, please correct me if I'm wrong. I think I should have left the original where it was and then post the edited version above with message? Sort of a thick skulled Swede :D . . Gus

It still works this way too....better the other way though.:D
Glad you posted it in any event!!