Northern Harrier

[Dave Leroy]

Photo taken this morning near Boundary Bay, BC. 50D, 400/5.6 at 5.6, manual mode, 1/1600, ISO 800. I was using flash and BB although the EXIF records no flash used. I am pretty sure it fired. The harrier's feet were about centre of frame and I QM's some distacting grass from LRC.
Dave

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great capture, setting, and I also like the light shining through the tail feathers. The noise is not too bad considering the ISO. Maybe a bit more sharpening if it doesn't bring out noise.

[Alfred Forns]

Beautiful bird and do love the setting !!!

Exposure and PS work looks just fine Lots of feather detail and really like the light coming through the tail !!! High impact image !!! Big Congrats !!

[Dave Leroy]

Thanks Alfred.

Axel I have been using Smart Sharpen at 140 and .3, which I believe I may have picked up from one of your posts. I have noticed on some photos it may not be quite enough. I sometimes give a second pass of Topaz Denoise on the down sized image. I keep an eye on the details and usually not a problem. Tks

Dave

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Great flight shot. Love the almost monochrome feel to it. :) Good repair job with the RHS.

[Kobus Tollig]

Ditto some sharpening but its a super image. I really like the exposure and bg here. Bg and light gives it a lot of mood. Well done

[Desmond Chan]

I have been using Smart Sharpen at 140 and .3,

Smart Sharpening at 140?? Are you talking about in Photoshop or some other sharpening program?

I use Smart Sharpen, too, in Photoshop but not that high and only in LAB.

Anyhow, very good shot, Dave! Like the details and the pose of the harrier !! Any luck with the short-eared owls?

[denise ippolito]

Dave, Great capture and very good PS work on the repair. Pose and HA look good to me-well done!

[Mike Lentz]

Wonderful image, as mentioned, it has high impact!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Thanks Alfred.

Axel I have been using Smart Sharpen at 140 and .3, which I believe I may have picked up from one of your posts. I have noticed on some photos it may not be quite enough. I sometimes give a second pass of Topaz Denoise on the down sized image. I keep an eye on the details and usually not a problem. Tks

Dave

Yes, this is what I use very often. If necessary, I run smart sharpen a second time at 70 and 0.3 but that is rare.

[Dave Leroy]

Thanks Akos and Kobus for the comments. Much appreciated.

Desmond, CS3, filters smart sharpen at 140%, .4 Radius, remove Lens Blur and leave the more accurate unchecked. I am pretty sure i picked this up from one of Axel's comments. This is done on the down sized photo and normally seems all right. It looks like I may need a bit more from time to time.
No owls around. I have seen a few out near the foot of 72nd St but always off in a field north of the dyke. I am waiting though. Dave

[Laura Hughes]

Nice work getting in front of this reluctant poser, the menancing gaze adds strength to the image

[Marina Scarr]

IMHO, this image is one of the best posted to the avian forum so far this year. The mood and lighting immediately struck me, especially the backlighting on the tail. The yellow pops and works well with the background/environment which is stark, yet full of texture. It's different than what we normally see here on the forum. Congratulations!