D90, 80-400 @400mm, ISO 800, 1/4000s @ f/5.6, -1.0EV, HH
Raccoon Ridge on Sunday. We saw 9 raptor species in the few hours we were on the ridge. Most, like this Sharpie, were speeding by on their way to warmer climes. Occasionally a Merlin would suddenly veer right at us to check us out, but they came so fast it was impossible (for me and my slow-focusing lens, at least) to capture them. This is a large crop and fraught with technical problems, but I thought I would share it because of the bullet-like position of the bird.
Hi Bill - This is commonly referred to as the pancake pose - like photographing a pancake from the side, not one of the more flattering poses - best with wings fully up or fully down.
Looks a little soft probably due to the large crop.
Like how you have left room for him to fly into up front :)
Thanks Lance. I'm glad to learn there's a name for it. I agree it's not the most flattering; but it reminded me of Superman without his cape. Here's another Sharpie from about 10 minutes earlier, not quite a pancake but still a large crop. I found this day to be very frustrating - lots of birds passing in front of my lens but almost impossible to come home with a decent image.
Couldn't have said it any better !!! ... photographing a pancake from the side :) Next one is nice but large crops are not the most desirable images !!!! ... must have been fun to watch !!!
Faster than a speeding Sharpie
