Red Tail Hawk (C)

[Malcolm Benn]

Thought this one might be good enough to post here rather than in the Eager to Learn section .. this is my first posting here so I guess I'll find out.

This is a captive bird, the shot was taken last Saturday at a Ray Barlow Workshop near Simcoe Ontario.

Canon 50D
Canon 300mm f2.8
Aperture-priority
¹/3,200 sec
f/4
ISO 320
Exposure Compensation -1

[Doug Brown]

What an awesome pose! Sharpness is superb, eye contact is great, nice perch, and a perfect BG. An image definitely worthy of your first post on the big board. I'd probably move the bird to the right of the frame.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Malcolm, I like the take off posture, lovely forward extension of the wings, and great eye contact. Comp wise, I would crop some off the RHS, and add to the left. That would put the perch central, but I dont believe it would affect the overall comp. There is a strong magenta cast in this image. Have you installed the latest firmware. It will sort it out. Looks like Doug and myself were typing at the same time.

[Brian Barcelos]

This is a wonderful first post. Beautiful detail throughout and sharpness spot on. Love the BG and I don't mind the crop because he is flying into the right of the frame. Only thing I'd change is toning down the catch light, much too bright (I believe you added it yourself?). Congrats on a wonderful image.

[John Chardine]

Nice pose and action Malcolm! The BG and perch are beautiful. The image seems a bit dark on my monitor. I agree with Stuart- less room to the right and more to the left, in the direction of where the bird is moving, would work better. The eye, particularly the catchlight looks "funky". Did you do any work to it?

[Ilija Dukovski]

Other tha the issues mentioned below, I'd say this is a "killer" pose
and a killer look on the bird. Please keep them coming here in this forum. :)

[Dan Herman]

Great Shot. I vote image of the week for sure!!

[David Fletcher]

Really good opening shot Malcolm. Some good suggestions made. Very well done.

[Morkel Erasmus]

splendid exposure, pose and sharpness Malcolm! some good pointers given composition-wise...

[Arsdel Fluesmeier]

Great pose and eye contact. Bird is vry sharp also.

[paul leverington]

Aw jeez--Frickin awesome! Do what Doug said. I think some bottom canvas and a crop off the right would do the trick. You just can't beat the implied diagonals running through this one-- Very dynamic, very gracefully flowing. Com'on Malcolm--who you kidding? You knew this was great coming in to the forum and you know it! Congratulations my man--SWEET REDTAIL SHOT!! And very unique too.
Tweak the details and go with it!
WOW!

Oh--and nice to see a background with interest.

Paul

[arash_hazeghi]

Very beautiful photo, superb action, wing position, eye contact, BG and detail. Congrats

[Mike Veltri]

Great shot Malcolm

[Malcolm Benn]

Wow, thanks for all the comments, suggestions and compliments I really appreciate it. For those of you who asked about the catch light, yes I did enhance it a bit .. apparently a bit too much and re the Firmware update I don't think I have so I guess I should have a look at that. Here's a recrop and a redo on the catch light back to more the original look.

[Raymond Barlow]

Ecellent stuff buddy, congrats on a superb jaw dropper.

This might sound dumb, but I would have cloned out the one foot.

the repost is even better.

[Malcolm Benn]

Ecellent stuff buddy, congrats on a superb jaw dropper.

This might sound dumb, but I would have cloned out the one foot.

the repost is even better.

Thanks Ray, it was a great shoot, always fun ... you know I thought the single foot looked a bit odd but I just couldn't bring myself to amputate it :)

[Harshad Barve]

lovely opening shot , good suggations and better repost
TFS

[Kiran Poonacha]

Great repost, all said above congrats...

[Malcolm Benn]

lovely opening shot , good suggations and better repost
TFS

Thanks Harshad.

[Malcolm Benn]

Great repost, all said above congrats...

Thank you Kiran.