Hawk Flyby

[Michael Pancier]

Was at Dinner Island WMA and spotted this RSH on a post. After some portraits with the big lens, I grabbed my other camera with the 400 5.6L on it to wait for him to take off and hopefully get a flight shot sequence. This image was taken hh from my car window.

This was my favorite in the sequence because there were no trees or other stuff in the image, but I had too much lens and clipped the wings. This was the crop I managed to work with, but would appreciate other ideas such as should I crop some more of the wing on the top? I was practically at eye level with this guy (not something that happens everyday)...

1d Mark II
400 5.6L
1/2500
f/5.6
ISO 400
Manual Exposure

Used viveza 2 to lighten shadow areas and bring out eye detail.
and noiseware to remove some noise

[Deborah Hanson]

Actually, I really like the composition the way it is (clipped wings and all).
Sharp, detail, wing span, extended talons, expression and the way the bird/head is angled - all good.

Always a thrill to get an image of a bird (especially one like this) that is an all natural shot.
Congrats
Deb

[Bill Dix]

Beautiful detail, colors, and fanned tail. Great eye contact. I might be inclined to take just a bit off the top wing tip if it were mine.

[Jay Tan]

Same for me. I would crop off more of the top wing to make top and bottom symmetrical. Otherwise the image is great!

[Elsa Weber]

I wouldn't change the crop. Its an interesting composition. Don't you just hate it when the birds come too close. Its hard enough to get this quality image of a hawk that most will forgive the small amount of wing clipping you have.