Northern Flicker Lift Off

[Raymond Barlow]

1/1250s f/6.3 at 420.0mm iso250
D300, 300 f4 + 1.4tc, hand held from f150,
(resting on the window)
Natural light, 75% of full frame.

thanks for looking.

[Stephen Stephen]

Ray great pose here with sharp details and I love the upswept wings with the slightly blurred tips.

[Randy Stout]

Ray:

Love the display of spots on the flanks, full wing up, blast off pose. Nice sense of motion with the level of blur on wings. nice BG.

I might like to see a version with a bit more room below, and could sacrifice a bit to the right. I think because we expect birds to drop down a bit as they fly off, the crop I mentioned might work well. Just an option.

Cheers

Randy

[Bill Dix]

Great wing-up position and forward pose. Good perch, detail and bg. In an ideal world I guess there would be less shadow on the breast, but tough to get everything. Nice shot.

[Daniel Cadieux]

This is really cool, Raymond...fantastic timing. I love the amount of yellow showing on this "Yellow-shafted" individual. I also love the curling swooping line of the near wing.

[arash_hazeghi]

great shot Ray

[Joe Senzatimore]

One fine capture. Beautiful exposure and great timing. I might take some off the right side.

[Peter Hawrylyshyn]

Ray
Great timing and excellent results. Lovely colors and wing position
If you had to do it again - - suspect you might use fill flash to help with the shadows

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Second the use of fill but know you don't use flash Ray. Like Randy's idea of more room on the bottom as that is where he is headed.

[Jay Tan]

Very nice takeoff pose. Love the blurred wings which adds to the feel of motion and the sharpness of the head.

[Dave Barnes]

Moment very well captured. I like the take off pose and blured wings.
I might consider cleaning up the bill?
Love the colours and feather patterns of this bird.

[Raymond Barlow]

thanks everyone!! I apprecaite the nice comments, and advice.

Ray
Great timing and excellent results. Lovely colors and wing position
If you had to do it again - - suspect you might use fill flash to help with the shadows

Thanks Peter, this is just an opinion, we all do things a little differently,
but I never use fill flash outside.

[Raymond Barlow]

Moment very well captured. I like the take off pose and blured wings.
I might consider cleaning up the bill?
Love the colours and feather patterns of this bird.

Thanks David.. these birds eat up to 5,000 ants a day, so a dirty bill is only natural...
tells the true story of the birds life, imo.

As for the crop, I agree., I was never comfortable with this one,... I am just stuck in this widescreen ratio.. I should have done it differently, and moved the bird right at least.

thanks again.

[Raymond Barlow]

Ray:

Love the display of spots on the flanks, full wing up, blast off pose. Nice sense of motion with the level of blur on wings. nice BG.

I might like to see a version with a bit more room below, and could sacrifice a bit to the right. I think because we expect birds to drop down a bit as they fly off, the crop I mentioned might work well. Just an option.

Cheers

Randy

I agree Randy, I messed this one up through habit!