The road between Echuca and Mitiamo (Terrick Terrick N.P.) in Northern Victoria is the place to be if you you were after pictures of the smaller raptors at this time of year. The paddocks of lush green grass or bright yellow canola make for awesome backgrounds and all the fence posts are old and gnarled by age. I was having a ball and it took nearly an hour and a half to drive the 50 kilometres between the two locations because I had to keep stopping all the time. Luckily my gorgeous and patient partner Laura was not too bothered, even helping me to spot them and tell me when a car was going to come past and scare them off while I had my eye firmly planted to the eye piece on my camera.
All comments, reposts etc appreciated, Paul Randall (wingsonwire.com)
Canon 5D 600mm f4 L (non IS) iso 200 1/1250th f5.6 CW metering -1/3 handheld out Lauras car window
Photoshop- slight sharpen of back and face, cloned out string of barb wire, blur tool used on BG as NR
Nice capture--great BG, pose, detail. I agree with Daniel that you could crop a little from the right to improve the composition a bit. I like the large perch/post because it shows what you describe as a smaller raptor in proper scale. Well done.
Last edited by Gary Hamilton; 10-03-2010 at 11:23 AM.
Looks good to me Paul, lovely smooth BG and the post is wicked cool. I would also crop from the right as this way I feel the presentation is too centered. Well done mate.
Thanks for the comments all:) Agree about the placement to the right being preferable. Sub adult bird about to lose its browner feathers and gain the slaty black/grey dorsal feathers associated with this species.;)
Couldn't help but wonder about the Latin name of this one - thought it might have been an Aussie joke - so was relieved to find in Wikipedia that "It gets its scientific name from its narrow long-flighted wings".
Roadside Raptor
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