Red-tailed Hawk juvi

[Bill Dix]

When I saw this youngster perched nearby, nicely catching the late afternoon sun, I slowly walked to within range and clicked off a single shot. Since he didn't look agitated, I took just a second to glance down to check the histogram (which turned out to be fine). As I looked back up I was just in time to click a second shot of his feet leaving the top of the frame. I would have loved to catch him in flight, but it was not to be. So that's the dilemma: check the histogram and miss the second shot; or click off a bunch of shots to find out that the exposure was blown. Perhaps taking shots with different exposures, without taking the eye from the camera, would be a third option?? (Or take some practice shots from further away for exposure check before getting within range??) Plenty to learn from.

D90 | 80-400 VR @ 370mm | ISO 500 | 1/2000s @ f/7.1 | -0.7 EV | HH | cloned out some BG branches

[Roy Priest]

Bill, nice shot of an Adult RT, notice the dark eyes and most of all the red tail.:) I too have that problem and now I try to estimate what I need to expose correctly and just fire away. It's amazing what you can do in post processing. As you said it's all a matter of experience and trial and error. I am getting better at it all the time. Have you tried bracketing your shots?

[Bill Dix]

Bill, nice shot of an Adult RT, notice the dark eyes and most of all the red tail.:) I too have that problem and now I try to estimate what I need to expose correctly and just fire away. It's amazing what you can do in post processing. As you said it's all a matter of experience and trial and error. I am getting better at it all the time. Have you tried bracketing your shots?

Roy, thanks for correcting the ID. The field marks are quite clear (I have shots of a juvi with very yellow eyes). I saw the fluffy breast feathers and jumped to the wrong conclusion. I have rarely used the auto-bracketing feature, but have occasionally done manual bracketing. In this case, since I had pretty well estimated the exposure in advance I should have kept my eye on the bird.

[Julie Kenward]

Good question, Bill. If I'm far off I will check the whites on a prelim shot and then walk towards the subject clicking away as I go. Personally, if you have been doing this for awhile and you're familiar with your camera and general exposure rules I say shoot away and check it later...if you're brave enough to do that! I would probably click off 2-3 and then check the histogram just to be sure.

As for the image you have here...I think the bird is beautifully exposed but I'd consider bringing up the depth of the BG as it really feels too dark against such a light bird. And if you're at all good at cloning, I'd think about taking that branches out behind his body. I love the way you framed the bird with the foliage in the BG but the large branches are a bit distracting to me.

You might also try to bring the shadow under his beak up just a bit more so the lighting doesn't feel quite so harsh.

You sure got some super detail in this one! I think you made the right choice.

[Paul Guris]

Great shot. Another field mark showing that it is an adult is the lack of tail bands. A nice clean undertail, often appearing pinkish, is the mark of an adult.

When looking at histograms, there are times that I've taken a long shot, checked my histogram, and then moved in for a better shot. If I'm not too far, I should still see how my whites are exposed. When getting closer, there should simply be more white showing on the histogram. Well, that's the theory anyway.

[Dave Leroy]

Nice shot Bill. I especially like the exposure.

Good ideas by Jules, particularly about the dark bg and that one branch if possible.

I try to do a couple things. I shot the bg and then make adjustments for the bird. I also take some shots from far away, check histogram/blinkies and then as I move closer i may take a few more and check as I go.

The thing I often do is after that series is over, I don't change settings back to a more neutral set and have been caught a few times. Especially if I have moved the focus point off centre and a nice bird flies by.