Northern Harrier

[Charles Scheffold]

Was hoping for owls yesterday, but was pleasantly surprised by a few close passes from this Northern Harrier throughout the day. Sky was overcast.

Canon 1D Mark IV
800/5.6L
1/1600s @ f/5.6
ISO 800
Small crop, also removed a piece of distracting foliage in bottom of frame

[Stu Bowie]

Charles, good flying posture with the raised wings, and I like the colour of the sky BG.

[Charles Scheffold]

Thanks, Stuart - the BG is actually tall brush and snow. I guess I should have said that in the original post :)

thanks
Charles

[Daniel Cadieux]

I'd say close opportunities at a Northern Harrier is an excellent consolation prize! Good separation between subject and BG. I find some of the darks a bit too dark (strong on the contrast perhaps)...but all else looks great. Nicely done.

[DanWalters]

Really like the flight pose and the colors in the background. Great detail as well.

[Charles Scheffold]

I'd say close opportunities at a Northern Harrier is an excellent consolation prize! Good separation between subject and BG. I find some of the darks a bit too dark (strong on the contrast perhaps)...but all else looks great. Nicely done.

Thanks for the feedback Daniel - I actually just double-checked the darks on the original RAW file to make sure I didn't do anything during processing. If you look at the tops of the wings, they are much brighter. The bird wasn't lit that well from the underside. I think it would have been less dark in those areas if I had used a flash. Next time :)

thanks
Charles