Northern Harrier

[Dave Leroy]

Taken a week or so ago and unfortunately I did not quite have enough time to get a 1.4TC on. Hawk was sitting on a fence post.
7D,500mm, 1/250, f/4, ISO400, tripod. Cropped for composition. I think I have color correct. My first try with LR3 it seemed to have a magenta cast.

[Joseph Cala]

Dave-

First off....super jealous. All I can seem to see are the females--the males are stunning. Color looks good on my monitor, and I love the background. Looks nice and sharp as well. Nice shot!

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

I'm jealous too!
Lovely raptor, pose, killer BG and sharp eye makes a great image Dave. I also see a slight magenta color on the bird, I also use LR, may be a little warmer on the WB would help??

[Karl Egressy]

If I ever get so close to one of this beauties, I'll be thrilled.
Amazing portrait picture, Dave.
The details, pose and background couldn't be better!

[Melissa Groo]

Fantastic Dave. I've never seen a gray ghost perched. I think you don't suffer for not having the 1.4 on, IQ and sharpness look great.
I see a slight magenta cast too.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

What a shot, Dave. I dont recollect seeing many tight shots of this species before. Incredible details and exposure. Look-back always works out best for tight composition. Sweet BG. I also see the cast you are referring to. It will be easy to fix.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

That is a beautiful image of a very cool bird. Cast mentioned other wise perfect IMO

[gail bisson]

What a beautiful image. I have never seen a portrait of one before. Excellent IQ and pose and HA. I, too, see a slight magenta cast.Lovely!
Gail

[laurie golden]

We are all jealous! We can't even get this close to a female and that is all most of us have photographed. Detail is great and composition is good just the way it is.

[dankearl]

I agree with all of the above. I have never gotten close to one.
They are mythical I think.
Going for the portrait is perfect.

[Ian Cassell]

I have an image of the back of a gray ghost flying far away at Bosque from November -- the closest I've ever come to one of the male harriers. I'm jealous like the rest!

I'm not seeing the magenta, but I'm on a crummy monitor at work. The composition and pose work great for me.

[Doug Brown]

Jealous, jealous, jealous!!!

[Jack Breakfast]

The subtle warmth and beauty of this bird is making my heart crazy! Thank you for sharing this...I'd never before seen the male n.h. in such glorious detail...truly exquisite...

[Dave Leroy]

I wish pp'n was as much fun as being out there. Here is another shot at it.

Thanks everyone.

[RakeshDhareshwar]

Awesome capture , Dave . Like the OP better than the repost .

[Jack Breakfast]

I much prefer the original post...it's softer and sweeter, to my eye.

[arash_hazeghi]

you gotta be kidding me getting so close to the grey ghost. Never seen so much detail on a wild male. killer portrait wish it was mine!

[Christian Neumann]

Excellent! Wonderfull detail and background!

[Sachin Saraf]

Stunning portrait Dave...you really did great in getting so close.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Dave, love the pose, and you have captured and brought out excellent feather detail. Great eye, and as Im not familiar with this species, I cant comment on the colour in your repost. I do however see a cast in your OP.

[gail bisson]

I like the OP better.
Gail

[Jamie Douglas]

Awesome Dave, I see this guy fly by all the time when I visit the area but I have never seen it perched at such close range.
Congrats.

Jamie

[Robert Holguin]

Wow!!!! Wonderful portrait. Detail is superb, great light, wonderful background, and very well composed.
Well done.