A Shot I’ve Been After For A Long Time…

I hope you’ll forgive me back to back posts on the same species but there’s a shot that has eluded me for years and yesterday at Farmington Bay I finally got it.

I’ve long wanted a quality image of a Northern Harrier in a 90 degree bank in nice light, good eye contact with a catch light, and a background other than sky.  And it must be sharp with no body parts clipped.  I’ve come close several times but there was always an element or two missing.

 

northern harrier 4586 ron dudley1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

This bank isn’t quite 90 degrees but it’s close enough for me.

I’ve found this kind of shot to be very difficult to get, especially with a background other than sky.  This aerial maneuver usually requires significant flight speed and by definition banking changes flight direction and speed so it’s hugely challenging to maintain focus on the bird – especially with a background other than featureless sky.  This bird was coming at me obliquely when it finally decided it was close enough and banked away.  I was able to get several shots of the turn but this is the one I liked best.

It was such a refreshing change to see a few raptors at reasonable distances yesterday, instead of taunting me from far away like they have been doing for so long (when I could even find them).  And then to finally get a shot that I’ve long been after – needless to say it was a good day!

46 Comments

  1. Humming Bird Lover

    Hi! Great shot and the colors are so beautiful! Love it! Keep up the wonderful work! Have a great day!!!

  2. I love the way the front edge of her wings are edged in black. A stunning image!

  3. Ron, that is an excellent shot!

  4. Stunning photo!!!!

  5. Some alula action too!

    • I noticed that too, Mike. In fact I thought the alulae might be even more pronounced than they are during this maneuver but I don’t think flight speed was slow enough for that at this point.

  6. Awe inspiring!

  7. One of the best harrier shots I’ve ever seen! Huge kudos, Ron! I know how bloody hard that is to get!

  8. Ron – Congratulations!!! Absolutely great shot. Persistence does pay off…

    Mark

  9. Congratulations on the image and the day. It’s things like that that keep us out there and photographing, and wonderful to share.

    • “It’s things like that that keep us out there and photographing”.

      Exactly, Sonja. It was the possibility of something like this that kept me going in the recent “bird drought”. You just never know unless you try.

  10. Thank you so much, everyone, for the very positive comments on this image. I’m delighted that you seem to like it as much as I do and I’m also very appreciative that so many would take the time to say so.

  11. Congrats on the perfect reward for your diligence and skill! Gorgeous shot. I know your standards are extremely high, and when I read the specs of what you wanted from the shot, I obviously had to reevaluate my own expectations. 🙂 Good on ya, Ron! Two questions, I hope you don’t mind. Was the harrier close enough for you to fill this frame, or is it cropped? (The IQ is so lovely, curious about the distance.) With your gear do you use S-AF or C-AF, and if C-AF (I guess AI Servo on Canon) — is it reliable on your camera? For years, I’ve shot exclusively S-AF because of the poor performance of my old E-3’s C-AF. I’m always amazed in the field when I see people with actual, workable C-AF and wonder if I should employ it more with my new body.

    • Ingrid, I’m always happy to answer questions. This image was cropped to exactly 50% of full frame. This flight maneuver is so quick and unpredictable that I’d have had virtually no chance to get the bird full frame without clipping anything.

      I have no idea what S-AF or C-AF are on your camera but I use AI Servo on my Canon. And yes, A1 Servo seems reliable and responsive as long as I can keep the focus points on the bird.

      • I know … the brand-centric jargon. S-AF is single point AF. C-AF is continuous autofocus (AI Servo). I have never in my life had good, workable AI Servo so all of my BIF shots are single point AF. 🙂

        Thanks, Ron. I’ll have to test out the C-AF capabilities on my E-M1. I hear they’re improved but somehow I doubt it meets the standards Nikon and Canon have implemented in this regard. Maybe I’ll be surprised.

        • btw, I keep forgetting the comment section turns smileys into graphics. I feel lame having two posts now with those yellow smiling faces, sorry. (I would have put a smiley there, but …)

        • Ingrid, Actually I use A1 Serve with either single point AF or I can select a group of points that are active. A1 Servo simply keeps focus on a moving subject (with the shutter button depressed half way) with whatever focus points you’ve selected. I can’t imagine shooting a moving bird without A1 Servo (continuous autofocus). Unless it was moving laterally to you it seems like it would be almost impossible to get sharp. Try it on your new camera – bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

          Don’t worry about the “auto-smileys” – they’re annoying but sometimes we just have to use them.

          • Ron, that’s so funny — conversely, I can’t imagine having a camera keep focus on a moving object! (lol). It’s been single point, no AI Servo for me ( hence my celebration when I actually get sharp BIFs). I’m excited to see what this new fangled world of AI Servo is all about. hehe. Thank you for the info! I’ll let you know how it goes. ~ Signed, Ingrid of the Digital Dark Ages

  12. My face is hurting because I am smiling so broadly at this image. I can only assume that your smile is still with you today. Incredible image – reward for dedication, hard work and patience.

  13. Gorgeous shot! Congrats 🙂

  14. Hoo-Ray!Huh-huh-huh-huh-ray-RON!

  15. Fabulous! I so enjoy your posts!

  16. Definitely a good day. I like the way the background picks up colors of the wings and body.

  17. Beautiful! Simply Beautiful!

  18. I have to tell you Ron I have been looking at your pictures now for about a year and the shots that you get are amazing. I am becoming a birder/photographer of birds and other animals and I just love looking at the pictures you get. Thanks for sharing maybe one day I will be able to get some of the shots you have.
    Thanks for sharing,
    Dan

  19. GREAT SHOT! Very glad you got your shot…Congrats and thanks for sharing

  20. Magnificent!!

  21. Incredible shot! You deserve that one! I’m so grateful you share these with us.

  22. Excellent Ron !! Congratulations !

  23. Wow! A very good day indeed. Congratulations!

  24. PERFECT!!!

  25. That was supposed to be terrific Ron!!!

  26. Terric shot. I feel like I’m up theire saring with that bird. Just perfect!!

  27. Wow! Congrats on the great shot.

  28. Beautiful camera work. You’ll bask in the glow straight through the holiday. Hurrah!

  29. Patience and dedication finally pays off, Ron. A wonderful image for you to treasure. Thanks for sharing!

  30. Absolutely breath-taking!!!! Well done, Ron-and thank you for your beautiful work…

  31. Wow, Ron. How exciting! Congratulations on achieving such a long-time goal.

  32. Thank you, Nancy, Tim, Chuck and Alison. It was fun to finally achieve one of my photography goals. Now for that fight scene between a Golden Eagle and a gang of ravens…

  33. Spectacular! Your dedication rewarded…

  34. Good for you Ron, your frustrating wait is over. What a cool shot!

  35. Wow….very nice.

    Congratulations!

    Tim

  36. Beautiful Ron! Congrats!

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