By “simple” I don’t mean it was easy to get. It wasn’t. But there’s only two elements within the frame – a hawk in flight and an absolutely monotone background and for me that fits one definition of a simple image.
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
In fact I was so struck by how even the background tones are I did a threshold layer in Photoshop to see if I could see any minor gradations in tone and I couldn’t. Usually sky backgrounds show those gradations, especially when you’re not aiming your lens straight up (and I wasn’t here). A little thing but it was something I noticed.
Anyway, back to the hawk. This bird had been “sit and wait” hunting on an extremely ugly perch – a metal weather station in a remote location in the west desert that uses a small wind turbine to generate power for information transmission. I was slightly surprised that a Ferrug in particular could acclimate to such close proximity (just a few inches) to the turning propeller but the hawk simply ignored it.
This bird appears to be in full flight and it is. But it had just taken off and the perch is still so close to the hawk (just out of frame to the right) that I expected the legs to still be extended from the exertion of take-off. It’s my guess that if this had been a Red-tailed Hawk the legs would still be lowered to some degree rather than tucked up tight. If that’s the case, perhaps the difference is because the Ferrug is so heavy-bodied (the largest and stockiest of our buteos) that it deliberately tucks the legs and feet early to reduce drag. Pure speculation on my part, of course…
Ron
Bird on plain canvas. Simple. Art at its finest. Simply wonderful. Thank you, Ron!
Great shot and very interesting Ron!
Charlotte
Great shot Ron. I recently shot a few similar photos of a FEHA just after take off and the bird had it’s legs down like we’re use to seeing with other raptors. I suspect this bird tucked it’s feet up quickly due to either the nature of the perch (was it high?) or the weather conditions (windy or good thermals perhaps?), or maybe it is just variation between individuals.
Thanks, Neil. Yes, the perch was high – perhaps 40′ and there may have been a breeze.
Great shot Ron. I love the intense look in the Hawk’s eye.
Thank you, Jean.
I would love to see the juxtaposition of beautiful birds on ugly man made perches. A testament that we can live together but also that we humans should value nature more. My thoughts, anyway…
I like “seeing” them on those kinds of perches too, Suze. I’m just not particularly fond of them in my photographs…
Nothing “simple” about that shot ….Awesome!
Thank you, Bill.
What I like most about this image is how clearly it shows the aerodynamics of this incredible eagle-like bird…so pure and perfect!
I noticed the same thing, Patty. The body is almost submarine-shaped.
Awesome!
Thanks, Tom.