There are several things about this image that appeal to me very much and one that doesn’t. That’s par for the course, or at least for my course, when it comes to bird photography.
I’ve never published this photo to my blog before but I thought I had because some years ago I posted it to a nature photography critique forum (Nature Photographers Network) and I mixed up where I’d posted it.
And yes, I’m still posting mostly older photos to Feathered Photography until we get some decent light around here. We’re in one of our patented inversions here in the valleys of the Great Salt Lake and it’s extremely discouraging. Even depressing, especially this early in winter.
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
The photo was taken almost exactly eight years ago at Farmington Bay WMA on December 8, 2010. If you read yesterday’s marathon post on the ups and downs of wintering Bald Eagles at Farmington Bay this is what I was usually doing while I was trying to avoid the crowds and the baited eagles at the 4-way pond – chasing Northern Harriers in other parts of the refuge (not literally, I never chase birds…).
The harrier is slightly less than tack sharp and that’s disappointing because I like several other things about the photo very much, including:
- the asymmetrical flight posture of the hawk with one wing extended down
- the warm light and complementary colors throughout
- the multiple layers in the background, including but not limited to the horizon (that wasn’t perfectly level so I left it that way). Phragmites is a pain in the butt for refuge managers trying to control it but I think it can provide some simply stunning backgrounds in warm light
- but it’s a little thing that tops it all off in a bit of a surprise for me because in the past I hadn’t paid them much attention – the good look at those distinctively colored and shaped underwing coverts beneath the right wing. Their shapes remind me a little of a row of old-fashioned fountain pen points and I think their colors really set them off against the rest of the wing. Normally in birds underwing coverts are less easily distinguished than upperwing coverts on the top of the wing but these are distinctive and I think quite attractive
Yes, I’m probably being a little weird about that last one but I think we all are sometimes when evaluating an image and noticing what pops out at us individually. If we all had the same tastes life would be largely a bore.
So that’s why I wish for just a tad more sharpness in the hawk but I suppose it’s about eight years too late for that.
Ron
Very nice composition. You couldn’t ask for more complementary colors and the coverts are a standout. The silver lining of your grey weather (mixed metaphors?) is that it kept you in to find this beautiful photo for us.
Ha, I actually found the photo last night, Lyle. So I could have gone shooting this morning if we’d had any light. But I appreciate the sentiment. And the mixed metaphor…
I’m still oohing and aahing over yesterday’s Eagles! 😀 Today’s Harrier is the cherry on the sundae! I can totally see my nib collection in those beautiful underwing coverts. I’m especially struck by the slight downward gaze of this individual — not sure why — maybe he’s surveying his kingdom? 😉
Thank you for always reminding me there’s so much beauty in the world.
Thanks, Marty. Yes, that post created a little buzz, especially with some of our locals. Glad you liked it too.
I don’t believe the way you look at things as being weird I think it is a very artistic talent. My daughter who is a very good artist always tells me artists see things differently and I always find your work and the analysis of it very artistic. Beautiful work and educational as well. Very pleasant part of my day to visit your blog.
Betty, I’m far from convinced that I’m an artist but I do know that artists tend to look at the world differently from others and whatever camp we’re in those in the other one sometimes think they’re a little “weird”. I was just covering my bases… 🙂
Awe, wonder, and delight. Not least because the picker of nits in you hasn’t discarded the image for the teensy softness.
Naw, I’ve had a fondness for this one from way back, EC. Thank you.
The weirdness is why I’m here. 🙂
Then you’re in the right place, Arwen! 🙂
Lovely light and colors. I only saw a couple of Harriers at the bay yesterday. Your blog must have renewed interest in the eagles. There were 3 at a far distance but they had a band of 6 cars checking them out.
There’s nothing like a Bald Eagle to attract photographers, April. Except for Snowy Owls of course…
Nice! Even if not as sharp as you’d like! 😉 “Sometimes” we have to “meditate” on a photo for a bit to really “see” or at least I do. Always annoying tho when it looks great in the camera and…………. 🙁 40, windy, cloudy today…….
““Sometimes” we have to “meditate” on a photo for a bit to really “see” ”
That’s me for sure, Judy. Sometimes even then I miss stuff.
Those gorgeous underwing coverts were what I saw first. Then the fine eyes and head, yes, if if not “tack’ sharp. Lovely.
“Those gorgeous underwing coverts were what I saw first”
Glad I’m not alone, Sallie. Thanks.
The first thing that came to my mind (before reading the notes) when looking at the right underwing was that the individual coverts looked like small flaps of an airplane. And, wondered whether they help in allowing harriers in general to slowly fly low. I think it is a great shot, but as you already know I’m not nit picky. Now, when I carve that is another story, I’m very nit-picky about my stuff! I guess it all depends on ones frame of reference!
It truly is a wonderful shot!
Dick, I can imagine the fun, pain, frustration, cut fingers and feeling of accomplishment when you’re done that’s involved in doing your wood carvings. I’m lacking in both the patience and the skill required to do something like that.
Great shot Ron. I agree with Mr Sanborn…the colors are outstanding. I believe you’re right about each of us having individual things about a photo that “Pop” out at us….one of the great things about your blogs is that you always seem to notice something that I would have missed…i.e. the underwing coverts looking like fountain pens….They do….so thanks not only for the great photos but for the little observations and information you give us.It is well appreciated. I love learning new things about Birds, nature, and photography and you are an excellent teacher!
Your comment provided me some joy on this glum, depressing morning, Steve. I just opened my window drapes and then closed them again to shut out the gloom. Thank you.
Love the shades and colors and love Harriers. And yes, those coverts do look like fountain pen points.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
Thank you, Everett.
Beautiful shot Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
Very nice photo…for all the reasons you stated. One other that I like is the ‘ring’ of lightly colored feathers around the head. Sometimes you don’t get a good visualization of it but I do here…and I really like that with these birds. We haven’t had particularly good skies around here either. I really dislike those pale grey flat backgrounds in a photo…everything else may click but that grey seems to drain the colors out of the bird and the eyes just don’t seem to have any life. I feel for the person who is affected by S.A.D. these days.
Kathy, as you likely know that “ring” is actually a type of facial disk to aid in hearing like it does with owls.
And I strongly agree with you about the type of background you mentioned. I think it’s usually a waste of pixels and even effort to push the shutter button with backgrounds like that.
Sometimes for no apparent reason, I’ll get a shot or three that’s not *quite* sharp. It’ll look OK on the camera display perhaps but on a desktop monitor it reveals itself to be a disappointment.
Unknown phenomena; the light is good, the bird isn’t scorching across the sky, my panning is smooth, all the technical details are in place and yet? Soft pic. And what’s *really* strange? I’ll have a few frames on both sides of the crummy frame that are great. It’s like my camera has a hiccup of some sort.
Yup, one of the vagaries of bird photography, Thomas. It can be a real piss-me-off because it always seems to happen to the shot that had the most potential!
Another item I’m challenged with – the cold weather. Minnesota has an abundance of Bald Eagles during the winter months. (Why they don’t head South like my parents is a mystery. 🙂 )
Although I can pretty much do it blindfolded, manipulating controls on my camera, not to mention trying to pan smoothly in sub-zero temperatures, is challenging. My keeper rate drops substantially when it’s -10°. LOL
“Why they don’t head South like my parents is a mystery”
Are you sure they don’t? If you don’t have them during summer maybe they “headed south” just to get to Minnesota? That’s what happens with them here – we have very few during summer because they breed up north but they winter here, which is south for them.
On the flip side maybe you have them year round.