A Prairie Falcon in flight is a shot I always lust for and very seldom get. In almost 10 years of bird photography I only have two really good ones (the best of the two can be seen here ). Perhaps I want them more than I should…
1/3200, f,6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
Two days ago as I was driving along a remote road in northern Utah we noticed a Prairie Falcon on the power pole directly in front of us. But we noticed it too late and by the time I was stopped I was slightly past it and looking up at a steep angle at the bird. I was very surprised it didn’t fly when I stopped because they’re generally an extremely spooky species but it was obviously scanning the nearby pastures for prey and apparently it didn’t want to be interrupted by something as mundane as my pickup. Eventually it flew off after prey, missed, and quickly returned to the same pole with my pickup right underneath it, which amazed me again – very unusual for a Prairie Falcon.
It continued to hunt from the pole and I prepared for another takeoff by removing my teleconverter (I was too close otherwise). When it launched this was the only shot I got that didn’t clip any body parts.
But what you’re looking at isn’t really the “shot I got”.
This is the shot I got!
Readers know I despise wires and utility poles in my images. I came close to deleting the photo but just couldn’t do it without cloning out the pole, insulator and wire to see what it looked like without them. Even though the cloned version screams for a perch behind the bird (because of the obvious take off posture of the falcon) I still enjoyed seeing the bird without the “hardware” and I thought some of my readers might too.
I despise being seduced by the clone tool (in most situations) almost as much as I dislike having wires and poles in my images so for me this was a deal with the devil, a Faustian bargain of sorts, and my only consolation is having disclosed what I’ve done.
Hopefully I’ll get another clean shot of a Prairie Falcon in flight soon. Bird photographers live on hope…
Ron
PS – Some disagree with me about the merits (or lack thereof) of using the clone tool in nature photography and that’s ok. But my opinion is what it is…
Your final shot was the way to go. You disclosed the fact that you cloned out the pole and wire. No foul, no harm…just a rockin’ great photo of a hard to get bird. Congrats 🙂
Twice in 10 years? Wow…pole/wire or none, I’d keep it if it’s this good! Thank you.
What can you do when a subject doesn’t cooperate? Prairie falcons aren’t known for their cooperation, so you’re stuck with one devil or the other! Sigh!
There’s a calendar or cover waiting for this shot!!
Linda, if that were to happen you can bet your booty that the client will be aware of the cloning before he/she buys.
Hi Ron,
A little late to the blog today. You have such great shots from the pickup that I have to ask how you are set up inside there for taking photos with the 500? Sandbags on the window opening, just hand holding on the edge of the window or something more high tech with swivels, ball joints, and quadrapods…:). Have you a picture of yourself shooting out the window to share?
Thanks
This post should answer all your questions, Jim – including the photo you asked for.
https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2014/09/24/tips-tricks-and-strategies-for-using-your-vehicle-as-a-mobile-blind/
Your passion for your nemesis shots keeps you coming back. And keeps us coming back.
The wire is indeed a distraction, but it bothers us MUCH more than the bird.
Scolling up and down I am awed and amazed at the beauty and the power of this gorgeous bird.
As always, megathanks.
You’re right about that, EC. I don’t think the falcon gives a damn about how ugly the post and wire are…
OK, not a Red-tail but who doesn’t love a falcon of any stripe? What I like about the cloned image is that you can really see those talons without any obstruction … raptors’ fierce feet really fascinate me! 😁 Thanks for the link back to your earlier flight image (and the link within that one to the perched bird) … all great shots!
You may get your Red-tail tomorrow, Chris…
I’m glad you enjoyed that linked image – it’s one of my favorites ever, no matter the species.
It is a beautiful shot either way! I think I prefer the second shot because of the context it gives, although I agree with you – the plastic and wire our society creates sure is ugly! Thanks for sharing your conundrum with us. As a beginning nature photographer I am always wondering about the ethics of cropping, cloning and altering photos etc. Photographs are a “fiction” of sorts, so I guess it’s up to each photographer to decide what kind of story they want to tell. (I do notice that lots of landscape photographers have no compunction boosting saturation, creating drama with contrast and color alteration, and slowing down babbling brooks to create fluffy white stuff where water should be.)
Thanks, Joanne. You might want to read my response to Hank, below, for a more detailed account of how I feel about cloning and why I feel that way.
If I had your skill, I might clone out the wire , maybe even the insulator, and keep the pole…I would get almost as much pleaure from removing the wire as I get by turning the sound off on TV…when I don’t want to hear someone I can’t stand listening to…esp. these days with all bragging, hatred and lies….
Of those three elements I dislike the wire most too, Patty.
I tend to analyze each picture before reading the posts. Not to hurt your feelings, but I was mystified by the first picture because it looked like the falcon was either coming in for a landing or had taken off from? When I moved to the second image I understood immediately what you had done before I read your post.
As you know from my comments in the past I can understand the temptation to remove unsightly things from a photograph. I think birds and mammals or for that matter all manner of animal life will take advantage of trappings of human society and culture if they perceive a benefit to their survival. It is the world we live in!
I personally prefer your second image and want to ask was the falcon on the wire or the pole when he took off? I find raptor use of our stuff to hunt from very interesting.
I have to personally thank you for your blog and for encouraging not just accolades, but for personal opinions or thoughts on what you say. You are a very good human being an honorable man and I feel honored to be a part of this blog.
Thanks very much for those very kind words, Dick!
The bird was perched on the left edge of the pole with its tail hanging down and its back partly to me. So it turned toward me as it took off.
I don’t want to start the “Clone Wars” (apologies to George Lucas). I’m probably in the minority here, but I actually prefer the original photo with the pole. The extreme curve of the leading edge of the falcon’s wings (yay Bernoulli!) and the slightly dangling feet, to me, look a little out of place framed entirely by clear blue sky. My wee little brain is more comfortable with the context shot. 😉
That being said, I totally respect your decision to clone to get an image that’s more to your liking. After all, you’re the artist and ultimately the final arbiter of your own work. 🙂 Either way, that’s one gorgeous bird!
I prefer that one too, Marty – just because I know I’ve cloned the other one.
Look at the size of those feet!
Your photos are always so fantastic!
I try, LS, I try. Thanks.
Gorgeous shot, Ron! The cloning thing is a conundrum for sure……….. beautiful bird either way!
Thank you, Judy.
Great shot but imho I actually prefer the “hardware.” I like the way the diagonal of the wire echoes the diagonal of the wings and how the pole anchors the entire image. But it’s also beautiful without as we get to focus on that gorgeous bird.
Sue, I prefer the one with the hardware too, just because I know I’ve cloned the other version.
I like your rendition and your decision to take out the hardware. It’s tough enough to get a shot of a rare opportunity, and sometimes, you just gota do what you gota do. You are very sensitive about such manipulations, me, a bit more liberal.
Great shot btw.
Thank you, Frank.
Well you have captured a great “Plan B” shot to enjoy while you continue to pursue the “Plan A” shot.
Thanks, Bill
That’s it in a nutshell, Bill.
Hi Ron, SUPER take-off shot. My only question to you is “do you crop, compose brighten/darken and use any of the other tools available to make your pictures more to your liking?” If so, why not clone out an objectionable object like a pole or any other unwanted object/subject etc.. I fail to see your anguish. Similarly, some people are very artistic and they create wonderfully processed images too. In my opinion,there is skill in taking photographs and skill in after processing.
Hank
Hank, You asked the question so the following is my opinion:
Comparing “crop, compose, brighten, darken” etc to cloning is like comparing apples to oranges. Those things you mention are “normal” processing and don’t add/subtract any physical or biological elements that weren’t really there (or not). If the image is “photo art” and that is clearly stated (or obvious) I have absolutely no problem with cloning. But if it’s “nature photography” cloning isn’t honest because the viewer generally assumes he/she is seeing what was really there (and the photographer knows that very well – that’s why very few photogs disclose cloning). I feel the same way about adding excessive saturation to make colors what they really weren’t (in nature photography). Disclosing cloning lessons the offense considerably but doesn’t mitigate it entirely.
If significant undisclosed cloning in nature photography is ethical then where do you draw the line? Is it ok to remove a distracting bird from the image? To add a bird or two to the image? Or ten? To change an ugly background to beautiful blue sky and puffy clouds? My answer to all of those questions would be a resounding no!
The most respected nature photography contests ban cloning and those types of manipulation for very good reason! It isn’t honest with the viewer.
Normally I say “Ron…picky picky picky”, but this time I have to agree with you. I do like the picture without the “hardware” Great shot. Sure is a beautiful bird!
Thanks for that feedback, Jean. There will be various opinions about that I’m sure – it’s always interesting to know how folks feel.
I think it’s a sensational shot, cloning et.all!
Charlotte
I’m glad you like it, Charlotte. Thanks.