Today’s post includes only a single image but it’s one I like very much.
Some background first. The following photo was taken thirteen months ago at the pond where I used to photograph kingfishers. The tree over the pond is incredibly dense with branches and twigs so birds of various species like to perch there but I very rarely have an unobstructed view of my subject. To have any chance of getting one I usually have to move my pickup at least a little to get a clear shot through the branches and doing so typically flushes the bird. So normally I don’t move and my photos are less than stellar. It’s extremely frustrating.
But this male kestrel pulled off a near-miracle.
1/4000, f/7.1, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Somehow he found an open spot on a branch with a clear background and landed on it. And he stayed there for long enough that I was able to get a number of photos I like without having to take the chance of moving my pickup. With this many branches and twigs in the frame viewers who are familiar with my usual tastes might think the image wouldn’t appeal to me much but I like it a lot, largely for two reasons.
- I think the branches and twigs frame the bird both beautifully and naturally and there’s none of them behind the bird. To me the image almost screams ‘natural’ and I really like that.
- I adore the background with mottled light on fall colors.
Of course the dapper and beautiful little falcon is the star of the show but in my view without the natural framing and the fall background colors this would be just another kestrel photo and I like it significantly better than that.
Ron
Lovely story. I have always adored the desired with this huge apologetic eyes.
Mr. Feisty is definitely slinging a little stink eye your way.. 😉 And I love that one talon on top of the branch instead of curled around it. This is a bird with ‘tude!
Good eye to spot that talon, Marty. I noticed it too.
Have you ever known a kestrel, either sex, without a healthy dose of “tude”? Don’t think I have…
This is true, although my sample size is much smaller than yours. 😉
Perfect Ron. Everything blends together color wise. Beautiful bird!
I’m glad you like it, Jean. Thanks.
Such a beauty. And no self-criticism from the photographer. Win/win. With a lot of exclamation points.
There isn’t much I don’t like about the image, EC – that’s my excuse…
This is a beautiful image…I wonder why so often they are seen perching on something that slmost comes to a point, it’s so narrow….
Thanks, Patty.
Glad one was around to be photographed…they are getting scare in many areas…They definitely in decline around here. ..and many ither places….
There seems to be fewer of them around here too, Patty – though they’re not doing as poorly here as in many other areas.
Gorgeous image! Everything about it is appealing…even the look on his face, which seems a little … haughty? Like, “I know I’m good-looking, and here’s my best side!” I dunno, there’s just something about the sideways glance here …
“Haughty” comes with the territory with kestrels, Chris. I like that look to the side too.
Beautiful!
Ch9
Thanks, Charlotte.
This really is a stellar photo!! A beautiful bird beautifully framed by the twigs. Thanks once again for sharing and being a photographic inspiration for us fledgling photographers!
Thank you, Joanne.
I agree with Dick Harlow, print it and post it in the new Wildlife Center, which I’ll have to go and visit.
For the many reasons you stated, this is a winner.
Thank you, Ron
Alice, right now they already have a kestrel print hanging and there’s no room for any more photos on the wall.
I really like this one, too. Kestrels remain one of my favorite birds, so it makes my day when you post photos of them, especially when they’re this good. Actually, I think he’s posing for you – he has that look about him.
Getting a kestrel to “pose” for me, especially on a nice perch, is a very unusual occasion, Susan.
Just a real pleasure to look at. Indeed, all the elements of the image: light, shadow, color, composition really make an impression.
Thanks very much, Lyle.
Hi! beautiful! Growing up we called it a Sparrow Hawk! Have a great day!
I called them Sparrow Hawks when I was a kid too. Back then most everyone did.
The colors of the background really does work. Gorgeous piece.
Thank you, Arwen.
Great photo Ron. Love Kestrels and participate in their restoration program here. That is a nice background with the framing etc. Kathy is right about the wires. All during mating and nesting and fledgling season I was able to get good photos of them on tree branches, but once that was over I have yet to see one anywhere except on a wire.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
PS: the auto fill for name and e-mail is back this morning
Thanks, Everett. Glad to hear the auto-fill issue has cleared up for you.
Also, I agree that this bird is nicely framed, but what I like, and have a hard time getting in my birds, is the catch-light in the eye. Framed well, good background, clear view of the subject, and the catch-light represents a beautiful image! Print it big and donate to the new Wildlife Center wall.
Dick, Key to getting catchlights is having the sun both low and behind you. The “low” part is especially important with raptors because of their brow ridge over the eye.
Beautiful! 🙂 He and the “environment” REALLY cooperated for this shot for all the reasons you mentioned:) The colors all work together VERY well to frame a beautiful little bird that I generally only see on power lines here……..
Far more often than not I only see them on powerlines too, Judy.
I so agree! Beautiful photo! 😍 I love these little ones; they are so colorful…that face with it’s markings could be considered garish by some but I feel that steel-blue color softens the whole image. And I love the tail pumping…almost as if telegraphing ‘One move from you…I’m out of here!’ I think the female of the species is equally beautiful. I only wish they would find better perching spots…it seems they most always chose a wire with nothing behind it. Yes, you got the perfect shot! ❤️
Thank you, Kathy. I agree with you about females. For me subtlety goes a long ways but I love the colors of the males too.