Sometimes it’s fun to attempt flight shots in these conditions just to test the limits of your gear and your skills.
1/1250, f/6.3, ISO 1000, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
This is the beautiful female rufous Red-tailed Hawk I became so enamored and frustrated with two years ago. She was so strikingly red (her colors are better seen in different postures and light than this) that I longed for flight shots of her but the first couple of mornings I found her the skies were always overcast and the light poor. This photo was taken on one of those dreary mornings.
I’m surprised by how well it turned out given the conditions. I felt I had to shoot at ISO 1000 to get (barely) enough shutter speed for flight shots and in low light like this my 7D Mark II tends to struggle a little with sharpness, especially with quickly moving subjects. But I think this photo is sharp enough (whatever that is) and the noise level is acceptable. And it’s a flight shot of “my favorite red-tail” which gives me extra reason to cut it some slack.
Some readers probably anticipated my biggest reservation about the image the moment they laid eyes on it. I damn near clipped that right wing. In fact it’s so close I can’t tell for sure if I clipped one of the primaries even when I zoom in on the high resolution version of the photo. If I did clip it I only lost a pixel or two but it goes without saying that I wish I had more room down there for composition.
The possibly clipped wing and less than ideal composition is why I haven’t posted the photo before today. But when I worked it up for the first time last night I thought it still deserved to see the light of day.
Ron
Notes:
- In this photo she had recently taken off from the large rock at lower right, most of which can’t be seen.
- I photographed her in the same area in spring and early summer of both 2018 and 2019 but I’ve been unable to find her so far this year.
What a shot!! No complaining on my end.
Good. Thanks, Jean.
I definitely agree with EC — your discard pile would be better than my best shot ever! So glad this one didn’t fall victim to your itchy trigger finger. She is such a beauty, even in low light! Hope you are able to find her this season.
Today’s a low light day with off and on rain. The orange trees just went through a second flower. Hopefully the rain we’re supposed to have all week will help yield some larger fruit, although the mini-oranges are really sweet and juicy this year. the lemons are the size of softballs, but are really inconsistent.
Marty, I remember all that fruit down there when I lived in Escondido and Poway as a kid. And Escondido claimed to be the “Avocado Capital of the World”, at least back then. But this Montana farm boy wasn’t impressed the first time I saw one of my classmates bite into a sandwich with nothing but mashed up avocado in the middle. I about puked when it squished out the sides of the sandwich.
Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately in your case), we’ve not been able to get avocado trees to grow in our yard.
She is beyond beautiful and would brighten the darkest day.
Yes, I do understand your reservations, but am so very glad that you decided to exhume her from your graveyard of unseen photos. As well you know there are a number of your dedicated readers who would happily spend time there – and wouldn’t hesitate about posting this beauty for a heart beat.
Many, many thanks.
Thanks very much, EC. An interesting subject always helps in situations like this.
Interest, like beauty, is very much in the eye of the beholder.
I am certain that Patty, Marty and I (and no doubt others) would be VERY interested in your discard pile.
This photo is certainly plenty sharp for my taste. Really shows off the extensive white feathers on her back. Do you think the eye color is that of a younger Hawk? Nice touch with the talons peeking out.
“Do you think the eye color is that of a younger Hawk?”
I’d think so, Lyle. But when this photo was taken she was a full breeding adult.
Wow – that really brings out the power of her flight. Amazingly dynamic photo.
Thanks very much, Bill.
Good Morning! Thank you for this and all that you bring for the beauty of the Earth (to quote a favorite song/hymn) Your photo reminded me of the glimpse of a glowing Red Tailed Hawk I had a few days ago…just the right angle above a still left over from last year corn field…the tail glowed! so beautiful!
“the tail glowed! so beautiful!”
They do that don’t they Mary – especially the adults when we can see the dorsal surface of the tail in good light.
Beautiful shot low light or not. And although the almost clipped wing is never a pleasing moment for the photographer I think it is quickly overlooked by the viewer due to the beauty of those wings and the colors against that background. I know it would be a keeper for me, but then I am not the “Feathered Photographer” that you are.:)
Everett, the right wing is soft from insufficient depth of field so the possibly clipped wing is less bothersome to me than it would be if it had been sharp.
This shot DOES deserve to see the light of day! 🙂 The light wasn’t optimal however it’s fascinating how the rich red turns into the browns/whites on the wings and on into the striped white on the underside of the wings that starts blending into the background! 🙂 Her wings and tail are really working to get airborne…..
Thanks, Judy. Her left wing is hiding most of her rich red body colors and that’s too bad.