It’s unusual but occasionally I can (mostly) overlook significant technical flaws in one of my photos and still appreciate it for other reasons.
One of my consistent photographic goals with kestrels is to catch them in one of my favorite action poses. It’s what some of my blog followers call the “wing fling”, a side view of the kestrel taking off with its wings in a vertical position as it pushes off the perch with its feet and legs. I’ve captured that pose often with other larger and slower raptors but I’ve only succeeded once before with a kestrel and I’ve tried many, many times.
I believe the incredible speed of relatively small and unusually fast kestrels at takeoff is the primary reason for my dismal track record. My reflexes just aren’t fast enough to capture the wings in that initial vertical position. The difficulty of the task is compounded by the fact that unlike many other raptors kestrels typically don’t signal imminent takeoff with a behavioral cue that allows me to anticipate the moment of takeoff. They’re there and then they’re gone, in a nanosecond.
Two days ago I succeeded for a second time but other things went wrong.
1/3200, f/6.3, 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
This male kestrel at Farmington Bay WMA posed nicely for me for several minutes but he was perched on a relatively unattractive sign post and he was strongly side lit so I hoped to get lucky with a takeoff or flight shot. To be honest I didn’t even think of the wing fling pose because I assumed he’d be too quick for me.
But unlike most kestrels this guy performed a little stutter step just prior to takeoff which gave me just enough time to catch him in the wing fling pose.
But there’s a couple of flies in the ointment. Because of the side light I don’t have a catch light in his eye. And worse than that, he’s soft. I had enough shutter speed to get him sharp but his unexpected stutter step caused me to jerk the lens slightly (I twitched when I shouldn’t have) which caused both the bird and the perch to be a little too soft. Terrible long lens technique!
Normally an image this soft without any light in the eye would be consigned to my delete bin but I’m gonna keep this one. Even with its flaws I can see and appreciate the beautiful colors and plumage patterns of the male kestrel revealed by the dynamic wing fling posture that appeals to me so much.
And it shows me what’s possible if I get lucky again with a kestrel stutter step.
Ron
Awesome photo, Ron! Thank you. I miss seeing Kestrels. They used to be relatively common in my area of NC. No more.
“They used to be relatively common in my area of NC. No more”
I hear that far too often these days, Melanie. Thankfully they seem to be holding their own around here so far, or nearly so, I see more of them in winter.
Wing fling and stutter step. I thought those were line dancing maneuvers. Any way, you and the Kestrel make a good couple. You ought to ask her out again to practice those moves. Us nondancers eagerly await the results.
“I thought those were line dancing maneuvers”
Lyle, could be but you couldn’t prove it by me since I’ve never done any line dancing…
My bad. It’s a he.
Terrific photograph, Ron!
A Kestrel take-off is truly difficult to nail. (Scanning hundreds of images of Kestrel-butts ….)
These little powerhouses are so much fun to watch!
Thank you, Wally.
love Love LOVE the wing fling!!! And love the way he seems to be tipping over. The position of his feet definitely look like they should be on the flat perch. Even the minuscule “softness” (if you can even call it softness) works so well to convey speed — sort of like motion blur in a hummingbird’s wings.
“if you can even call it softness’
Believe me, it’s soft Marty. The softness is a little harder to see at this size and resolution and I even had to add extra sharpening during processing to get it to look as good as it does.
But thank you.
I looked at the photo first without reading your narrative and did not notice any flaws! This is because what you caught, the gesture, personality, and character of that kestrel is truly magnificent. Some photos are about the art of capturing a bird in its true nature. This photo does that for me, absolutely beautiful! Thanks so much for posting it.
Marisela, what you said so well is how I feel about the photo. I can appreciate it for its strengths and mostly overlook its flaws. Usually I can’t do that with photos that are soft and/or are lacking a catch light.
You were quick…he slightly quicker but WOW…I’ll take your degree of speed any time with this little one. 😊 They are nearly impossible for me…you may think you can get him but as you said a little ‘twitch’, a half blink, a quiver of your finger and they are gone! Kudos on a photo most of wish to call our own!
Kathy, I pride myself on the speed of my reflexes but I’m no match for kestrels at takeoff.
How wonderful to have come so very close to this particular grail.
Much as I love the wing fling (and I do) I am drawn to the feet. Yet another illustration of how much goes into take off…
I really, really hope that this tantalising glimpse of perfection keeps you trying (knowing that my amateur self would be very proud to have this shot).
Don’t worry, EC. I’ll keep trying. And probably failing but you just never know…
My favorite pose ❗️ It’s the exact one that I have of an eagle hanging on my wall ❤️
Hope you’re having a successful day of birds today 😁
Yup, I found some interesting birds this morning Diana. I’m about to review my photos to see if I got anything worthwhile.
It’s amazing to me how that compact bird can have such an awesome wing spread. It almost makes me think he’s like a model train. 16-1 Condor or something. I’m not a model train aficionado so that may not be the right scale. 🙂
Arwen, that “awesome wing spread” is one of the huge challenges that comes with photographing birds at takeoff – clipped wings. They always seem to fill up more of the frame than I expect them too, even after all the years I’ve been photographing birds.
Beautiful even if soft! “Action/Reaction” isn’t always productive! Does happen tho😉 The brown/white mottling on the underside of the wings is a wonderful contrast to the rust/blue/grey rest of the Kestrel. It DOES let you know it can be done.😀
Yup, it’s certainly possible Judy. If I have enough chances…
With all the time and effort you put into catching the perfect feathered photo, I think you will soon be rewarded with a perfect Kestrel wing-fling where Murphy will be absent and everything else will fall perfectly into place.
I sure hope you’re right, Everett.
Those wings are indeed beautiful, as is the way you’ve caught the last moment before his feet leave their perch. Thanks!
I’m glad you like it, Cathy. Thanks.