Out hunting

[gjtoth]

http://toths.us/Piwigo/upload/2011/05/11/20110511151817-8d900987.jpg

http://toths.us/Piwigo/upload/2011/05/11/20110511143828-38e3cb80.jpg

http://toths.us/Piwigo/upload/2011/05/11/20110511143824-09fc2e08.jpg

Adios!
http://toths.us/Piwigo/upload/2011/05/11/20110511143819-cc796c8e.jpg

[kinetic]

Cool shots Gary…love the back shot in flight
Mark

[gjtoth]

Cool shots Gary…love the back shot in flight
Mark

Thanks, Mark. I wish I could have from the other direction but... c'est la vie, eh?

[kinetic]

Still a cool shot Gary…do you get much in the way of opportunity with birds of prey.
Mark

[gjtoth]

Still a cool shot Gary…do you get much in the way of opportunity with birds of prey.
Mark

Just the hawks. They'll make an occasional kill of a grackle or starling at my feeding station. It's astonishing to watch. The power and speed behind the hit leaves nothing but a puff of black feathers where the bird was and the next thing you know the hawk is on the ground before he takes it off somewhere he feels unthreatened to finish the meal. We have a large field with a good-sized copse of trees adjacent to the rear of our property that a pair of them has staked out as their territory.

[johnnya]

Great series Gary.

[eskdalemum]

Great series Gary.
I agree with johnnya about great series. I really love the last picture, it's just a pity the post is there as it is very distracting. Keep posting your great photo's

[gjtoth]

I agree with johnnya about great series. I really love the last picture, it's just a pity the post is there as it is very distracting. Keep posting your great photo's

Thanks, Racheal. I wouldn't call it pitiful... just a distraction. That implies the entire photo is unusable and I don't find that to be the case. I have to disagree however, because the post is part of the story. It explains why the bird's feet are not "fully-retracted". However, in the interest of fairness...

http://toths.us/Piwigo/upload/2011/05/12/20110512082541-b89e4682.jpg

[shirlm2]

Fantastic shots especially the last. Good capture. I don't mind the post, the series tells the story.

[gjtoth]

Fantastic shots especially the last. Good capture. I don't mind the post, the series tells the story.

Thanks, Shirley. I feel without the post, all we have is a picture of the south end of and north-bound hawk -- and now it IS pretty much unusable.

[eskdalemum]

Thanks, Racheal. I wouldn't call it pitiful... just a distraction. That implies the entire photo is unusable and I don't find that to be the case. I have to disagree however, because the post is part of the story. It explains why the bird's feet are not "fully-retracted". However, in the interest of fairness...

http://toths.us/Piwigo/upload/2011/05/12/20110512082541-b89e4682.jpg
I understand what you mean Gary and I think your whole series is great but I was also looking at them as individual photos to, I wish my eyesight would allow me to photograph birds but by the time I see them it's too late. I also think the edited version without the post isn't as striking as the first version you posted so keep doing what you are doing

[gjtoth]

I understand what you mean Gary and I think your whole series is great but I was also looking at them as individual photos to, I wish my eyesight would allow me to photograph birds but by the time I see them it's too late. I also think the edited version without the post isn't as striking as the first version you posted so keep doing what you are doing

The thing with bird/wildlife photography is being in the right place at the right time WITH A CAMERA :) I just happened to spot this hawk as he sat atop a pole that mounted a bat house and a bird house. I imagine the occupants of the birdhouse were more than a little nervous! I quickly set up the tripod and camera, managing to get this series. My equipment being readily accessible helped facilitate getting the captures. It's one of the reasons I never keep my gear in a bag. It's always mounted and ready to go unless I'm in-transit to a shoot. But, around the house, my camera stays on the tripod with shutter release attached and ready to go. Probably not a good idea if you have little kids or rambunctious pets :D

[sandrac]

Ireally like your bird shots It inspiresme to set outside more often - now to find the time

[gjtoth]

Ireally like your bird shots It inspiresme to set outside more often - now to find the time

Not to pop any bubbles, Sandra, but virtually 95% of my bird/wildlife photos are taken from indoors behind double-pane windows. You see, I'm a fair-weather photog and like my creature comforts. heheheh :)

[kinetic]

The shots were presented as a set, like a storyboard and that’s how I view them, but even as individual shots the post is in context and in my mind looks odd without it…with its legs just hanging like that without any sign of a takeoff or landing platform.
If the post is distracting in the last shot it would then have to be said that it was distracting in them all, which it is not, for me the post works to tell the story.
Mark

[delboy]

Once again some excellent bird photography. What can I say, it has already been said. I like the last one best,with the hawk taking off from the post.

Regards

Delboy.

[Kaye]

Great series here Gary. After seeing your crop, I must agree that I like to see the post from where he took off also.
Pity that there was not more light on his head to show off his eye, but as you said, c'est la vie.

[gjtoth]

Thanks to all for your C&C. As with all images of wildlife, it's difficult at best to get the "perfect capture" due to the circumstances we shoot in. Do I wish the hawk were flying towards me instead of away? You bet! Better light? Yup, sure do. Even though we have to settle, more or less, for less than ideal conditions, I suppose I should be a little more selective in which images I show. That said, I surely don't want to leave the impression amongst my peers that I only produce ideal, perfect images... or do I? hmmmmmmmmmm ;)

[TimmyGator]

Gotta love those Raptors! Nice series.