Darcy Johnson
November 2024 - Cooper's Catch
About the Image(s)
I believe this is a Coopers Hawk. They are primarily bird hunters and tend to hang around birdfeeders where songbirds gather in tempting numbers, especially when other food sources are scarce. The birds in my backyard are on to predators, especially raptors such as hawks. As such, this fellow settled on a vole. Hawks are fascinating to watch. This guy certainly knew I was there, yet it didn't deter him from making the catch.
This image was taken mid-morning. Basic processing in LR with a slight vignette and a horizontal flip. I debated back and forth about the crop - whether to leave in the sunflowers or to present a portrait. In the end, I felt that wild sunflower plants added to the surrounding environment making for a more interesting composition.
ISO 100, 170mm, f6.3, 1/320 sec.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
10 comments posted
Hi Darcy,
What a nice scene. I like your decision to leave the sunflower in, I think it gives the image a nice balance. My only suggestion is to lighten just a little bit the wood rail the hawk is on. I think it has some nice texture that may add just a little more interest.
Best regards,
Greg Posted: 11/10/2024 20:07:29
What a nice scene. I like your decision to leave the sunflower in, I think it gives the image a nice balance. My only suggestion is to lighten just a little bit the wood rail the hawk is on. I think it has some nice texture that may add just a little more interest.
Best regards,
Greg Posted: 11/10/2024 20:07:29
Hi Greg - I agree with your observation on the fencing - an easy fix I should think. Thanks for your help. Posted: 11/12/2024 04:10:53
Hi Darcy,
Greetings my friend.
The main subject with the filler of the sunflower surely brought the balance in the image. The base of the hawk is as original as it is, to keep the scene natural. I wonder if the Hawk is familiar with you and was not deterred from your presence. Nicely done and thank you for sharing.
Cheers.
Kamal. Posted: 11/19/2024 07:17:04
Greetings my friend.
The main subject with the filler of the sunflower surely brought the balance in the image. The base of the hawk is as original as it is, to keep the scene natural. I wonder if the Hawk is familiar with you and was not deterred from your presence. Nicely done and thank you for sharing.
Cheers.
Kamal. Posted: 11/19/2024 07:17:04
Hi Kamal - If the hawk is familiar with me, it has been because he has been observing from afar. We only get a handful of hawks that stalk our backyard feeder and land on our fence each year. I don't believe the hunting is good enough to keep them coming back. Thank you for your observations; always good to get your reaction. Posted: 11/30/2024 14:40:25
Hi Darcy. I love the light in this image, especially the way it hits the hawk. The juxtaposition of the bird and the sunflower plant create a good story line, and gives the hawk a sense of place. I think that leaving it in the scene was definitely the right decision, and it's beneficial that the plant is leaning to the center to lead the viewer's eye back to the Hawk. I find the large expanse of the fence a little heavy. Lightening it to show the grain of the wood might help. I also tried cropping to lessen its impact, and have attached the result. Whether that's better or not is not clear to me though... Posted: 11/19/2024 18:01:31
Hi Ingrid - Thanks for the input. I hadn't considered creating a border with the fence - I'll play with it and see. I can lighten the fence some too. Posted: 11/30/2024 14:44:55
Hi Darcy,
Beautiful bird portrait! I applaud your decision to leave the sunflower - it really adds to the interest.
I have to admit my first thought was that the light strip under the fence rail was distracting. So, I like Ingrid suggestion - although I don't think I would crop quite that much.
Beautiful capture!
Karen
P.S. As you can see, I finally have my new laptop in action - WITH all of my pictures uploaded! My apologies for missing this month. Posted: 11/20/2024 05:02:13
Beautiful bird portrait! I applaud your decision to leave the sunflower - it really adds to the interest.
I have to admit my first thought was that the light strip under the fence rail was distracting. So, I like Ingrid suggestion - although I don't think I would crop quite that much.
Beautiful capture!
Karen
P.S. As you can see, I finally have my new laptop in action - WITH all of my pictures uploaded! My apologies for missing this month. Posted: 11/20/2024 05:02:13
Hi Karen - Computer problems are never fun - I'm sure you're glad to be up and running again. I'll play with cropping the fence. Thanks for commenting! Posted: 11/30/2024 14:51:11
Hi Darcy -
Great capture. We have a coopers hawk that I hear almost daily but can never catch him due to the tree line right behind our house. Fascinating to watch. I agree with Ingred's comment to crop out some of the lower fence, theres so much color there it pulls away from the hawk and his intense eyes. Posted: 11/21/2024 13:01:50
Great capture. We have a coopers hawk that I hear almost daily but can never catch him due to the tree line right behind our house. Fascinating to watch. I agree with Ingred's comment to crop out some of the lower fence, theres so much color there it pulls away from the hawk and his intense eyes. Posted: 11/21/2024 13:01:50
Hi Erin - I appreciate the input. We don't have an abundance of wildlife come around, although it's always fun to observe when they do . . . even better when I can catch a shot. Posted: 11/30/2024 14:58:27