Kathy Buckard
October 2024 - Watchful Hawk
About the Image(s)
This image was taken several years ago in Gatorland in Orlando, Florida. We used to enjoy the park with the early hours walking through the rookery and the grounds. It was great because they allowed the photographers early entry so you can enjoy the park while it was still slightly cooler outside at 7:00 a.m. The peacocks wandered freely. They are also beautiful when they open their feathers, I thought she looked rather majestic close up.
Nikon D300 18-200 lens - Shot at 200 Speed 250 ISO 400 on automatic
This round’s discussion is now closed!
11 comments posted
Kathy, indeed the Hawk is is a watching for food body language. The bird is sharp, and the background is out of focus. It is unfortunate that there is a bright line of the background just touching the front of the bird what makes the area somehow fuzzy and not with good definition. Using the masking brushes in ACR I reduced the brightneess at that point in he background, added a little more light to the hawk, and contrast, improving the area. Posted: 10/09/2024 14:27:26
Isaac, you did a terrific job on making this hawk stand out. Will try to do the same in the future. I knew the brightness around the beak was distracting but did't know how to correct. Thanks for the info. Posted: 10/10/2024 13:02:13
(Group 78)
It is a good image, I like the Isaac's suggestions. If you could stand a little to the left to take the photo, maybe you can avoid teh white lines on the background. Posted: 10/13/2024 12:49:54
Thank you for your comments. I agree I need to be more aware of my background and move around. Sometimes you just get excited at seeing something and just starting photographing, hoping to get a good image before the subject moves. Posted: 10/13/2024 12:54:17
Hi Kathy, Great capture and Isaac's edit enhances the image. I like that the image has almost a pictorialist look - looks like a painting at first glance. Posted: 10/14/2024 23:37:51
Thank you for your comments. Posted: 10/15/2024 10:20:26
Great portrait of this hawk. I like Isaacs changes. I also thought it was a painting at first. Posted: 10/16/2024 16:03:55
Thanks for your comments. He was really concentrating on what was going on around him. Posted: 10/17/2024 00:05:46
(Group 46)
Hi Kathy,
Your image of the Red-Shouldered Hawk is outstanding. The only Raptor that I've been able to capture so far has been two Owls. I aspire to search and find some Ospreys, Hawks and Eagles soon. Thanks for the photo. Posted: 10/18/2024 19:40:05
Your image of the Red-Shouldered Hawk is outstanding. The only Raptor that I've been able to capture so far has been two Owls. I aspire to search and find some Ospreys, Hawks and Eagles soon. Thanks for the photo. Posted: 10/18/2024 19:40:05
Thank you for your kinds words. The hawks really seem to be active this time of year. Recently saw one in our neighborhood catch a squirrel and fly off. He struggled a little, I believe because of the weigh, it was a full grown squirrel. Good luck with your future endeavors to photograph raptors. Posted: 10/19/2024 23:18:55
Kathy, Great pose of the bird! Even the catch light in the eye. The only thing I found distracting was the feathers under the beak. Looks like perhaps those breast feathers were too bright (possibly blown out?) and a luminance brush was used to bring back detail. That's impossible if the area is totally out of the raw luminance range of all 3 colors. If at least one color was still in range, it may be recoverable with a lighter touch on the luminance brush. Just a thought. Still a good photo! Posted: 10/27/2024 02:25:50