Hawks of Hagerman

[terrib]

The hawks were everywhere but it's really frustrating trying to take pictures from the driver's seat of a truck. Handholding that 100-400mm lens is not easy!

#1 There were two hawks working this field, this Harrier and a Red-tailed hawk. I missed some shots for the sheer joy of watching them soar. I did jump out of the truck for this one since they were really working the field. It was still a little foggy at that point. I like the hazy backdrop. I wish I'd had the aperture set wider for a faster shutter speed. I think I had just been taking still shots of ducks when I saw this going on. (yes I know about custom buttons and all that but I was so enthralled that everything I know went right out the window of the truck!)



#2 This is my favorite of the hawk shots. It was in the best light but he did't stay around too long. I had to swing the truck sideways in the road to not have to shoot through the windshield. I'm still not totally happy with the color on this. I have fiddled with the white balance til I'm sick of it so I'll go back to it at some point and maybe try using the tone curve.



#3 This one is not in the best light but when I passed him to get the light in a better direction he flew.

[Marie Hass]

Nice job, Terri.

Your images convey the sheer joy of the moment.

Marie

[Mike Buckley]

Great to know that you're enjoying seeing the birds, not just photographing them. All of these are very enjoyable.

[terrib]

Thank you, Marie and Mike for taking the time to comment. I hope to always keep the perspective and remember to enjoy but dang it, I do wish I could remember to look at my settings too! It's not like they are hard to find, being right there in the viewfinder.

[John 2]

........... but dang it, I do wish I could remember to look at my settings too! It's not like they are hard to find, being right there in the viewfinder.

And so say all of us from time to time. Enjoyed these Terri.

[deetheturk]

Nice images Terri,well captured.

David

[batmura]

Great shots, Terri. Number one is my favourite.

[Wavelength]

First one is outstanding stuff; others are nice too

[Sergio M.]

Terri, agree with what has been said, but #3 is my favorite. I like how the side of the Hawk is being lit up.

Sergio

[terrib]

And thanks to all the rest of you too! I always find it interesting the differences in favorites.

[Digital]

Terri, all pics are nice; however I really like #1.


Bruce

[jamn4ex]

Nice picks Terri, I cant seem to get close to the harriers here. I love to watch them hunt.

[IzzieK]

#1 is really nice...is there a way you can crop in closer...? I seems to me like a perfect BIF shot...

[Teton Chuck]

Good job Terri. I like number 3.

[NorthernFocus]

Nice set Terri. I'll almost always vote for a BIF but in this set I like the last one. Looks like you had fun. You might need to get yourself a driver. And if it's not a photographer maybe a Kindle for them.

[terrib]

Sorry I'm so long coming back to this. consistent participation is difficult these days.

Thank you everyone for your feedback. It's appreciated!

Isabel, I've already cropped about 25% in the first shot. I don't want to go in too far because I'm actually trying to make it an environmental shot showing the hunting. But most importantly, the bird is not sharp and cropping in further really makes it look noisy. Contributing factors are the fog and the relatively slow shutter speed handholding. The ISO was only 800 and it was not underexposed so I don't believe the ISO was the problem. Between the bird's speed and my inability to handhold that lens steadily, it's just not sharp enough.