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Kidnapper v2 (PAW 5/52)
Kidnapper v2 (PAW 5/52)
HarveyG


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Camera: Nikon D80
Lens: Sigma 170-500mm f/5-6.3 APO Aspherical for Nikon
Location: KNP, Kruger National Park. RSA
Aperture: f/13
ISO: 800
Shutter: 1/1000
Galleries: Birds
Date Uploaded: Jan 18, 2013

Viewed: 256
Comments: 15
Favorites: 0

 An initial edit of an image I was thinking of using for Best of 2012 but have been advised against (reasons below). It's one of my early attempts at using the largely bad mouthed film era Sigma 170-500mm f/5-6.3 APO Full Frame Non OS lens. I have since managed to find it's sweet spot and it is very usable. Even on a slowish DSLR. It's now performing better on a D7000 (16MP) where previously I used it on D80,D90 and D300s (10,12 and 12MP)

The raptor is an African Harrier Hawk (Gymnogene) and one of my favourite African species. He has just robbed the nest of a Drongo. In his claw he has a baby Drongo (hanging upside down) not more than a few days old. The parent Drongo is flying above harassing and hitting the raptor in an attempt to get the baby chick back. Sad but RAW reality in nature.

The entire shot opportunity was over in less than a few seconds. Note I am the driver of the vehicle, unable to get out as there is dangerous game around (Lion, Leopard, Elephant etc), and only have the space of the driver window to point and shoot :P as the action unfolded.

Reason not to submit: The image is not DPC "formula"; massive 'scape, super crisp/sharp;, under studio lights, bursting with colour and detail painstakingly setup in a controlled environment and edited to death. Also the Drongo above has no feather detail (total black bird bright light) or catchlight. Yes I'm griping :)

David Hockney "Photoshop is boring" video.

Considering the rarity of such a sighting as well as the technical difficulty of capturing it, and naturally the picture quality; What would you have voted and why? I'd have thought the title would make people look closer...

Original cropped but unedited image:


Any comments or critique; complimentary or critical are welcome and appreciated. Questions about gear or technique also welcome!

This image is © copyrighted 2012 by Harvey Grohmann. Duplication, publication, copying is strictly forbidden and protected by law. To obtain pricing and consent contact me via Photocommission.com

for Photograph a Week 2013

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AuthorThread
 03/06/2013 09:27:32 PM
It is a pity so much feather detail was lost but overall it is an excellent capture. I particularly like the slight motion blur of both bird wings and the head details of the raptor is great. I enjoy photographing birds too and can really appreciate the uniqueness and difficulty of the capture. For these reasons I would have given this a 7 in the challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/03/2013 11:11:53 PM
Exceptional action image, Harvey. How would it fare in Free Study?
Sadly, I think your advice was spot on. Hard to see that story in
one hasty glance. Amazing to see it here with a brief explanation
of the excitement and difficulty in getting it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2013 11:52:48 PM
Looks like it was over in a fraction of a second. Incredible catch from the window of a motor vehicle.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2013 02:19:08 PM
As to entering it to DPC, the advise you got was probably right (but I haven't entered enough in the last few years to even know much about that).

As to the picture, the timing is great, it must have been great for you to be able to capture it. The two version, somehow somewhere in between the two would be ideal (to my eyes). The colour of the birds is beautiful in the edit, but the sky is too intense to me. The birds look clearer in the original, in the edited version they look almost fuzzy.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/31/2013 05:10:49 PM
I also think the unedited version is better in this case. It avoids the halo around the hawk. Heavy processing puts me off, but that's my opinion and not everyone is so puristic.
The story is a good one, the picture less so.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/31/2013 09:21:19 AM
Love the colors in this picture!!! This is excellent timing. I like that you caught the escape of the little bird.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/30/2013 01:56:53 PM
Without the story, I would have wondered what was being carried. So your story clears that right up! Those quick shots out the window are tough. Surprised you got it this good.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2013 11:29:20 PM
Thank you all for the kind valid comments. It is certainly not ribbon material. I know what that is and it's easier to achieve in a zoo, aviary or at a feeder. I'm sure I'll be able to manage that.

I agree my blueish PP leaves a lot to be desired. I also prefer the original but was trying to get a bit more detail and overdid it! Also if you are not a birder you'd not have noticed the chick.

I'll work on the original more, thanks!
 01/29/2013 07:24:38 PM
I also like the colors of the original better. I hate that a baby bird is being carted of for dinner but I love that the hawk is getting dinner. *sigh* without the story I wouldn't have seen the baby bird. Without the details of the difficulty in taking this shot I wouldn't have known that either. All that said I probably would have gone with a 5 or 6. I don't think it would have done well in best of ... But I love seeing it here and look forward to more. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2013 06:35:46 PM
Ah Harvey, this is truly a much more difficult shot to get than most of the blue ribbon winners on DP - it's rare, it's nature at her best (and worst depending on which bird you are rooting for) I would have given it an 8 but I know what it takes to get such a shot - no, I might not have known it was a baby in it's claws but I know it has something and given the fact that even a hummingbird will buzz a hawk to protect it's nest, I might have guessed it was it's young. I am always in awe of the tiny birds with the heart of lions when it comes to protection of their territory or their young - thank you got another wonderful glimpse into true wildlife photography.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2013 05:26:07 PM
Great capture, although you need to know the story before you see there's a chick in his claw. I agree with nam that the original image is more promising. Colours look more natural. But still a nice image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2013 12:48:30 PM
It's like one of those nature shows on TV. If the show is about the hawk, then you're cheering for the hawk. "Yeah! Hawk gets a meal!" If the show is about the Drongo, then you're sad for the chick and the mom.

Anyway, you know my opinion. It's an amazing image that won't score well without the backstory.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2013 12:28:40 PM
Well, I think this would do much better with the story - it's not at all apparent that the hawk has a chick and that the other bird is harassing him - and since you can't include that information in your title, I too would go with another image for Best Of. That said, I actually think the original looks more promising than the edited image presents. I prefer the lighter, less green blue and I think it looks as if there is more detail to be brought out in both without having the lighting look unbelievable. Did you try any lightening of the shadows? And if you used a denoise, did you erase it from the birds and leave it only on the sky? The main hawk looks slightly softer in the edited version than in the original.
This may all be my imagination. It's a fascinating capture for sure.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2013 05:57:39 AM
Alot of emotion wrapped up in this shot. First I am thinking "Oh wow" check out that neat looking raptor. Next " I am thinking oh man that poor baby chick"
Nice capture!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2013 05:30:31 AM
Great sighting and capture! Dont think it would do to well in a challenge!
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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