Photograph Information |
Photographer's Comments |
Challenge: Free Study XVII (Advanced Editing V) Collection: Raptors Camera: Nikon D200 Lens: Sigma 100-300mm F/4.0 EX IF HSM for Nikon Location: Springfield, VA Date: Aug 11, 2007 Aperture: 5.6 ISO: 200 Shutter: 1/500 Galleries: Nature, Animals Date Uploaded: Aug 11, 2007
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I looked out my window and this guy was just sitting on my deck and there was this Free Study speed challenge and he was still there when I came back with the camera and ... well, what's a girl to do? Can't let an opportunity like that go by, even if it does mean I'm entering yet another flying thing in a FS. It was just so cool to have this wild creature basically pose!! I liked quite a few of the shots but chose this one because he was looking at me and the highlights in the background behind his head were really nice, almost like a halo.
I'm pretty sure this is a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk, but I am not a bird expert.
Photo taken through a glass door with the big lens and the teleconverter; didn't think he'd stay put if I went outside. Actually, I'm stunned he let me stand as close as I was ;-)
PP - converted from RAW, cropped, levels, dodged eye slightly and cloned out odd highlight, dodged/burnt feathers a bit to compensate for glass reflections, increased contrast, created 2nd layer and blurred background, merged, added border, resized, sharpened, reduced noise overall and with brush along edges of bird |
Author | Thread |
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07/05/2008 09:07:53 PM |
Great clarity and I especially like the highlight around the top side of the head. It's as if this were a professional portrait session for Heady Hawk! |
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Photographer found comment helpful. |
Comments Made During the Challenge  |
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08/16/2007 08:41:48 PM |
Wow, a gorgeous photo of a gorgeous bird |
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Photographer found comment helpful. |
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08/16/2007 12:50:28 PM |
Very nice! Lovely softness to the feathers. |
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Photographer found comment helpful. |
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08/15/2007 11:38:27 PM |
Beautiful bird, pity its not in sharper focus. |
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Photographer found comment helpful. |
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08/15/2007 03:29:04 AM |
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Photographer found comment helpful. |
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08/14/2007 04:55:07 PM |
NIce colorfull image. Hard shot to get. Well done psart 8 |
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Photographer found comment helpful. |
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08/14/2007 08:04:14 AM |
Nice Effect!! Good luck.. |
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Photographer found comment helpful. |
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08/13/2007 08:53:22 AM |
Beautiful bird and good focus on the eye. For some reason, the composition doesn't quite work for me. Either way, great shot. |
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Photographer found comment helpful. |
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08/13/2007 12:36:23 AM |
lovely tones...almost like a painting 8 |
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Photographer found comment helpful. |
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