DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 
Challenge Entries
This image is not a part of any challenge.
Portfolio Images
This image is not part of a public portfolio.
Amur Falcon (PAW 1/52)
Amur Falcon (PAW 1/52)
HarveyG


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Camera: Nikon D7000
Lens: Sigma 100-300mm F/4.0 EX IF HSM for Nikon
Location: near Winterton, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
Date: Jan 2, 2013
Aperture: 10.0
ISO: 800
Shutter: 1/1000
Galleries: Travel, Birds
Date Uploaded: Jan 8, 2013

Viewed: 421
Comments: 28
Favorites: 0

 Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) photographed whilst hunting flying ants (termites). They are speedy little guys and fly erratic so tough to get sharp and at the right moment.

They are being decimated in India during their (Winter) migration to South Africa (our Summer).

Crop is maybe not great, but it is different...your thoughts? Please no need to be PC with me. Comments and Critique welcome.

This image is © copyrighted 2013 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

v2

Please log in or register to add your comments!

AuthorThread
 01/27/2013 03:55:50 AM
Coming to comment a bit late I fear - you have received many good comments already. The sharpness and clarity is amazing. I'm loving reading your exif - 800 ISO clearly is perfectly usable on your D7000. Anyhow, I do agree with the other commenters about the crop, whilst you lose a bit of detail in v2, you do get a better context
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/21/2013 01:08:43 PM
FANTASTIC - I always find birds in flight to be especially challenging. you nailed this one!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/16/2013 09:54:07 PM
Photos like these always make me gasp because I love it when an animal in motion has key parts in focus. I want to be able to get a shot like this!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/13/2013 08:18:16 PM
HarveyG, you are a master at bird photography and it is a pleasure to watch you get 'even better.'

Obviously, with this image it is a matter of what you are going for. Environment, hunting, identification, or? I would be amazed to find all three in one image. You may just pull it off.

In this one, I found it wonderful to note the pattern of the feathers, the eagerness of the head/eye expression and the position of the tail and talons.

The beauty of the background is a given.

i have no conclusions to make on this image. And I bet you don't either! (joking)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/12/2013 08:08:13 PM
It's a great capture. I like v2 better, it gives more of a feel of the bird within its environment.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/11/2013 02:51:42 AM
Originally posted by daisydavid:
The motivation of the shot doesn't come through, that is, the purpose of it's action. My reaction as a viewer is to wonder what the bird is up to (flying off, hunting, startled by something etc) I'm looking more for something to associate with its movement. Hope that helps. It did, thank you John for the expansive comments. I am not posting my shots with story telling just yet, saving them for another challenge :)


Message edited by author 2013-01-11 02:52:24.
 01/10/2013 11:03:04 PM
Such great detail. The falcons eye caught my attention instantly. I would have like to see it with more cropped off the bottom of the image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/10/2013 07:46:38 PM
Of course I love this shot. The first thing that I look for is the details and you have nailed them! As you know I use square crops quite often but in this shot I don't think the extra space below the falcon adds anything to the image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/10/2013 01:25:48 PM
Impressively crisp. Square crop work well for me since it is more sympathetic with the strongly angular posture of the bird.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/10/2013 04:50:28 AM
Great suspended capture, I have to agree with Ursula comments. V2 is better with the blue at the top, kind of anchors the shot on that side, though a more square crop would be my choice. The motivation of the shot doesn't come through, that is, the purpose of it's action. My reaction as a viewer is to wonder what the bird is up to (flying off, hunting, startled by something etc) I'm looking more for something to associate with its movement. I don't think I could have done what you have done - it's a great shot. Hope that helps.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/10/2013 01:52:43 AM
What a beautiful little raptor! Beautiful capture. I rather like the square crop and the bird's placement in the frame. Thank you for the information as well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/10/2013 12:44:51 AM
Originally posted by nam:
I see that others have weighed in on the crop - looking at the original I'm thinking you lost from the top because you straightened. Tough decision. I don't mind the space below, though - gives me the sense he is looking for prey. What a wonderfully sharp in-flight capture! Great information, too.


Again spot-on. I could have added a green border to trick the eye and add space above the wing tip. It's very interesting to see everyone’s real feeling about an image rather than some arbitrary score. Thanks for the kudo's too, very kind.
 01/09/2013 11:19:30 PM
I see that others have weighed in on the crop - looking at the original I'm thinking you lost from the top because you straightened. Tough decision. I don't mind the space below, though - gives me the sense he is looking for prey. What a wonderfully sharp in-flight capture! Great information, too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/09/2013 04:51:46 AM
Originally posted by ursula:
What I don't like as much is that the falcon looks so very much just suspended in the air, looking as if he isn't doing anything, just suspended there. Also, the large empty area at bottom, but little space at right for the bird to fly into, doesn't work for me. It's a good photo to identify this bird, but, as a photo to enjoy, it is lacking something. I hope that makes sense.


Makes perfect sense thanks Ursula.

What always worries me is that if the bird isn't LARGE in the frame people will think it's too far way and lacking detail. To me environment is as important as the subject itself and the 800px wide is oh so small to do a 16:9 crop! Wished we had 1080 or 1920. I can make the image <300kb, just give the wildlifers and landscapers HD :)
 01/09/2013 02:51:57 AM
This is stunning Harvey. But I also agree on the crop. I usually am quite fond of square crops, but not so much for this one. The green BG provides a wonderful contrast to the bird.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/09/2013 12:22:06 AM
Originally posted by bassbone:
Spectacular details on this shot and lush green smooth background! I agree that the crop does seem a bit off (not enough behind the bird and too much on the bottom - the square crop seems to give this more of a static look.


That's pretty much what I saw too. I did the square crop as an experiment. Will post another in due course with a traditional Landscape crop.

Thank you everyone for the expansive and time consuming critique. Very very welcome and appreciated.
 01/08/2013 10:58:34 PM
I love the details captured in this. As mentioned on your comments, crop might leave something to be desired. I would prefer a more horizontal shot and not such square or almost vertical.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/08/2013 08:00:27 PM
Spectacular details on this shot and lush green smooth background! I agree that the crop does seem a bit off (not enough behind the bird and too much on the bottom - the square crop seems to give this more of a static look.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/08/2013 06:48:07 PM
Good in-air catch of this falcon. The background is beautifully blurred, and the colours are pleasing overall. I like how the bird seems to almost be looking at you. What I don't like as much is that the falcon looks so very much just suspended in the air, looking as if he isn't doing anything, just suspended there. Also, the large empty area at bottom, but little space at right for the bird to fly into, doesn't work for me. It's a good photo to identify this bird, but, as a photo to enjoy, it is lacking something. I hope that makes sense.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/08/2013 05:26:15 PM
It's a great shot with excellent detail for a bird in flight. The thing I look for is the glint in it's eye and, if applicable, it's beak and it's talons and you nailed both. As for the crop - I usually like to see them more in a landscape mode with the bird having lots of room to fly into but that's not always possible - considering this is a true wildlife shot, it's good enough to be in a bird identification book. Great job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/08/2013 04:44:40 PM
This is stunning!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/08/2013 04:32:30 PM
Great capture with an amazing focus. I would try also with a little more space at the top.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/08/2013 03:40:40 PM
Excellent capture! Thanks for the additional information on falcon too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/08/2013 03:31:04 PM
I'm impressed.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/08/2013 03:08:55 PM
Excellent detail!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/08/2013 02:58:56 PM
Very nice Harvey. Looking forward to seeing your future images here.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/08/2013 02:58:19 PM
Thanks Sandy, Winterton was "riddled", but imagine how many more we would see if the 100,000 weren't decimated in India en route here...
 01/08/2013 02:53:23 PM
Great shot. It is sad to see how few tere are in the Wakkerstroom area this year.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Prints! - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 04/23/2024 05:07:07 PM EDT.