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09-21-2006, 02:31 PM
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A WetCanvas! Patron Saint
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,803
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Red Tailed Hawk
Last night around 5:00 PM, DH and I rendezvoused with our son and DiL at an open pasture area where roads were just cut in for a residential development. Its still fairly remote, but the pasture has just been bush-hogged (mowed) and the rodents had no cover.
In other words: Raptor Feeding Time!
This is a Red Tailed Hawk feeding on a rabbit. I may add more photos later.
I borrowed my sons Sigma 70-200mm lens; our distance from the subject was approx 12 feet. The hawk was watchful of us, but no way was he going to give up his meal for 4 Nikon cameras. The sun was going down fast. (there were several other hawks and some turkey vultures all in the same area)
Most shots taken in Aperture Priority, f/8 with ISO 200 to 400.
I took 160+ photos (in RAW) before my 1 gig card filled up.
Look at how stuffed his 'crop' is! I wonder if he was capable of flight with a meal like that under his feathers.
We have the utmost respect for these beautiful creatures and will stay away for a few days so they do not get used to human company.
__________________
Best Regards,
damar
Nikon D200 and D50--Lenses: Nikon 18-55mm, Nikon 18-70mm, Nikon AF 18-135mm f/3.5, Nikon 70-300mm, Nikon 60mm Micro, Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-S,
Manfrotto 055XB with Markins M10 Q-Ball Head, Manfrotto 680B Monopod, SB-800 Speedlight, Adobe CS2
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09-21-2006, 05:24 PM
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A WC! Legend
Brisbane, Australia
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Join Date: Oct 2003
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Re: Red Tailed Hawk
Awesome Damar, love the look in the last one! He is really showing how proud he is!
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Wendy
Canon 40D, PS and Corel Painter
A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.: - Albert Einstein
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09-21-2006, 06:10 PM
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A WetCanvas! Patron Saint
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Re: Red Tailed Hawk
Thanks Wendy,
It was an exciting photo-shoot.
__________________
Best Regards,
damar
Nikon D200 and D50--Lenses: Nikon 18-55mm, Nikon 18-70mm, Nikon AF 18-135mm f/3.5, Nikon 70-300mm, Nikon 60mm Micro, Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-S,
Manfrotto 055XB with Markins M10 Q-Ball Head, Manfrotto 680B Monopod, SB-800 Speedlight, Adobe CS2
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09-21-2006, 06:31 PM
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A WC! Legend
Brisbane, Australia
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 18,974
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Re: Red Tailed Hawk
Any wildlife shoot is, I am still hoping to get some good shots of wild bird of prey (one day my turn will come  )
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Wendy
Canon 40D, PS and Corel Painter
A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.: - Albert Einstein
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09-21-2006, 07:16 PM
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Lord of the Arts
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,696
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Re: Red Tailed Hawk
Wonderful shots damar, everytime I try they fly and I get blur, guess that is better than nothing! ;-]
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09-21-2006, 07:28 PM
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A WetCanvas! Minion!
Lindsay, Ontario
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Re: Red Tailed Hawk
wonderful wonderful wonderful.....its amazing how close you can get, but they wont give up their meal and they will stay to eat it!!! Wonderful, wonderful pictures.....i wonder if i might use them as a photo reference for a painting? in particular the first shot? Let me know in a PM....thanks!
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09-21-2006, 08:30 PM
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Lord of the Arts
East Windsor, New Jersey
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,291
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Re: Red Tailed Hawk
damar,
These are terrific wildlife photos. Red-Tailed Hawks are such noble birds and incredible hunters. It is amazing that they have the self-confidence to let you get so close.
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Terry
Sony A300 DSLR, Photoshop CS6
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09-21-2006, 08:32 PM
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Lord of the Arts
East Windsor, New Jersey
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,291
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Re: Red Tailed Hawk
damar,
These are terrific wildlife photos. Red-Tailed Hawks are such noble birds and incredible hunters. It is amazing that they have the self-confidence to let you get so close.
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Terry
Sony A300 DSLR, Photoshop CS6
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09-21-2006, 08:41 PM
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A WetCanvas! Patron Saint
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Re: Red Tailed Hawk
Hey Terry! Welcome back and thanks for stopping in!
That hawk was trying to eat as much as he could before dark. He had to compete with other hawks and turkey vultures, so as soon as he realized we didn't want his food, he was tolerant of us.
When my son first approached, the hawk took the rabbit and moved it around, spread his wings over it in a guarded manner. It didn't take him long to return to eating unthreatened.
He/she is beautiful and I feel lucky to have been able to get a few shots.
I got these shots of a Red Shouldered hawk, earlier that same day:
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=372082
Thanks!
__________________
Best Regards,
damar
Nikon D200 and D50--Lenses: Nikon 18-55mm, Nikon 18-70mm, Nikon AF 18-135mm f/3.5, Nikon 70-300mm, Nikon 60mm Micro, Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-S,
Manfrotto 055XB with Markins M10 Q-Ball Head, Manfrotto 680B Monopod, SB-800 Speedlight, Adobe CS2
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09-21-2006, 11:27 PM
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A WetCanvas! Patron Saint
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Re: Red Tailed Hawk
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Windbreaker
Wonderful shots damar, everytime I try they fly and I get blur, guess that is better than nothing! ;-]
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If the bird is flying across your viewfinder, try panning as the bird flies and follow through with the pan until the shutter releases (if he is flying at any speed but not if it is soaring slowly).
Take lot's of shots--you're bound to get a few. Keep trying!
__________________
Best Regards,
damar
Nikon D200 and D50--Lenses: Nikon 18-55mm, Nikon 18-70mm, Nikon AF 18-135mm f/3.5, Nikon 70-300mm, Nikon 60mm Micro, Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-S,
Manfrotto 055XB with Markins M10 Q-Ball Head, Manfrotto 680B Monopod, SB-800 Speedlight, Adobe CS2
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09-21-2006, 11:36 PM
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A WetCanvas! Patron Saint
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Join Date: Sep 2003
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Re: Red Tailed Hawk
Quote:
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Originally Posted by emogirl
wonderful wonderful wonderful.....its amazing how close you can get, but they wont give up their meal and they will stay to eat it!!! Wonderful, wonderful pictures.....i wonder if i might use them as a photo reference for a painting? in particular the first shot? Let me know in a PM....thanks!
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PM sent, sorry I missed a few posts earlier or would have responded sooner.
__________________
Best Regards,
damar
Nikon D200 and D50--Lenses: Nikon 18-55mm, Nikon 18-70mm, Nikon AF 18-135mm f/3.5, Nikon 70-300mm, Nikon 60mm Micro, Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-S,
Manfrotto 055XB with Markins M10 Q-Ball Head, Manfrotto 680B Monopod, SB-800 Speedlight, Adobe CS2
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09-21-2006, 11:40 PM
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A WetCanvas! Patron Saint
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Join Date: Sep 2003
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Re: Red Tailed Hawk
The competition:
He was pretty much out of range for my lens, so I cropped close.
Not very good, but the turkey vultures were hanging around waiting to get in on the feeding.
__________________
Best Regards,
damar
Nikon D200 and D50--Lenses: Nikon 18-55mm, Nikon 18-70mm, Nikon AF 18-135mm f/3.5, Nikon 70-300mm, Nikon 60mm Micro, Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-S,
Manfrotto 055XB with Markins M10 Q-Ball Head, Manfrotto 680B Monopod, SB-800 Speedlight, Adobe CS2
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09-22-2006, 12:53 AM
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Enthusiast
New Zealand
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,342
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Re: Red Tailed Hawk
Wow nice work damar, they look awesome. I am getting lots of ideas for subjects from here. That vulture looks really good too.
Thanks for sharing!
Cheers
TW
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Regards, T.S. HA'O
Iwata HP-A HL, HPSBS E, HPBC, HPBE, HPBC2, Paasche VL's, T&C V2000, Assorted Hairy Sticks. Golden, AquaFlow, Liquitex, W&N, Matisse, Comart, ETAC, PPG, HOK, Natural pigments suspended in various mediums etc...
Nikon D700, D80, Nikkors, 50mm 1.4, 1.8, 18-135mm DX, 70-300mm VR, Epson 24 & 44 inch large format printers, Wacom Intuos3. 
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09-22-2006, 03:42 AM
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A Local Legend
Charleston, West Virginia
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,547
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Re: Red Tailed Hawk
Quote:
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Originally Posted by damar
Take lot's of shots--you're bound to get a few. Keep trying!
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There's a statistic probability that even I'll get right at least once.
Birds are tough, even sitting still, they have twitches that end up blurring the shot. A bit easier to capture with a higher shutter speed.
Good stuff, and a story enjoyed looking at the Red Shouldered Hawk too. Thanks for sharing them.
__________________
Richard
Last edited by WV.Artistry : 09-22-2006 at 03:53 AM.
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09-22-2006, 07:34 AM
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A WetCanvas! Patron Saint
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,803
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Re: Red Tailed Hawk
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Te_Wheke
Wow nice work damar, they look awesome. I am getting lots of ideas for subjects from here. That vulture looks really good too.
Thanks for sharing!
Cheers
TW
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Thanks TW--hope your ideas pan out!
I find turkey and black vultures to be fascinating as well as hawks.
If one can look past their food preference, they are beautiful in their own way.
__________________
Best Regards,
damar
Nikon D200 and D50--Lenses: Nikon 18-55mm, Nikon 18-70mm, Nikon AF 18-135mm f/3.5, Nikon 70-300mm, Nikon 60mm Micro, Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-S,
Manfrotto 055XB with Markins M10 Q-Ball Head, Manfrotto 680B Monopod, SB-800 Speedlight, Adobe CS2
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