Eating on the run

[Steve Kaluski]

• Steve Kaluski
• www.untamedimages.co.uk
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 13.5.1 (Macintosh)

Subject: Kestrel (M) (Falco tinnunculus)
Camera: Canon EOS R3
Lens: EF 500mm F/4 IS USM II 1.4 MKIII
Exposure: 1/3200 at f/9 ISO1250
Original format:Landscape, almost FF

All Raw captures perfectly exposed, confirmed by Raw Digger

Thanks to those who viewed or posted a comment on the previous image

Note: The subject is fully wild and completely unconstrained. Besides the potential impact of my presence, nothing has been done to intentionally alter or affect the ongoing behaviour of the subject.
The mouse is dead and bred for snakes/reptiles, it has helped the food intake for the parents who have raised three juveniles.

 

[Gabriela Plesea]

Beautiful capture, Steve.

Superb detail and colours and background is to die for.
I especially like the pose here with those little talons clutching the mouse and wings spread as if about to take off.
Perfect techs and beautifully exposed, love the light, this has become my favourite image now of the Kestrel series!

Thank you so much for sharing,

Warmest regards,
Gabriela

 

[Steve Kaluski]

Morning Gabriela, we were just having fun working the Kestrels, but the continuous changing light I think helped adding a bit more mood to the scene. The darker LHC is far more pronounced on here, prints out fine, but... Also going slightly smaller in frame I wanted to give the subject more space to breathe. I left the fly in, interesting you now need to tap twice to get it to the correct size.

 

[Gabriela Plesea]

Steve, I like the BG as is, the light is so dramatic.
Did not mind the fly. Not an issue to me but you might consider removing the white dropping on the perch if you decided to print?

 

[Steve Kaluski]

Not an issue to me but you might consider removing the white dropping on the perch if you decided to print?

Thanks Gabriela, here I might, but generally if it's a well used killing post then my tendency is to leave the droppings in, irrespective, because it's more natural and a sign that the subject uses it and is comfortable with the location.

 

[Gabriela Plesea]

Thanks Gabriela, here I might, but generally if it's a well used killing post then my tendency is to leave the droppings in, irrespective, because it's more natural and a sign that the subject uses it and is comfortable with the location.

I understand, Steve. Did realise it was left on purpose, given your attention to detail in every image😊

 

[Steve Kaluski]

Did realise it was left on purpose, given your attention to detail in every image

I guess it's so small it should go, time to get the retouching brushes out. You think I'm joking with brushes, remember I go back to retouching 16x12 transparencies in the dark ages!!!! No computers then.

 

[Tim Kaufman]

"Besides the potential impact of my presence, nothing has been done to intentionally alter or affect the ongoing behaviour of the subject."
Huh? You are feeding it dead mice??? You don't think that will have any effect on its behavior?

 

[Steve Kaluski]

No Tim, it feed as far as they are concerned.

 

[Jonathan Ashton]

Little to add, colours look great the background looks very appealing, maybe just a tad more space on the LHS would have been good.

 

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Wonderful image, Steve.
It may just be the angle, but if both wings were at the same elevation, it would be the icing on the cake. Though it is exceptional as is and maybe I am expecting too much.
TFS mate

 

[Steve Kaluski]

Though it is exceptional as is and maybe I am expecting too much.

Hey hey, you disappeared as quickly as you surface, but nice to see you back and thanks for your comments. No not asking too much, but you only get one chance so you take what you get.

I'll ping you a couple of others with a note, hope all is well Ákos your end, just wading in 2 ft of fresh snow the other week!!!!

All the best
Steve

 

[Arthur Morris]

I am confused. You say that you are feeding the bird a dead mouse. Then, I assume, the bird flies in to grab the mouse. Or something like that. If I am correct, then you are 100% influencing the bird's behavior. I have no problems with feeding birds, but your statement makes zero sense to me. In short, I agree with Tim (above).

As for the image I like the sharpness and the sort of spotlit effect, but I do not like the uneven lighting on the near wing. And yes,, the image would have been a lot stronger if the rear wing were fully raised.

with love, artie

 

[Steve Kaluski]

Thanks Artie, will revise the text next time.