Sparrow Hawk - icy morning

[Steve Kaluski]

• Canon EOS R5
• EF200-400mm f/4L IS USM
• ƒ/6.3
• 400mm
• 1/640s
• ISO 6400
• Steve Kaluski
• Fri, 07 January 2022 10:45 AM
• www.untamedimages.co.uk
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 12.1 (Macintosh)

With the snowy/icy few days we had last week, it took me back to the start of photographing this really cool subject. The light dusting of snow and frozen carcass gives a nice atmosphere to the scene IMHO, whilst the dying broken gave a richness to the backdrop.

Thanks to those who commented or viewed the last posting.

In case anyone thinks there is, there is no posterisation, what little if any that may appear, it stems from the upload.

Steve

Subject: Sparrow hawk (f) (Accipiter nisus)
Location: UK
Camera: Canon EOS R5
Lens: EF200-400mm f/4L IS USM
Exposure: 1/640s at f/6.3 ISO6400
Original format: Landscape, very slight crop
Processed via: LRCC 12.1 & PS 24.1.0


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 behavior of the subject. Wood pigeon is from road kill.

 

[Jonathan Ashton]

Beautifully presented colours and details lok excellent. My only criticism is the rather limited DOF, having said that the viewer's attention goes straight to the Sparrowhawk's eye and bill which are bang on focus. Super shot well done.

 

[Steve Kaluski]

Cheers Jon, but look at the techs, if I had gone to f/8, SS reduces and I’m already at ISO6400. Now if it was the R3 then no problem, but Mr Canon was rather slow at delivering… However, as you say, the eye is drawn to the face, but it’s the truck loads of detail you get with the R5 that is so awesome, fingers crossed for January.

 

[Jonathan Ashton]

Cheers Jon, but look at the techs, if I had gone to f/8, SS reduces and I’m already at ISO6400. Now if it was the R3 then no problem, but Mr Canon was rather slow at delivering… However, as you say, the eye is drawn to the face, but it’s the truck loads of detail you get with the R5 that is so awesome, fingers crossed for January.

Sorry Steve completely out of touch with Canon they keep launching new cameras and new lenses no idea what is what anymore.

 

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Steve ... all does sit well for me .
Nice to see a " wintery scene " of the bird . :cheers:
Would like to see a touch more room at the top , processing looks great and i do not see a DOF issue .

TFS Andreas

 

[Joseph Przybyla]

Hi Steve, as Andreas wrote, all looks good to me. Your surely skilled at capturing these birds chomping on a meal. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Steve Kaluski]

Yep, agree Andrea’s, a sliver more no problem and a simple fix. Will take a look tomorrow, cheers.

 

[Steve Kaluski]

Thanks Joe, there is a rumour that a Sparrow Hawk is back in the area, based on some remnants found, but nothing confirmed as to whether it’s this female, or the juvenile from this year. Sadly I have very little time between now and mid March, but we will see.

BTW, try to understand Luminance range, applying this within your specific WF could be very useful at times.

 

[Joseph Przybyla]

Hi Steve, I do try it sometimes but not comfortable with using it. I need to did deeper into it. Is there any specific image you had in mind when suggested using it?

 

[Steve Kaluski]

No Joe, this is what I was saying to a previous thread, there is no Silver bullet which some folk thing there is. Like everything its application is will it help and if so to what degree do you adjust things. It’s simple, but hard to get your head around perhaps, so more in depth will help, but as I said it’s down to your style of WF that in part subject to the image, it may help.

 

[Joseph Przybyla]

No Joe, this is what I was saying to a previous thread, there is no Silver bullet which some folk thing there is. Like everything its application is will it help and if so to what degree do you adjust things. It’s simple, but hard to get your head around perhaps, so more in depth will help, but as I said it’s down to your style of WF that in part subject to the image, it may help.

Thanks Steve, I am watching a video on luminance range masking in Lightroom Classic,

 

[Dorian Anderson]

Bird looks great, even with the shallow DOF. And the colors are great, both on the log and behind. I appreciate the disclosure about the bait, but the stand-alone image implies the hawk killed the pigeon. So something to consider.....