The Eye of the Buzzard
She's a Ferruginous Buzzard. Origin: North America.
She's a Ferruginous Buzzard. Origin: North America.
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Sep, 2014Views
8199
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Awards
Winner in Your best shot of bird(s) Photo Challenge
Featured
People's Choice in Birds of Prey Photo Challenge
Contest Finalist in Foto Digital Volume 4 Photo Contest
People's Choice in First photo that has started your ViewBug gallery! Photo Challenge
Contest Finalist in Monthly Pro Vol 10 Photo Contest
People's Choice in SOOC (straight out of camera) Photo Challenge
Contest Finalist in Close Ups In Nature Photo Contest
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Superb Composition
Peer Award
All Star
Superior Skill
Magnificent Capture
Outstanding Creativity
Genius
Jaw Dropping
Emotions
Impressed
Top Ranks
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 10 rank
Platinum
PRO
PRO+
PRO+
PRO+
Platinum
Platinum
Platinum
Platinum
PRO+
PRO+
TedCobbett
January 18, 2015
Beautiful shot! but this looks more like a red tailed hawk than a buzzard.
Platinum
kathleenweetman
May 12, 2015
Wonderful...wonderful...wonderful news about the award in MARCH ...How did I miss that snippet of news....? Always love the bird shots......k
Platinum
PRO
PRO+
Rustybucket8472
May 13, 2015
Thanks to everyone who voted on my image in Monthly Pro Vol 10 Photo contest
Platinum
Pblais
May 15, 2015
The photo Gods don't bless this well all that often! Even got the reflection in the eye. How you didn't get bit is beyond me!
PRO+
PRO+
PRO
snowdon
May 28, 2015
Congratulations on your Finalist Win in Foto Digital Volume 4 Contest ... great result.
Platinum
Platinum
Platinum
Roach1969
September 16, 2015
Fantastic close up, love the clarity and detail. Thank you for entering my challenge :D
Platinum
PRO+
Platinum
texaaronpueschel
July 29, 2016
You capture the fierceness in the eyes so well. THis photo deserves the awards.
Platinum
PRO+
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
We decided to go out for the day to take some photos. This photo was taken at Leeds castle in Kent, UK which is a beautiful place to go to take some lovely photos. The castle itself is very picturesque and I always take lots of photos of that but through the grounds they have a Bird of Prey Centre where you can really get up close to the birds. This allows you to take some fabulous photos at very close range. I am so lucky as I only live about 30 miles from this castle. I would recommend a visit to Leeds castle if ever you are in the area.Time
It was taken around noon in September. The weather was just right for the shot of this beautiful bird, not full on bright sunshine but just a bit of cloud and a very bright autumn day so lots of natural light. The birds sit out on tree stumps all day and get taken out to fly from the castle grounds at various intervals during the day so depending on the time of day you visit there will be different birds available to photograph like this. It's worth hanging around the area where they sit as the staff are very knowledgeable and happy to talk about the birds if they are not doing a display.Lighting
The photo was taken on a sunny day so as I said previously there was lots of natural light. The birds sit under trees which shade them so you have to choose the angle that you photograph the birds from to make the most of the natural light. I didn't use any flash photography or false lighting just all completely natural.Equipment
I used a Canon 70D camera with a 100-400mm telephoto lens on manual setting. It is my favourite lens. Because the birds of prey sit in a little fenced off area this lens enables me to stand by the waist high fence and zoom in to get perfect shots. I also have a 90 x 300 ml telephoto lens which is good for using if you are closer to the birds and I have tried using that for these birds but the 100-400 is so perfect for this type of close up shot. As long as the bird sits still of course!!!!!!Inspiration
I love taking photos of wild animals but obviously quite limited to where I can go to do that. I have been to several birds of prey centres but usually they are all sitting behind wire mesh in cages and that can blur the images so much that to get a lovely clear image without any wire was incredible, Couldn't pass up the opportunity for this. There were about 8 different birds of prey all sat out under the trees so I managed to get lots of photos and I was really amazed at the clarity of this photo when I looked at this on the computer when I got home.Editing
No, none at all I am pleased to say. All I did was to crop the image and zoom in, nothing else needed doing. I would much rather have a good natural photo than enhance it using Photoshop. If I use Photoshop to distort photographs it is always very obvious as you can see from some of the other photos on my site.In my camera bag
I have 2 Canon cameras that I use. A 70D, 400D camera with different lenses on them so I don't waste time changing them and chance missing a shot. My lenses are 100-400mm telephoto lens a 28-300mm telephoto lens a 90-300mm lens 2x 18-55mm and a EF 100mm macro lens. Also a tripod and a monopod. I don't always take all the cameras out with me, it really depends on where I go for the day and how much I want to carry!!!Feedback
Just take your time, don't rush and you should get the shot you want. You need lots of patience when photographing wild animals as they are so unpredictable. Also it is sometimes better to go to these places when it is quiet so during the weekdays rather than at weekends.
