Zena, Red Tail Hawk portrait
Taken at the Smoky Mountain Raptor Center
Taken at the Smoky Mountain Raptor Center
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Feb, 2018Views
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Awards
Community Choice Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Peer Award
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
Superior Skill
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Relaxed
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This portrait of Zen, a Red-tailed Hawk, was taken at the Smoky Mountain Raptor Center outside of Gatlinburg, TN, in 2017.Time
The photo was taken about 10:30 a.m.Lighting
There was no external lighting of any type - just natural outdoor lighting.Equipment
I used a Canon Rebel T3i, EF-S55-250mm f/4.5-5.6 IS II lens at 250mm. 1/750 sec., f/5.6, ISO 100, handheld.Inspiration
The Smoky Mountain Raptor Center was opened in 2011 as an educational and rehabilitation center for raptors that were unable to be released back into the wild. Zena was found on the ground shortly after birth in 2014 and after being observed for a couple of days was determined to be blind. Ornithologists at U of Tenn found that she had cataracts. Three months after lens surgery, they found her left retina had detached. She has limited sight in her right eye. During the Great Smoky Mountains Photo Summit, our small group went to the Center where we were able to photograph several of the residents in natural settings. Each bird was tethered by a handler but was allowed to move, pose, and act naturally. Zena is so beautiful and majestic. Of all the birds I photographed, she remains my favorite.Editing
The photo was cropped close in Photoshop but other than a little sharpening, little other post-processing.In my camera bag
I carry two Canon bodies -- my faithful T3i and a T6i. My current lens are Tamron 18-400mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD and a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 macro USM. My tripod (with whom I have a love/hate relationship) is a 3-Legged Thing "Travis." Along with these staples, I also carry a Westcott pocket reflector, UV filters on each lens, a Pro-58mm Variable filter for each. Not camera equipment, per se, but I also carry a Gnar box -- this handy device allows me to back up all my photos from a day's shooting so that I don't have to worry about losing my only copy.Feedback
I realize this was a controlled environment and not taken in the wild, but I think there's great value in both. We still learned to respect the wildlife, giving it it's space, backing off when necessary and understanding its personality and how to capture that in its best way.
