Northern Goshawk 2
Image taken at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy in Vittoria, Ontario, Canada
Image taken at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy in Vittoria, Ontario, Canada
Read less
Read less
Feb, 2018Views
324
Likes
Awards
Winner in Birds Of Prey Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
Virtuoso
Superior Skill
Superb Composition
Emotions
Impressed
Top Ranks
Top 10 rankTop 20 rank week 1
Top 30 rankTop 30 rank week 1Categories
PRO+
PRO+
NatureLoverJJWal
September 19, 2018
Great image and awesome expression! Congratulations on your award!
PRO+
randalwallen
June 12, 2022
Very cool photo of a Northern Goshawk. I hope to see one someday. Getting a great picture of one would be fantastic!
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
I shot this photo at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy near Vittoria, Ontario, Canada as part of a weekend photography workshop put on by Tim Griffin and Creative Vision Photography Workshops based out of Sterling Heights, Michigan.Time
I would guess that this image was taken around 10:00 - 10:30 AM, As a rule I don't carry a watch or cell phone to keep track of time because my sole purpose in getting out of the office and taking pictures is to forget about time, the responsibilities awaiting me when the day is done, and the everyday stresses of life. I try to focus my complete attention on experiencing the moment and nothing else.Lighting
This photo was taken completely in natural light. It was an overcast day, and, as one might guess from the white specks in the image, a light snow was falling. Perfect natural lighting for photographing birds outdoors.Equipment
I shot this image with a Canon EOS Mark 7D II, equipped with a Canon 100-400 mm telephoto lens. Both the camera and lens were relatively new to me, so we were getting better acquainted during this workshop. Thank Goodness for Mr. Griffin, as his expertise proved to be quite valuable in the learning process.Inspiration
This was one of the most beautiful hawks I had ever seen, and I'm not sure that this particular species ever frequents South-Eastern Lower Michigan where I live and take most of my outdoor photos. If it does, I have never seen one prior to this workshop. I considered it a unique opportunity to photograph a Hawk I may never, ever encounter in the wild.Editing
About the only post processing I did was a bit of cropping using Light Room and adding my signature watermark. Beyond that, the image appears pretty much as it did when taken.In my camera bag
Naturally, I carry my Canon EOS Mark 7D II and a small variety of lenses. For this photo workshop I only used the 100-400mm lens, but I also carry a 100-300mm lens as well as a macro lens. On trips such as this, I will usually carry an extra camera body; a Canon EOS Rebel T6. The lenses are interchangeable, and the LAST thing I want is to get out in the field, far away from home, only to discover that my camera body is malfunctioning. I carry multiple batteries for both cameras, as well as an array of filters for the lenses. I also carry additional memory cards. On this trip it was a good thing I did. I had a new card for each day. This particular shot was taken on day one, and when I got home and tried importing the images with Light Room to my computer, something went wrong and the program indicated that the card was corrupted and the images on it were lost. I made mention of this on Facebook & Mr. Griffin responded almost immediately, "Don't do anything with that card!" He then gave my his private phone number and suggested I give him a call. I called him and he directed me to a free website through which I could recover my lost images, one of which is the one that won this challenge.Feedback
I would recommend getting involved with a photography group or club of some kind. If you find the right group, you will meet some wonderful, like-minded friends who are more than willing to share their knowledge, tips, and tricks with you. Further, a group or club will be able to provide shooting locations and experiences that one simply cannot gain access to alone. However, do not hesitate to go out and explore on your own from time to time. Some of my most satisfying photographic forays have been solo adventures. Once you come upon a subject and start clicking the shutter something magical often happens; it's almost as if time stands still and all that matters in the entire world occurs between you and your subject.
