Voicing an Opinion
Young Swainson's Hawk voicing an opinion (Southwest Saskatchewan - 2019 August 23)
Young Swainson's Hawk voicing an opinion (Southwest Saskatchewan - 2019 August 23)
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Mar, 2020Views
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Awards
Winner in Birds on a pole Photo Challenge
2020 Choice Award
Peer Award
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
Absolute Masterpiece
All Star
Superb Composition
Outstanding Creativity
Superior Skill
Emotions
Impressed
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Behind The Lens
Location
I shot this photograph along a dirt road a few miles north -northwest of Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada.Time
I took this photograph at 4:00PM CST (2019 August 23).Lighting
It was a beautiful summer afternoon day with mixed sun and cloud and some harvest dust in the air. There was very little wind.Equipment
I was shooting with my trusty old Nikon D200 and a Sigma 150 - 600mm F5 - 6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens at 550mm Aperture Priority f/7.1 1/1250 sec ISO 500 Manual White Balance set at "Sunny" Exposure 0.33 eV step Spot Metering. I was using my vehicle window to help steady the lens..Inspiration
I am a birder so I enjoy watching Nature on the Wing and try to capture it whenever an opportunity presents itself. This was a young Swainson's Hawk. At this time of year, there are several young hawks hanging around the fences and power lines, hoping to catch an easy meal. This guy was not bothered in the least by my presence as it was more concerned about screaming and complaining it was now on its own and responsible to find its own meals. Even though it wasn't concerned about my presence, using a long lens, I shot a few frames then left the area. I have respect for these beautiful birds, and I don't want to take a chance in disrupting the bird and any chance it may get to find a meal.Editing
This photo was shot in JPEG format. The only post-processing I did was to crop the photo a bit using ACDSee Pro 6,In my camera bag
I have my Nikon D750, D200 and D5100 cameras in my bags along with my Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II,a Tamron SP 24-70MM F/2.8 Di VC USD, a Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD Lens, and a Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens. I also always have my Samsung S8+ SM-6955W cellular phone with me (I like to use it when I want or need a wider angle photo.)Feedback
My advice for others is to shoot as often as you can. If you are shooting wildlife of any kind, before you lift the camera to shoot, ensure you are giving the animal the respect it deserves. Keep your distance and use a long lens, and do not stay longer than a few minutes. Learn the habits of the animals you are shooting.... that way you can anticipate their moves to get a better shot and to recognize the animal's reaction to your presence. Take advantage of the lighting - when it is sunny or when it is cloudy or if rain or any other weather system is moving in, and play with your f stops. Take more than one photo... you can always delete it if it doesn't turn out. My advice is to try different camera settings as well. Most of all, have fun!!
