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Male Kestrel


Male Kestrel
Photo Information
Copyright: Adrian Hutton (aido) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1097 W: 168 N: 1218] (4046)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-06-07
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D300, Nikkor AF-S VR 200-400mm f/4G ED, DxRAW ISO 400
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/100 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Alex99 favorite shots [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-06-13 2:33
Viewed: 656
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Kestrel Falco tinnunculus (male) taken on a photo day organised by Miles (Captivelight). The days are organised by Miles and the good folk at Libertys to take some British birds out into the New Forest where they can be photographed in a natural setting. As well as giving photographers great opportunities to get close to these beautiful birds, they raise funds which help to keep the centre operating. Joe (Joey) was there also.

The males have a grey tail and head (the head markings being very similar to the Kites) while the females do not, they retain the brown plumage and black markings of the body.

The Kestrel is also known as the Windhover, due to its distinctive hunting style. No other bird of prey has mastered the art of stationary flight to such a degree. It hangs at a height of 20 or 30 ft poised in the air with almost a ‘twitch’ in the wings and the retrices widespread searching the ground below. Even in the face of a stiff gusty wind it can remain stationary in mid-air. If no prey is sighted the bird glides forward or circles a few times before hovering once more over new ground. Quite a unique way of hunting, expending the minimum of energy for maximum return.

The Kestrel’s prey is varied ; it will take small mammals, especially voles, and is also known to take many bird species. Most observations relate to larks, pipits and finches but kestrels are capable of taking such quarry as fieldfares, turtle doves and lapwing.

f/5.6
1/100
ISO 400
270mm
EV Metering
EV Bias -0.33
Tripod (VR on)

Cropped (5%) resized and sharpened.
Demetrio, uleko, Miss_Piggy, Alex99, angela926, dB_grafix, SunToucher, marhowie, horia, claudine, jacqueline, jeanpaul, hester has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To jacqueline: Thanksaido 1 06-23 13:44
To horia: Helloaido 1 06-20 04:33
To marhowie: Heyaido 1 06-18 02:08
To CaptiveLight: Hello Milesaido 1 06-15 08:14
To Alex99: Hello Alexeiaido 1 06-15 03:45
To Demetrio: Hi Demetrioaido 1 06-14 01:08
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Critiques [Translate]

Wow that really is some shot, and I knew nothing about these photo events when in UK. Could you email me more info about this course. The shot is really great and the background nice and soft making the bird really stand out. Really looks like its worth going on one of these events.

Regards

Demetrio

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2459 W: 168 N: 7421] (23442)
  • [2008-06-13 4:11]

Hello Adrian,
Oh to be in England where people are so sociable!! I think Joe showed us a close-up of the same bird, or maybe I'm wrong. It must be nice to meet up with other TN folk! This is a brilliant capture of the Kestrel in a fine pose and against a lovely green background. Great sharpness and beautiful colours too! Well done!
TFS and regards, Ulla

Hello Adrian
You did really good work by capturing this beautiful bird with great quality.
Well done and TFS
Ralf

Hallo Adrian
Time was my biggest enemy lately, and I have lots of catching up to do. The clarity of the details captured in your Male Kestrel shot is just splendid. Really awesome in all aspects, but I escpecially like the bright yellow colour of the circle around the eyes. The patterns and colours of the plumage is really spectacular and I like the back view in which you have captured it displaying the beauty of tip the tailpiece. Your presentation is worth a huge smiley. Thanks for sharing.
Kind regards.
Anna

Hello Adrian,
Fantastic! What a marvelous capture, the sharpness
and quality of the picture is very impressive.
Great POV and wonderful composition.. Well done

Everton

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3030 W: 148 N: 4521] (14603)
  • [2008-06-13 10:25]
  • [+]

Hi Adrian.
I would be happy to have such tremendous shot. It is not simply photo it is true art work. BG is unusual and superb. Image of the bird and dry branch look like from fantastic fairy-tale. I cannot enough English words to express my impressions. Bravo. Extraordinary picture.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1202 W: 68 N: 2477] (8179)
  • [2008-06-13 11:09]

Hello Adrian,
What a cool photo! Excellent details and very beautiful colours. Great BG and POV. Lovely pose.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1683 W: 242 N: 5560] (19685)
  • [2008-06-13 15:13]

Very nice shot of this Kestrel, Adrian!
I really like the BG and it helps make the bird stand out.
Very sharp with excellent clarity.
Lovely colours and light.
Excellent composition too.

Really well done!

Joe

Hello Adrian,
Definitely an opportunity to capture these birds during shows.
It is an excellent image.
When the light is right and the BG is excellent you can't reach such a quality in a studio, I guess.
No negative critiques whatsoever...
Well done!
TFS
Annick

Hello Adrian,
Great capture of this lovely kestrel, beautiful vivid colors,
superb sharpness and depth of field,very nice soft
green background excellent details in the plummage and face, very nice shot.
TFS
Angela

Colours, pose, focus, DOF, all spot on... especially the lighting! Good to see you and good to see such a quality image from the day.

Hello Adrian,
This is a lovely shot with so nice colours and composition. The dark green background is a nice bonus. Best regards,
Catherine

The colouring is brilliant.This is a stunning POV, and well focused image.Great details on the eye.
Those ferns in back give the depth such a nice touch.
TFS.
Doug

Hi Adrian,
I saw you out & about on the site, so thought I'd better see what you've been up to..
Superb image, that fern BG helps to elevate this one into a work of art.
Perfect work & a great pleasure to view.
Hat's off to ya as they say :)
Howard

Hi Adrain,
Great to see you in action again. And when you are, you always show us these amazing photos of wonderful birds. The light colors and details in the photo are all wonderful. After reading you comment to Miles, I think I can actually see the reflector in the reflection of the eye.
TFS,
Niek

:) later

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2078 W: 216 N: 3757] (12468)
  • [2008-06-19 4:51]
  • [+]

Hi Adrian and nice to see some new posts from you, my friend! I hope you are doing well :)

This is a splendid hot of one of my favorite birds. We have the same species here, too (i've seen it sometimes even around the university's campus) but i am yet to get a good shot of it...it's not really my "thing" anyway ;)

Here you have a superb portrait, full of extra sharp details and gorgeous colors. The DOF is also spot-on and keeps the entire bird in full focus while blurring the BG...but not entirely. I actually like those ferns in the back to be honest :)
Very well taken and presented!

Bravo and TFS
Horia

You are lucky to have this fantastic place to photograph the more beautiful birds of all. What a beauty! Everything looks great here and I like this background of ferns that gives the picture such nice texture. I would be much impressed getting that close from this impressive specie! I wish I could go out with you folks but I'm afraid that I live a little too far ;) Beautiful!
Claudine

Hi Adrian,
Absolutely fantastic.Iam totally in awe of this photo.I hope one day to be able to take shots like this.
Regards Jackie

Hi Adrian
Superbe composition, détails impressionnants et couleurs magnifiques.
Bravo et au revoir...JP

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1471 W: 18 N: 2981] (10944)
  • [2008-07-21 13:02]

Hi Adrian

This should be in a book, it really is beautiful. Great clarity, sharpness and such wonderful colour tones. The bird looks relaxed and is beautifully sharp showing great details. Perfect DOF as well. Wonderful

TFS

Karan

Great shot! Excellent sharpness and colours. I like the pattern of the leaves coming out of the beautiful green bg.

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