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Flight of the Falcon


Flight of the Falcon
Photo Information
Copyright: Pam Russell (coasties) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3816 W: 505 N: 8098] (27718)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-04-23
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 10D, Sigma 80-400 OS, Hoya UV 77mm
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): New Zealand Raptors, 40 points or more (Chapter 5)., Falcons - I chapter [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-04-28 4:05
Viewed: 3619
Points: 48
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is not the sharpest photo I have taken, but I thought it very worthy of TN. Taken at Wingspan which is a New Zealand charity for research, captive management, and public awareness of New Zealand raptors, especially the endangered New Zealand Falcon. This was taken during 'free flight' where they exercise the birds by using a lure with a small amount of meat attached.

New Zealand Falcon

Little is known about the small raptor, which should not to be confused with the larger and much more prolific Australian harrier hawk, commonly seen cleaning up possums and rabbits on New Zealand roads.

The New Zealand falcon is smaller and is featured on our $20 notes. It is one of many endangered raptors worldwide. In New Zealand we have three forms of falcon, the bush falcon in the North Island, the eastern falcon that lives around the rocks of the South Island and the southern cousin who lives around Fiordland and the sub-Antarctic islands.

It’s thought there are about 400 breeding pairs of the bush falcon but no one knows for sure, although because of its limited numbers it has been classified as ‘threatened’ by the Department of Conservation.

The above obtaimned from http://masseynews.massey.ac.nz/2003/masseynews/mar/mar24/stories/falcon.html

Image Information

Camera: Canon 10D
Time of day: 2:24 p.m.
Date: 5th March 2005
Weather conditions: Clear
Lens: Sigma 80-400mm OS
Filter: Hoya 77mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/500
F-Stop: F/5.6
Focal Length: 80mm
ISO: 400
tinman, TAZ, AndyB, red45, aktolga, Okan, alois, dew77, Comandante, gerhardt, liquidsunshine, Luc, Callie, wgreis has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Now thats one great instant. everyone would understand its next to imposible getting a perfectly crisp image when shooting such. It remains one of the best ,,in flight,, scenes around !

Excellent action shot - I can relate to it as was at a sanctuary recently and the birds certainly move!

Well done and TFS. Tim

  • Great 
  • alois Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 41 W: 0 N: 107] (1205)
  • [2005-04-28 4:43]

Wooow, Pam this is a majestic shot, I was so impresssed when I saw the "wild" look of this raptor. Warm congrats !

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-04-28 4:46]

Belle et intéressante photographie pour cet impressionnant faucon en piqué. Jolies couleurs et bonne netteté.
Very Well Done !

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1391 W: 32 N: 1350] (3982)
  • [2005-04-28 5:24]

Fabulous in-flight capture.
You've captured the sense of speed and motion very well indeed.
A cool determined look it gives too.
Very well done.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2005-04-28 5:25]

Maybe not sharpest but definitelly worth to post. Superb moment and composition, just before attack! Superb bird on superb photo!

Excellent action photo, nothing to say.
Pam, thank you for sharing.
And thank you for the note.

Sinan

Hello Pam,

Falcons are among the fastes birds and you must have been very fast to catch him.
I think the sharpness is OK. It gives a good idea of the action when he focuses
his target and rushes down.

A really nice shot.

Thomas

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2005-04-28 5:55]

Amazing moment you caught Pam!
Wonderful action shot,DOF and composition.Congratulations!
TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1575 W: 5 N: 2181] (12252)
  • [2005-04-28 6:17]

Un très beau spécimem qui a un allure méchant.

Félicitations et bonne journée

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2005-04-28 6:26]

Not the sharpest you've have taken but a great shot nevertheless. What an actionshot, Pam! The pose is great and therefore it is very TN-worthy. I love the look in the eyes of the bird. TFS!

Wonderful action shot Pam!
Details,BG and framing are perfect.Thanks for sharing.

This a wonderful action photo Pam, timing is excellent. But ı think you may crop with a little space in front of the bird. I made a workshop for you hope you'll like it.

Lovley in-flight, Pam. Much better than any I have. It was close to you (80mm FL) and that makes it very hard to get tack sharp. The closer and faster a subject moves to you makes it harder to get in focus. At certain angles and speeds almost impossible not to get blurring. When taking the distance and speed of this critter into acount you can be very pleased with this result. Well done.

Halo Pam!
Wonderful shot. I think it is very difficult to make photo in flight. Good job.

Wow, even if it isnt sharp, the details are great. A very good action shot, something i am still battling with..

well done
Elize

Great action shot, very nice pose and good details even if the face is a little soft focused.
Well done.
TFS.

Great action shot Pam,
I've been looking forward to your posts from this visit.
Great timing to get this shot, and very sharp and well detailed too.
I bet you had a stiff neck after watching these falcons in action.
Thanks for posting

  • Great 
  • Toni Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 403 W: 2 N: 316] (2034)
  • [2005-04-28 17:41]

It's true it's not the sharpest but it's also true that the downward position and angle of the wings makes it a very good shot.
Regards Toni

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6165] (21068)
  • [2005-04-29 2:59]

Hi Pam, great POV on this shot. There is a lot of "dynamic' impact in this picture. I can almost feel the intensity of this raptor. Well done. ; )

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2005-04-29 21:21]

Personal assessment of the photo: great.
Good visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: complete.
Thank you very much Pam.

This is a very impressive shot Pam. Stunning. The position of the wings is unique. Bravo!

Apesar de considerar todas as suas fotos boas num contextos geral, penso que nos falcões você se supera. De fato são marcantes em todos os sentidos. Definição, contraste, enquadramento do tema, enfim, tudo. Excelente.
Wagner.

I know how difficult this sort of shot is, so you've done very well here. Nice sharpness, as it's not easy to focus quickly!

  • Great 
  • Callie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1132 W: 105 N: 2609] (7531)
  • [2005-05-15 10:17]

Wow Pam. did I miss a lot of nice raptors while off TN - My eyes caught your kea, and then this diving bomb, amd I must just add that this is a great shot. Very nice details on the plumage - TFS

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