Anyone want to play with my bird ??

ottor · Jan 2, 2011

Walked out in the backyard with the 450D and a 75-300 Non-IS canon "Kit" lens.... in a flash, I noticed a beautiful hawk in my Blue Spruce, trying his best to get some of my Finches that hang around the birdfeeders.... Slapped it into "Automatic Mode" (didnt' want to take time to change setttings) and he took off immediately... Got him in flight, but this is a perfect excuse to explore the option of getting the Sigma 120-400 f/4.5 OS version..

Anyway - I'd be interested to see what you can do with this photo.. Crop, adjust, and see how good you can make a margnal photograph.. Post your results... and - have fun..

BTW, any idea what kind of hawk this is? - I live in a suburb area and have never seen one in our backyard before...... I guess with about 1000 finches and 9 birdfeeders, I'm just providing them with a buffet that Vegas couldn't compete with...

KAikens318 · Jan 2, 2011

Not much but I am still learning PS. Lol

HikinMike · Jan 2, 2011

ottor said:
...

Anyway - I'd be interested to see what you can do with this photo.. Crop, adjust, and see how good you can make a margnal photograph.. Post your results... and - have fun..

Me personally, I would be glad that I got a shot to document it and if you didn't know the ID, I would try for an ID. Other than that, I would file it away and wait for a better opportunity to photograph it (if you can). The fence and the wall kind of kill it for me.

Nice capture though. Do you know what it is? I'm VERY bad with ID'ing birds and especially raptors...LOL!

HikinMike · Jan 2, 2011

You might post your picture here: WhatBird Forums - Forums

misstwinklytoes · Jan 2, 2011

Here's my take...

mikemicki · Jan 2, 2011

Here is a quick edit.

Bumped up the contrast a tiny bit. Removed a little noise. And a simulated bi-colour filter. Vignette added. And the black borders top & bottom. And obvious crop.

Karri · Jan 2, 2011

Okay, so I had some fun with it and not knowing the true colors, they are probably off some but what the hay!

mrpink · Jan 2, 2011

here's my stab.

5317496144_10daf30aa1_b-2 by Matt Francosky, on Flickr

p!nK

Karri · Jan 2, 2011

BTW - thank you for letting me play with your bird... :lmao:

703Methane · Jan 2, 2011

Cropped a little from the top & bottom.
Sharpened the bird
and mad the corners a little darker..

literally took me a minute maybe 2 :mrgreen:

mrpink · Jan 2, 2011

mrpink said:
here's my stab.

5317496144_10daf30aa1_b-2 by Matt Francosky, on Flickr

703Methane said:
literally took me a minute maybe 2 :mrgreen:

I could have saved you two minutes of your life.

(you forgot to straighten it)

p!nK

703Methane · Jan 2, 2011

HAHA ! We'll damn... you beat me. lol

ottor · Jan 2, 2011

Great edits guys..... Found out it's a Coopers Hawk... mainly eats songbirds.. evidenced by the 4 piles of feathers/bones by my Spruce tree..

I'm an animal lover and hate to see this, but.... after taking a deep breath, I'd hate to see such a beautiful bird starve either.. so - I'm OK with it.. I'll keep feeding the Finches, chickadees, Grossbeaks, Woodpeckers, Robins and Doves - and hope the hawk leaves some for me to watch and feed... :lol: