Lanner Falcon

[oldcanon]

A final few pics from my last visit to THC, these are of the male Lanner Falcon which I think is my favourite bird there to photograph. It is so fast and graceful in flight it presents quite a challenge to track through the sky but is lovely to watch.

[DaveH]

Re: Lanner Falcon

Nice set of shots Oldcannon.
Number 1 is my favourite.

DaveH

[colin C]

Re: Lanner Falcon

Well done Brian. You've nailed the exposure for Charlie Brown in the shade #1. A tiny bit of polish would make that a stunner and may include getting rid of the Jesses and making a vignette selection of the background to darken the edges.

#2 Don't change anything. Exposure, composition, sharpness and subject all spot on. Could remove Jesses, but they are not as dominant as in #1.

#3 Not so happy with. A little too central in the fame for me, looks a tad soft and doesn't portray the elegance of the bird - sorry!

Colin

[oldcanon]

Re: Lanner Falcon

Thanks Dave and Colin.

Colin, thanks for the detailed crit, always welcome. On a general point, I never try to make a captive bird look anything but captive so will always leave the Jesses and other signs of captivity as is, whilst trying to present as best I the character and style of the subject (just one of my little foibles )

I like the idea of the vignette, something I do occasionally but maybe should consider more often.
I agree about #3 being a bit soft (I was panning with IS off which may have contributed (but looking at the exif I was shooting at 1/2500th so it shouldn't really have had an effect - odd? Poor technique somewhere in the piece) but wasn't too worried myself about the more central location in this shot (its easily enough corrected by a recrop anyway)

Forgot to say, what I liked about 3 was the way it shows the bending wingtips at the start of the turnover, indicating the aerodynamic stresses on the wing during flight (it can all look too effortless sometimes)

[colin C]

Re: Lanner Falcon

On a general point, I never try to make a captive bird look anything but captive so will always leave the Jesses and other signs of captivity as is, whilst trying to present as best I the character and style of the subject (just one of my little foibles )

I am "nearly" with you on that one.

The important thing with me is the final result and if the Jesses seriously detract from the image, I will remove them. My motivation is to capture the bird at it's best and if possible, part of the "essence" of the bird. But, I will mention that it is a captive bird and or, that the Jesses have been removed .................... as I have no wish, or desire, to decieve the viewer.

Conversly, there are many birds at the HCT that don't wear Jesses, or you can photograph them in such a manner that the Jesses cannot be seen and I would still mention that it was taken at the HCT.

Colin

[oldcanon]

Re: Lanner Falcon

Conversly, there are many birds at the HCT that don't wear Jesses, or you can photograph them in such a manner that the Jesses cannot be seen and I would still mention that it was taken at the HCT.

I wouldn't expect anything less Colin (but know a few less scrupulous people who have done so in the past - particulalry in competition entries - the bounders! )

[colin C]

Re: Lanner Falcon

They should be beaten with sticks, especially if they are Spanish and use tame wolves to jump fences!

Colin