Anatomy of a Meeting

[Loupey]

We had very bad photographic conditions today. Dark, rain showers with white solid cloud cover, and mist from the evaporating snow. Here's is my photographic chronicle of my encounter with a hawk as we met, had a conversation, and he flew off.

1st image: Almost missed him as he was well camouflaged against the trees
2nd image: After flying off the first time, I thought I lost him but I was able to track him down a short distance away.
3rd image: He posed momentarily for a quick photo session.
4th image: After flying away the 2nd time - this tiime much further away.
5th image: A record of the meeting taken by my 12 year old son who, somehow, has claimed my 10D as his own Doing well with it I might add - this one is uncropped.

Thanks for looking.

[Copy_Kot]

Wonderful a 12 year old is better at photography than I am :blush2: I wish I would have started at that age. I hope you will let him post some images on PR soon.

The hawks look great, did you do anything while p/p to bring out the detail in them? Which metering mode did you use for them?

[Loupey]

Good question, Copy, and actually a funny answer too.

But first, the second image is just a simple exposure/PP against the slightly darker white sky.

But for the 3rd shot, I was settled on opening up to overexpose slightly to get the facial detail (with the consequence of a totally overblown sky). Just then, I saw a flash to my left. My son told me he likes using flash and I thought that was a great idea. At this close distance, I thought it just might work so up went the pop-up. Just enough strength to add some fill. If I knew PS better, I'm sure I could get it even better - but I think this is realistic.

Thanks for asking.


Oh, BTW, my then 6 year old daughter took my Avatar image.

[Copy_Kot]

Just then, I saw a flash to my left. My son told me he likes using flash and I thought that was a great idea. At this close distance, I thought it just might work so up went the pop-up.

Oh, BTW, my then 6 year old daughter took my Avatar image.

:mad2:

That is funny, and I wish I had thought of using my flash when a coopers hawk landed in my yard on Saturday. The three images I took all turned out too dark... he was close enough for my flash.

I've always been a bit apathetic about having children of my own. I have to say that I'm a little envious that your son shares your interest in photography... it's super cool! :thumbsup:

[Bevb]

Love the second shot, what a gorgeous bird, so proud looking.
The weather looks the same as we have got, which makes my manual practice even more of a challenge.

I also very seldom use flash, im always a little hesitant when close up to wildlife.

[poker]

5th image: A record of the meeting taken by my 12 year old son who, somehow, has claimed my 10D as his own Doing well with it I might add - this one is uncropped.

I'm impressed! I'm always praying my son will be into photography. It'll be sometime before I find out.

Nice shots! I like the one where the hawk is looking down :thumbsup:

[Loupey]

Thanks, guys. He was tickled to read your comments

He's coming along quite well. We've let him shoot for a while with disposables and a digital point-and-shoot. He likes it and I think he may actually have an "eye" for it.

I only gave him the 24-85mm kit lens for now. I'm planning to buy him a 70-300mm (the cheap one with no IS and no USM). Then disabling both the AE and AF so that he must learn like the rest of us


Mean daddy

[Sushigaijin]

that's great, loupey. My dad was a war photographer in vietnam...kind of. He got there just after the action "ended." I wonder how much of our dispositions are predetermined.

[bsquared]

That last photo is pretty surprising. I've had times when I just stopped my truck and opened the window and they flew off. Good shots.

[Loupey]

Erik - thanks. I too often think of the ironies that lifes' paths sometimes seem to weave. I know I disappointed some friends and co-workers when I didn't pursue (photo)journalism in college. Having now come back to photography for personal persuits after 20 years, I see that this has been one passion, along with friends and family, that has endured.

bsquared - yeah, I know what you mean. Some individuals won't let me get anywhere near, while others have let me walk beneath them. This one did both. And since it didn't fly too far away initially, I had to give chase and it worked. Never know what they will do.