Changeable Hawk Eagle pale morph

[mahkhai]

These photos of the Changeable Hawk Eagles were taken over several months from different aprts of the island. Tks for viewing

 

[Pearlang]

Nice pics. Keep posting!

 

[Newguy69]

Nothing is more rewarding than to encounter such a rarely seen magnificient bird of prey in the wild, and to be able captures its beauty. Nice is an understatement...Wonderful shots :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[henrykoh]

great shots

 

[trident]

wow, fantastic shots

 

[overdodo]

Great Close up !

 

[rotisiao]

wow you spotted it so many times with photos of such detail. :thumbsup:

just asking, what lens did you use to capture these shots? the bokeh seems rather harsh? refering to pic 1,2,4

 

[mahkhai]

I was using a D3 and Nikon 600mm plus a 1.4 x teleconverter. Settings for the first 2 pics were 1/500s f/8.0 at 850.0mm iso1250. Pic 4 was taken using 1/250s f/8.0 at 850.0mm iso800.

I'm really still a novice,and i say this because there are many many who are very much better at this. I have always struggled between sharpness of subject (I found f8 sharpest) and the desire to have a smooth bokeh (better achieved through a bigger aperture). All pictures were taken without tripod, using improvised support. Folks familiar with NS will identify with "prone supported" and "sitting supported".
Again, a perennial struggle whether to shoot is tripod or no tripod. With tripod is great for stability but it reduces mobility. This is a preference ;i prefer mobility and really do not like to flash too much. Also this has something to do with the type of birds I am looking to encounter. Small birds, under thick undergrowth - no choice, tripod.

Thanks for viewing and tanks for the comments. Good day, all. See you around.

 

[knpan]

the 1st is the best, if only the perch was changed to a branch

 

[Sree]

Really great shots there! The CHE is one very skittish raptor and you have done really well getting them in several different environments.

 

[mervin]

These are great shots ! :thumbsup:

 

[Harlequin]

The last one is the best of the lot ! Well done mate !

 

[mahkhai]

Tks all for kind remarks. Just trying to be better whenever I can. Really, sometimes the subject can drive you up the wall, refusing to come out, whereas sometimes, it can be really compliant, as if responding to your soft coaxing. Philip, I always remember what you said once, "look for a clean and pleasing background." It's tough though.

cheers, everyone