Red-tailed Hawk and composition

August 25, 2015

During the last month and a half of art shows I’ve been asked a lot questions about my photography. Common questions include “How long did it take you to get this picture?” and “Did you Photoshop out the background?” This last week we took a day trip with Jody’s father up to Baker Lake in Whatcom County and had a typical experience.

We spent over twelve hours away from home and I spent nine minutes photographing a Red-tailed Hawk. Out of 175 pictures it is unlikely that any will make it into an art show display. I did get some fun pictures including these two that illustrate how I try to get clean backgrounds. One has a very busy background while the other was taken after moving fifteen feet to my right to get a different angle. Not as clean as I would like it but better.

The distant trees in this shot's background provide a nice clean setting for the subject.
The distant trees in this shot's background provide a nice clean setting for the subject.
While the close trees from this angle show the setting but almost overwhelm the bird.
While the close trees from this angle show the setting but almost overwhelm the bird.
This shot was taken after the bird flew to a different tree. The branches behind the bird's head are too distracting.
This shot was taken after the bird flew to a different tree. The branches behind the bird's head are too distracting.
The hawk caught a mouse and returned to a tree nearer to us. This is a great natural history shot but it will not make it int...
The hawk caught a mouse and returned to a tree nearer to us. This is a great natural history shot but it will not make it into the booth as wall art!
This shot is close to something that might be printed but the angle of the birds head isn’t what I would like.
This shot is close to something that might be printed but the angle of the birds head isn’t what I would like.
And this two second sequence of the bird shaking itself out is just for fun.
And this two second sequence of the bird shaking itself out is just for fun.

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