Male American Kestrel turning in flight – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
As a bird photographer I like to take images where where my subject fills the frame so that all the fine plumage details can be seen by anyone viewing the photos and where a sense of intimacy with the subject is conveyed as it can be when I able to take close ups or portraits of my subjects. I also like to take photos where the birds are small in the frame because they can show more of the background or the habitat my subjects are found in.
While I would have enjoyed having this male American Kestrel closer to me as it turned in flight than it was yesterday morning I found that I liked this frame with the tiny falcon turning in flight being small in the frame too. Why? Because even though the habitat the kestrel is flying over is out of focus it lends a “sense of place” to the image that wouldn’t have been conveyed if the kestrel filled the frame more than it does.
Also, the size of the falcon in this frame is what we are more likely to see with our naked eyes as humans without the aid of scopes, binocs or long lenses.
Did you know that kestrels often cache prey to keep for feeding on later? I watched as this male cached a vole at the base of a clump of vegetation before he took flight which is when I took this photo.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my American Kestrel photos plus facts and information about this species.
I am pretty certain that most birds prefer being small in the frame.
Beautiful photo of a beautiful bird being free to be itself. Thank you.
I can find 50 great Kestrel close-ups. But very very few of the bird in flight, and even fewer of those are anything like as good as this one!
GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!
Great shot of a beautiful bird!
Love being able to see that beautiful rust-colored flared tail and all the grey on the outstretched wings. I think your framing and composition emphasize the “big personality/small package” nature of this species perfectly!
Hi! I love these Photo’s! Remember I carried the 8X10 home with me! The one it is looking over its shoulder! Have a great day! Love ya mom!
Sharp image. You really got this one. It doesn’t look too small in the frame to me.
My favourite (among many) bird.
Beautiful shot!