Capturing a Killer...Worth a Look...

I'm sure this will never happen again this way...
Went to the beach to discover a flock of crows dive-bombing a tree-top.
Why? They were after this guy... Though not sure why, since he wasn't
eating...a crow...
-Ran back to the condo in my bathing suit to grab my camera...
Ended up ruining my shirt and getting leg-cramps while climbing the tree he
sat in, but wouldn't have missed this for anything... Ended up an amazing
5-6 feet away through the whole thing...at eye-level.
Have a look:
-Oh...and these are NOT crops.
These are all full-frame, except for ONE shot.
100% on the eye is a crop, but the rest are full-frame shots (OK, there's
one other where I included a partial crop, and noted it):
First, a tame one:
http://www.pbase.com/markuson/image/66725426/original
And another tame one:
http://www.pbase.com/markuson/image/66716142/original
Shadow of things to come...
http://upload.pbase.com/image/66727617/original
It gets VERY NASTY from here...
http://www.pbase.com/markuson/image/66718270/original
This one IS a crop, but not by much (the full-frame version is included in
the gallery):
http://www.pbase.com/markuson/image/66725099/original
Killer Profile:
http://www.pbase.com/markuson/image/66716132/original
Checking on me...What a stare!!
http://www.pbase.com/image/66723625/original
Eerie...Yes, those are the eyes looking up at his own killer through skin:
Nature can be rough:
http://upload.pbase.com/image/66727411/original
Waste not...
http://www.pbase.com/markuson/image/66716140/original
Looks that Kill...What a GLARE!:
http://www.pbase.com/markuson/image/66716136/original
Vice-Grips:
http://upload.pbase.com/image/66726793/original
The Aftermath:
http://www.pbase.com/markuson/image/66716144/original
Now for the PRE-QUEL:
Setting the table #1:
http://www.pbase.com/markuson/image/66724740/original
Setting the Table #2:
http://www.pbase.com/markuson/image/66724741/original
Setting the Table #3:
http://www.pbase.com/markuson/image/66724742/large
Killer with a heart--He hung the left-overs up for the flies:
http://www.pbase.com/markuson/image/66726960/original
100% Crop of Eye:
http://upload.pbase.com/image/66727810/original
I have no idea why he let me get this close. I was very cautious, and moved
only after he gave indication that he was continuing with his business. I
doubt I'll be able to get this close to a wild hawk in action ever again. I
sat in the tree with him no less than 40 minutes. -Quite an experience.
Just goes to show you that you've got to be ready for opportunity when it
knocks.
By the way... These are quicky-jpegs. I haven't had a chance to convert
RAW, but that will be next. These were a bit dark, so RAWs will adjust
nicely. I was amazed at the out-of-camera sharpness of the 5D. While flash
use wasn't ideal, it was either flash or nothing at all. Additionally,
there were spots of sunlight shining through holes in the tree canopy--a
typical shot-ruining factor. I lowered ISO to 50 and decided to rely on
flash more in order to reduce the effect of the bright sunlight spots. This
is always a challenge when shooting in the shade under trees in bright
sunlight.
-Mark˛
-- Images (Plus Snaps & Grabs) by Mark˛ at:
www.pbase.com/markuson

Mark˛

Re: Capturing a Killer...Worth a Look...

Well done.
Cinema Verité
--
-- r.p.e.35mm user resource: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm
-- r.p.d.slr-systems: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpdslrsysur.htm
-- [SI] gallery & rulz: http://www.pbase.com/shootin
-- e-meil: Remove FreeLunch.


Alan Browne

Re: Capturing a Killer...Worth a Look...

BRAVO!
FANTASTIC SHOTS!
Cody,
http://community-2.webtv.net/AnOvercomer02/PhotographyLinks


AnOvercomer02@webtv.net (AnOvercomer 02)

Re: Capturing a Killer...Worth a Look...

He didn't say it was a crow, he said it was being swooped by crows.
When I read that I knew exactly what it was, as hawks and crows don't
get along. Looks to me like old Harry, my favorite red-tailed hawk.
I'm surprised he let you get that close, PW. Most hawks are flightly
when approached. I guess he wasn't ready to give up his dinner.
Also, I admire your determination. I love getting shots of hawks, but
I'd never climb a tree to get them. Next time, try some hamburger meat
and get the hawk to come to you.
All in all, a very nice set of pics. When I read the title of the
thread I figured you'd gotten some good shots of OJ Simpson playing
golf.


Annika1980

Re: Capturing a Killer...Worth a Look...

I didn't call it a crow...
I mentioned that crows were dive-bombing this Hawk, which is what called my
attention to him.
That's all.
--
Images (Plus Snaps & Grabs) by Mark˛ at:
www.pbase.com/markuson


Mark˛

Re: Capturing a Killer...Worth a Look...

Nice shots. Interesting that you call that a crow - looks like a type of
hawk or falcon to me. Anyway, here in Australia, the birds we call crows
are probably a variant on the birds you would call ravens. Jet black,
and extremely smart. A couple of times I've seen crows do things that I
wished I had a camera or a video handy for. I watched a pair kill a
feral cat once. One would tease the cat, and draw the it's attack,
deftly staying just out of it's reach, while the other would swoop in
and peck it on the neck or abdomen. This process went on for over an
hour, ultimately they got it's eyes, and from there it was pretty quick.
Another time I watched a pair kill a 10 foot long brown snake. Brown
snakes are very quick, and very poisonous - ranked amongst the deadliest
snakes in the world. The crows used the same technique as on the cat -
one attracted the snake, just staying out of reach of it's strikes,
while the other would attack it's belly. I watched this from my in-laws
house while my camera was in my car - the snake was between me and the
car, and there was no way I was going to get it.


Graham Fountain

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