I don't know how you all do it. I saw a hawk for 2 seconds (Page 4): No please don't. :sm17:...

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

tdekany wrote:

Move to Oregon!

No please don't.

pmackd Loc: Alameda CA

I go on a morning walk with my wife practically very day. After missing some good shots, I now carry a Nikon D7100 and the lightweight AF-P DX 70-300mm on every walk. After doing our walk near the beach maybe 2000 times, a few days ago we came upon this red tailed hawk sitting on a lamp post, no more than 15 yards away, being harried by crows. Not my best hawk shot by far, but having the camera ready in hand was key. Getting that close was luck. The hawk was too busy paying attention to the crows to notice me!

Eventually the crows won and the hawk left, being chased for hundreds of yards down the road.

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shutterhawk Loc: Cape Cod

I really like the drama and composition in your second shot.

steve_stoneblossom Loc: Rhode Island, USA

GalaxyCat wrote:

I was in the woods, in a park called, "Stanley Ringer Park" (in Boston, Massachusetts, USA) and I saw briefly, a hawk fly by, and I was no where near my camera on a tripod, and I couldn't see where the hawk went. I have to wonder: how on earth do these people on this forum find such fantastic shots! I only saw a hawk for 2 seconds! And I searched and searched; never to see him again. Never mind pointing a camera at it!!! How do you do it?

Oldie, but applicable:
Tourist: "Can you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall?"
Local: "Practice, practice, practice!"

williejoha

Study the birds in your area. Their feeding habits, their rusting habits etc. In short anything you can learn. Start out with one species and as you get it keep trying different approaches. I do not know of anybody that just walks into the woods, take the shot and goes home with a price winner. Time, Time and more time. Good luck and watch YouTube recordings of the experts.
WJH

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

GalaxyCat wrote:

I was in the woods, in a park called, "Stanley Ringer Park" (in Boston, Massachusetts, USA) and I saw briefly, a hawk fly by, and I was no where near my camera on a tripod, and I couldn't see where the hawk went. I have to wonder: how on earth do these people on this forum find such fantastic shots! I only saw a hawk for 2 seconds! And I searched and searched; never to see him again. Never mind pointing a camera at it!!! How do you do it?

Usually you have the camera hanging around the neck, so it is always handy, having it sitting somewhere on a tripod not near you, is not a good idea, no way you can get the shots you want doing it that way! Always have the camera with/on you, that way, even if you just see the hawk for a second, you still can get a shot! And it also takes a little input from you, go out often in areas where you know, hawks are present many a times, then it is pretty much a matter of patience (most of photography is all about patience), but shooting birds, especially so!

GalaxyCat Loc: Boston, MA

Thank you everyone. I'll try to take your advice.

vonzip Loc: cape cod

pmackd wrote:

I go on a morning walk with my wife practically ve... (show quote)

Hawks and owls are often bothered by crows. This is a signal to me that something is up and a photo op is nigh.

williejoha

By the way, that is roosting habits, not rusting habits. I have a rusting problem. But what the heck, at my age something has to give.
WJH

Streets Loc: Euless, TX.

GalaxyCat wrote:

I was in the woods, in a park called, "Stanley Ringer Park" (in Boston, Massachusetts, USA) and I saw briefly, a hawk fly by, and I was no where near my camera on a tripod, and I couldn't see where the hawk went. I have to wonder: how on earth do these people on this forum find such fantastic shots! I only saw a hawk for 2 seconds! And I searched and searched; never to see him again. Never mind pointing a camera at it!!! How do you do it?

I live 2 miles west of the biggest airport in the country, so I just wait for one to land on my backyard fence and fire away with my Sony.

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JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles

Watch and listen with your camera ready. If you have to go get your camera, you missed the shot.

When I go to shoot wildlife I am with my camera and tripod. I look and listen. If you learn about the wildlife that you are photographing such as behavior, then it helps to plan on how and when to take your next shot. I watch certain birds, observe what they are doing and on occasion, with some luck, I get shots of them taking off and in flight and sometimes landing.

Practice and good luck!

beerhunter13 Loc: Southern Ontario, Canada

The previous advice is great; know your subject. Learn their habits and get out there as often as you can. Mother Nature is not as random as she first appears. For wildlife in motion, I find tripods an encumbrance, monopods only slightly less so. I will add that practicing on seagulls in a parking lot is a good way to learn photographing birds in flight, especially with long lenses. A little stale bread will bring you many subjects to hone your skills on. After a book-full of seagulls, birds of prey will become second nature.

SpyderJan Loc: New Smyrna Beach. FL

Streets wrote:

I live 2 miles west of the biggest airport in the country, so I just wait for one to land on my backyard fence and fire away with my Sony.

What a great shot. I love birds but they are a challenge. You really caught this beauty.

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

Sometimes, Galaxy, the best nature picture opportunities come to those who patiently sit and wait in a location?? Let nature get a bit familiar with you and remove the element of movement that disturbs wildlife. I have found up north in Michigan I can get good pics of the deer passing through my yard if I am sitting on my deck quietly. On the other hand, Open the door when I see them and try to grab a pic?? No way! Too skittish! Same for the larger birds in the area. And the bear that goes to the community dump occasionally.

Swamp-Cork Loc: Lanexa, Virginia

Beautiful image!