I photographed this Red-tailed Hawk at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma, a protected area known for its diverse wildlife and scenic wetlands. I was driving along the auto tour road with a friend beside me (Mia). She noticed the hawk circling above our truck. I stopped, and we both stepped out, hoping to get a few shots. The sun was directly behind the bird, creating a challenging situation because it can cause the subject to appear underexposed while the background is overly bright. Balancing these extremes often requires careful adjustment of camera settings or post-processing.
Despite the conditions, I gave it a shot. The backlighting created a dramatic effect, accentuating each feather’s fine details with a luminous outline. The tail glowed, and the wings were fully extended. The hawk’s eyes seemed locked on me as I took several frames. One image stood out. I liked how the light filtered through its feathers and how the bird appeared aware of our presence.
Key Points I Considered
- Backlighting added dramatic feather detail.
- Timing was crucial to capture the wings fully extended.
- Shooting into the sun made exposure tricky.
Photo Details
- Date: 12/11/24
- Time: 11:32:11 AM
- Camera Model: Canon EOS R5 Mark 2
- Lens: Canon RF 200-800mm at 800mm
- ISO: 1250
- Aperture: f/10
- Shutter Speed: 1/3200
- Exposure Compensation: 0.0
Lessons Learned
This experience taught me that you can still capture a meaningful shot in tough lighting conditions. Using a high shutter speed (1/3200) helped freeze the hawk’s movement, while an aperture of f/10 provided enough depth of field to keep the bird in focus. Adjusting the ISO to 1250 balanced the exposure under the challenging backlight. It may not be perfect, but the effort can yield a result you’re happy with.