But in fact this photograph was taken as background research for the painting below.
Readers of this blog will remember I spent six months persuading a female sparrowhawk to feed regularly in the garden so that I could photograph it up close. I wanted a model I could rely on to get the kind of photographs I needed for the details in my painting so I had to get it feeding from the same spot every day – where I could be there ready to photograph it.
I noticed that she would often perch on top of the swing seat in the garden, so I began by leaving a partially-eaten pigeon there. This didn’t interest her at first, but then the wind picked up and moved the wings of the pigeon – she spotted it and went on to feed! It took a long time to gradually persuade her that there would be food every day – and then move the spot to where I could watch, but eventually I had her. Then one day a new and more aggressive young female sparrowhawk moved in. I was first aware of her presence when I heard the garden birds chattering urgently in alarm.
My sparrowhawk stopped eating and turned to face the direction of the noise. Suddenly she fanned her tail and lowered her head in a defensive posture.
With astonishing speed a second hawk came into the frame. The original hawk flapped her wings up in the air and fanned its tail even wider, to make herself look as large and threatening as possible.
3 Responses
I just love these images that you have created ….your patient hard work has obviously paid of…..i am in awe of the images…love them x
Thank you!
Superb image and a testament to your dedication! Wonderful!