It’s a warm evening after a gorgeous day. The Saskatchewan sky is working its way through a palette of orange hues as the day disappears.
I want this moment to last forever but it’s sliding away. I spent the evening hours in the company of hawks circling, landing and making me smile. In the fading light, I drive slowly hoping for one last image.
I see the hawk on its perch. While it’s too dark to see its eyes, I recognize the focused stare that seems oblivious to the light show all around. The hunger is real and so is the hunt. If it’s successful, something dies.
The scene is surreal, soft and beautiful. The stare is cold and unnerving.
The sun sets.
Krahnpix 
now this is one of your best shots – in asimilar way that I was saying to Phil – I enjoy your arty wildlife shots best and this fit that category perfectly
LikeLike
Thanks. It is one of my favourites as well. I’ll have to be on the look out for more arty shots!
LikeLike
Beautiful Photography Lyle. Brings me back to my youth the dog days of summer, the brilliant orange glow and watching the hawks hunt for mice in the field.
LikeLike
Thanks. Glad it brings bad good memories. It sure brings back memories of a magical evening for me. I hope to find a few more like that this summer.
LikeLike
That photo is eye candy for me ! // Maria
LikeLike
Thanks so much.
LikeLike
wow。What a professional cameraman.You are always closing to magic nature！I like your peace and beauty as your photo and article show！
LikeLike
Thanks so much. It is a real joy for me to find beauty and share it.
LikeLike
Just stunning… Such a magnificent creature, highlighted against that dramatic sky. Perfection!
LikeLike
Thanks for the high praise. It was a special moment for me and the hawk though it’s entirely only one of us was aware of it.
LikeLike
Perfect – image and words work just perfectly together.
LikeLike
Thanks. Every once in a while it works.
LikeLike
I love the contrasts in the image itself and also in the words: the softness of the background and the sharpness of the foreground; the brightness of the yellow and the blackness of the silhouette; the tension of the hunt and the peace of the moment; the inevitable passage of time and the desire to hold on to it for a moment longer.
It reminds me of one of my favorite poems called Le Lac (The Lake) by a Lamartine, a 19th century French poet. Part of it includes these words ( taken from the version at http://www.etudes-litteraires.com/lamartine.php) :
« Ô temps ! suspends ton vol, et vous, heures propices !
Suspendez votre cours :
Laissez-nous savourer les rapides délices
Des plus beaux de nos jours !……
« Mais je demande en vain quelques moments encore,
Le temps m’échappe et fuit ;
Je dis à cette nuit : Sois plus lente ; et l’aurore
Va dissiper la nuit.
I don’t know how good your French is, but my quick translation would be:
Oh time, suspend your flight
And you, propitious hours,
Suspend your course
Les us savor the rapid delights
Of our most beautiful days…
But I ask in vain for a few more moments,
Time escapes and flees
I say to this night “Go more slowly”
And dawn will dissipate the night
LikeLike
Thanks for the translation since the little French I took in high school has look since evaporated. That’s a great poem – really enjoyed it. The contrasts were so real to me and you summarized them so well.
LikeLike
The whole poem is a lot longer. It’s about a man who comes to the lake and finds there the reflection of his past love in the elements of nature. The theme of the passage of time is somewhat typical of French 19th century romanticism. I am not a big fan of romantic poetry in English, but someone in French it strikes a different part of me.
LikeLike
You clearly know a lot more about that topic than I. That’s why it’s always good to have your deeper perspectives.
LikeLike
I enjoyed the sunset, too! But in my case, I was sneaking up on some deer through a mystifying mixture of muck/snow/ice/water. Haven’t checked out my shots yet to know whether there are any keepers. Love the blaze of that sunset behind that hawk…
LikeLike
I’m thinking the deer were to get through that mystery mixture a lot easier than you. Hope they turned out. It was a remarkable sunset.
LikeLike
They just stared at me from a distance beyond my best zoom capabilities and snickered for a while, with that gorgeous sunset light on their hides. Sheesh. 😦
LikeLike
And in assessment thereof, and in response(s) thereto!
LikeLike
Every moment of the day passes as quickly as any other. I guess it’s just more noticeable at the end and the beginning of the day’s light when we might want it to slow down or last longer. Lots of good imagery in this post, verbal and visual.
LikeLike
So true- I don’t value each minute the same.
LikeLike
Your description complimented the image perfectly, the moment, the sunset, both suspended between life and death. Splendid!
LikeLike
I appreciate the comments. I was really struck by that living and dying reality.
LikeLike
Amazing post and photo!!!
LikeLike
Thanks. It was an amazing moment
LikeLike
These colors black and yellow are magnificent !
The angry is very good !
LikeLike
Thanks. I like the way you describe the angry as good.
LikeLike
Ouuups ! I wanted say “bird” !!!!! I’m very sorry !!
LikeLike
No problem. That works too.
LikeLike
Beautiful poetry in both words and image. Thanks for sharing this!
LikeLike
Thanks for letting me know
LikeLike
Lovely words Lyle
LikeLike
Thanks
LikeLike
I really like the silhouette of the hawk.
LikeLike
It strikes an impressive outline.
LikeLike
Gorgeous shot! I just posted hawks in flight at high elevation. Love hawks~
LikeLike
Thanks. I never get tired of watching hawks. Just a magnificent bird.
LikeLike
Your image and word images are extraordinary. I too longed for it to continue.
LikeLike
Thanks. It was a special evening.
LikeLike