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View Full Version : Pearl-spotted Owlet - Tarangire National Park, Tanzania



Vivek Khanzode
11-14-2011, 10:49 AM
Pearl-spotted Owlet - Tarangire National Park, Tanzania

TZ lifer # 78

We were actually watching a pair of lions mate in the distance when this fella moved in my peripheral vision. After the driver stopped the car, I saw this guy standing right close to the road looking away. He almost looked like an extension of the branch on which he was sitting - super still, in rain! Patience paid off, he moved his head and I got this shot. Eventually, the owlet did not seem to mind my taking his photos.

Tech details: Av mode, 1/2500s @ f/8 with +1.66 EV; ISO 1600; 1D4+500L on a beanbag support on a stopped Safari Landcruiser. No flash, ambient light. Shot in intermittent rain, the Owlet obviously looks wet ;-)

Background is the distant sky, the Owl was almost eye level from me.

A few more views here: http://flic.kr/p/aEsipc.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6113/6342369205_ed546619f6_z.jpg

Alan Murphy
11-14-2011, 05:09 PM
Such a great perch for this little guy. Wish you had lowered the lens a bit. A more vertical crop would be more pleasing IMO.

Bill Dix
11-14-2011, 05:19 PM
Great look, great perch, nice exposure. Agree a bit more vertical crop would help, and maybe a thin pencil line border?

Brendan Dozier
11-14-2011, 06:21 PM
Great looking Owlet, Vivek, and nicely captured and composed. Gotta love those eyes. Wish you could post it larger.

arash_hazeghi
11-14-2011, 09:57 PM
cute little fellow, vert is way to go here

Vivek Khanzode
11-15-2011, 12:34 AM
Thanks for all the comments folks. I agree, I wanted to process this vertical, but was too tired last night. I had gotten only a few hours of sleep and when I came to this shot, I was pretty much shot for the day :w3.. Here it is processed as a vertical. Hope you like this better.

Thanks again,

-- Vivek
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6104/6346037261_2e0ae19c9c_z.jpg

Vivek Khanzode
11-15-2011, 12:43 AM
Also, here it is with green b/g in rain:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6109/6346064249_95b3123e06_z.jpg

arash_hazeghi
11-15-2011, 02:19 AM
repost is an improvement, I'd move the bird to the left and crop tighter, a bit too much empty space now. you can post 800 pixels tall to show the details