Like A Thief in the Night...or a Caped Crusader!

This was a stroke of luck. This guy came down for a meal then stayed on the ground for a bit. It had an upright posture so I was set-up in vertical taking full-frame images when it took flight. I snapped a short three frame burst...this one being the first (the other two are t-r-a-s-h). Not a single pixel was cropped out here, this is why I think it was a stroke of luck to have it framed like so in-camera!

Canon 7D + 100-400L @400mm, manual exposure, evaluative metering, 1/3200s., f/8, ISO 800 (settings histogram checked and set for flight), natural light, handheld from the lying on the ground, full-frame, shadow on the near eye was deeper than I prefer so it was reduced in post.

excellent and interesting capture but the bright look make it a winner.

Impressive image
The image has so much of emotions in it,
love it

Wow..just an awesome capture. TFS

Dan, many folks day the 100-400 lens is not sharp. They just need to look at this picture! Love everything about it, the sharpness of the owl, the crusader cape pose, the eyes looking at you, and the snow bits flying. Perfect exposure. I'm amazed at how well the sunny 16 rule works and will remind myself to use it as a starting point for manual exposure. You ought to enter a contest with this!

Brilliant work Dan! What an amazing shot this has turned out to be!! Like it lots!!!

Just WOW!!

Hahaha just keep looking at it and thinking about a whole load of cartoon characters

Great action shot ;)

Fantastic shot Daniel! Very dynamic, indeed. Maybe a bit of luck, but I bet most of it is just being prepared!

Excellent shot Dan super techs as expected. My only reservation ids the clipped wing but nevertheless a really fine image and really I personally don't think the clipped wing matters very much in view of the super pose and excellent eye contact.

Daniel:

The pose is wonderful, and the clipped wing actually strengthens its effect to me. Like the splayed primaries, flying snow.

Nice reflexes there , bud!

Cheers

Randy

Yes, luck favors the prepared, especially the part about reflexes! Wonderful capture!!

Great capture Daniel! Nice timing and superb details. I like the cropping and it compliments the title (or vice versa) very well.

Baloney. You were lucky that you are so talented. Killer as noted above. Were you using an upper focusing sensor? It's amazing that they eyes are perfectly sharp. Way to go Dan.

Well sometimes we all need a bit of luck. Still this is a fantastic image with a very interesting pose.

Incredibly Incredible.... comp... flying snow...pose...eyes and a peek at the beak... mesmerizing.

Caped crusader!

These Great Grey Owl images have been fantastic.

Beautiful image Daniel! I like the unique pose, IQ, flying snow and composition.

Awesome image Daniel - love everything about it!
Cheers, Greg

Full frame?! That's awesome. Top shelf light and action sir.

Fantastic work..

Man....u are killing us with these shots. Stunning. loved the eyes and the action.

I love the title Caped crusader. Great full frame shot with a creative crop look. exposure and details are awesome. man you sure are having a great time with these owls. very well done come

As stated aboveit is talent no luck. I agree that you need luck but only the talented has luck most of the time. Amazing shot, Daniel.

Daniel Sir:
Every thing in the image is absolutely superb.I like the 3D effect caused by front and rear wing,flying snow and composition.
Love the eyes.

Regards,
Satish.

Another great shot Dan. I have loved all of the GGO posts and as for the luck, people tend to make their own luck.

David

You keep topping yourself!
Amazing full frame image.
I think though, a slight crop of the snow on the bottom up to the flying snow would look nice.

Sweet shot, love the tight crop as it works well here.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Arthur Morris

Baloney. You were lucky that you are so talented. Killer as noted above. Were you using an upper focusing sensor? It's amazing that they eyes are perfectly sharp. Way to go Dan.

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Thanks a bunch guys! Artie, I almost forgot your question! I was using the central focus point...focus-recompose for the bird that was initially at rest, but of course it's face was lower in the frame before it sprung up like this.

Thanks Dan. The you were a bit lucky in that the bird jumped straight up. But still, you were ready.

This is terrific Dan.
All the accolades have been given.
Just love the vertical comp and the eyes...
Gail

WoW, you've got a winner here!