Eastern Barn Owl

I came across this youngster on my way home from a spotlighting outing and saw him sitting on the road near a bunch of turf farms. My plan was to capture a photo to show the species' vulnerability to traffic but he was too quick and flew into this tree. I guess it makes a better setting than tar.

I don't have the exif handy but for Barn Owls this is what I use,

30D, 300/4L IS + 1.4x, manual mode, ISO400, f/8, 1/125th, 430EX @ +1/3 with beamer, I think it's either full frame or pretty close from memory.

Attachment 83383

Nice night time capture Akos! I like the pose and the big leaves. With the strong strobe lighting, I assume you had major red-eye issues? Is this an Oz Barn Owl?:p

Thanks Dan, no issues with the eyes on this guy. He was in sight of my high beams so perhaps that helped. Normally with the Tyto genus I have not experienced as much red-eye issues as with our only other genus Ninox. Those guys really suck for red eyes. This is an Australian species that has recently been reclassified as Tyto javanica, however, it's treated as conspecific with T. alba. The mind boggles. :)

You really achieved some amazing details here and the leaves make a nice BG. You do well with your flashed images, and that's not easy to do. This exposure looks right on.

Neat. I'm not crazy about the shadow between the head and the leaf, but another cool night-time image of this owl.

Hi Akos the detail you extract with flash is amazing, and just look at those talons. I also like the large leaves behaind the bird.

Akos,

Barn owls are sure crazy looking creatures. You can really see how they use that face to concentrate sounds. The eyes on this one got a little lost but they are like barred owl eyes.....hard to record.

DB

Another top notch Owl shot Akos beautifully captured.

Great capture, Akos !! Feather detail in facial disc and those legs and talons magic.
Best regards
Rod Warnock