From behind the cattails...and an AF trick

[arash_hazeghi]

This one of my fav. frames form last month's trip to Ottawa...Dan and I had a great time photographing in the cattails. They make a really nice BG and FG.



1DX 300 f/2.8 II, f/4 1/2500sec ISO 500.

To learn how I was able to hold focus on the bird despite being blocked by busy cattails and to see a higher quality file checkout my blog:

http://arihazeghiphotography.com/blo...uick-af-trick/

hope you like it

[PhilCook]

Kudos for a very different shot Arash, great focus skills used and techs all look very good....only wish would be for the eyes to be more directed to the camera

[arash_hazeghi]

maybe I'm wrong but to my eyes the owl's eyes are looking directly at the camera, that was the whole point of this image ;)

[Alan Murphy]

A brilliant and unique image Arash.

[Troy Lim]

Arash, stunning shot, could not get any better. Do you find yourself using this lens often? Debating btw this and the 400mm 5.6.

[Marina Scarr]

You know this is one of my favs from your trip, Arash. It's so captivating and unique.

[Marina Scarr]

Do you find yourself using this lens often? Debating btw this and the 400mm 5.6.

I know you didn't ask me this question, Troy. I photographed with the 300 F4 exclusively for about 3 years. Since purchasing a 500, I finally sold the 300 and replaced it with the 400 F.6. I am very happy with my decision. A lot of it depends on where and what you are photographing. For Florida photography, I really find it useful.

[Miguel Palaviccini]

I think this is my favorite of the series! And although the tip doesn't apply to Nikon, I like the idea!

[Sidharth Kodikal]

A big winner, Arash. I love how you got the eyes right between the cattails. Terrific AF job. I bet you were stoked to see this image.
If you twisted my arm, I'd say that the dark area in the top left corner pulls my eye away a bit.
This seems like contest material (not that I know anything about contests).

[arash_hazeghi]

Arash, stunning shot, could not get any better. Do you find yourself using this lens often? Debating btw this and the 400mm 5.6.

what? you switched to Canon???

why?

I don't use this lens often, it's too short and I can't isolate my subject the way I can with a 600mm, but it's nice when the birds are big and close. This costs 7X more than the 400 f/5.6 BTW ;) I think you have to compare with the 300 f/4 IS.

[arash_hazeghi]

I know you didn't ask me this question, Troy. I photographed with the 300 F4 exclusively for about 3 years. Since purchasing a 500, I finally sold the 300 and replaced it with the 400 F.6. I am very happy with my decision. A lot of it depends on where and what you are photographing. For Florida photography, I really find it useful.

this was 300 f/2.8 MKII, I had the 300 f/4 IS too, very sharp lens but it didn't take TCs very well...you guys are spoiled in Florida.

[Troy Lim]

My bad, I thought it was the 300 f/4 hahahaha.
Yeah, switching.

what? you switched to Canon???

why?

I don't use this lens often, it's too short and I can't isolate my subject the way I can with a 600mm, but it's nice when the birds are big and close. This costs 7X more than the 400 f/5.6 BTW ;)

[Lorant Voros]

This is a really nice effect and a very powerful, unusual image, Arash. Well done.

[Tom Rambaut]

love it - unique view but those eyes are clear to see. I can't say how much like this image.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Arash, great work getting focus between the cattails, and just love how you captured the head in an opening of the cattails. Great eye contact. Did I mention the the great wingspread too.

[PhilCook]

maybe I'm wrong but to my eyes the owl's eyes are looking directly at the camera, that was the whole point of this image ;)

?...maybe it's my eyes then as it seems to be looking down to me, no big deal either way

[PhilCook]

OK, must be just my eyes then , great shot either way

[Shawn Zierman]

Congrats on the editors pick on NSN for this really cool ggo image. Unique, and that's becomming increasingly
difficult for flight shots of this species. I would have to agree with Phil, not about the eye contact, I think that's great, but about the direction of the owl's focus...it's down, where the mouse is undoubtedly, not at the camera, though again, you've not stated that the owl was fed...so I could be off there. I also agree with Sidharth regarding the dark element in the upper left corner. Really cool shot sir.

[arash_hazeghi]

?...maybe it's my eyes then as it seems to be looking down to me, no big deal either way

I don't quite understand what you are trying to say but thanks appreciate the comment and critique

[arash_hazeghi]

Congrats on the editors pick on NSN for this really cool ggo image. Unique, and that's becomming increasingly
difficult for flight shots of this species. I would have to agree with Phil, not about the eye contact, I think that's great, but about the direction of the owl's focus...it's down, where the mouse is undoubtedly, not at the camera, though again, you've not stated that the owl was fed...so I could be off there. I also agree with Sidharth regarding the dark element in the upper left corner. Really cool shot sir.

Thanks but you are off on this one, there was no mouse here. we ran out earlier ;)

[arash_hazeghi]

thank you all for comments/suggestions

[Satish Ranadive]

Marvelous image. Love it.

Regards,
Satish.

[Manjeet & Yograj Jadeja]

looks stunning, a tough one to execute,
the dark patch on top left corner could be cropped a bit (2/3rds maybe) to improve the composition (just nitpikking)

[Karl Egressy]

Amazing shot Arash one of the best of your GGOW series.

[Daniel Cadieux]

That cattail area sure made for some unique GGO images. Looks like we were hunkered down in those staking out our subject Love the eyes clear of the stems...but I additionally like the talons visible.

[Mike Tracy]

Nice thinking outside the box and technical execution. With all the vertical cattails dominating the image I find the horizontal one on the left out of place.

[Bill Dix]

Just wonderful. A unique look at this beauty, and one of the best of your trip. Amazing skill in the field to make the quick switch to single-point. Worked like a charm.

[adrian dancy]

The owl's eyes are looking down, and significantly so. If the owl was looking at you, the facial disc would appear round. In this image you can see the top of the owl's head from front to back. Since the owl's eyes are fixed in bony sockets and cannot rotate I think it reasonable to coclude that the owl is looking down (which is how it appears anyway). By the same token if your lens was slightly above the owl you would of course see the top of the head but that would mean the owl would be looking below the line of the lens. Having said that, this is still a superb image taken through the cattails.

[James Salywoda]

The owl's eyes are looking down, and significantly so. If the owl was looking at you, the facial disc would appear round. In this image you can see the top of the owl's head from front to back. Since the owl's eyes are fixed in bony sockets and cannot rotate I think it reasonable to coclude that the owl is looking down (which is how it appears anyway). By the same token if your lens was slightly above the owl you would of course see the top of the head but that would mean the owl would be looking below the line of the lens. Having said that, this is still a superb image taken through the cattails.

Well said and totally agree...... Superb image congrats!!!!!

[arash_hazeghi]

Well said and totally agree...... Superb image congrats!!!!!

Good to see you post again Jim. I though you had quite photography (or posting on BPN)

[Jamie Douglas]

Stunning image Arash and besides the skill involved in achieving an image like this it does highlight one of the features the 1D IV lacks... customer functions, even the 7D had them.