This is my first posting and after seeing all of the superb photos here I'm a bit intimidated, but eager to learn. I'm at the no frills stage, doing the best I can do with what I've got. I don't have photoshop or lightroom, I just use paintshop photo pro x3. My camera is a Nikon D5000. The lenses I use most are the 55-300 vr and my brand spanking new Sigma 150-500 os. Mostly I photograph what's around me, the animals, scenery, interesting textures, etc. Very rarely do people show up in my photos. You could call me a backyard photographer, since most of what I shoot I find in my 10 acre backyard. I feed anybody that shows up and make crazy efforts to provide whatever anybody needs, be it food, shelter, habitats, etc.
This is a capture of a Barred Owl that started hanging out at my house this winter. He's been here almost everyday for over a month and has provided endless photo ops (most of which I've wasted!). He made several failed attempts at catching squirrels, and softy that I am, I did some research, discovered they like fish, and promptly went out and bought a pound of live sucker minnows. He eagerly accepts what I offer especially when he's been unsuccessful in his own attempts. He's almost to the point of begging and has snatched fish off of a plate in my outstretched arm.
This particular capture was early evening and the colors were interesting to me. Sun was lighting up the clouds behind him, and the snow in front of him, but not the owl directly. There's a definately blue cast but lighting wise it's authentic to the moment. Thanks in advance for any comments/critique/suggestions.
Barred Yard Owl
