LOOK HOO'S HOME!

[Marina Scarr]

Knew there was a Barred Owlet in this cavity and spent hours over several days waiting for it to make an appearance, but it wasn't very active until just before branching. This was my first sighting of it. We waited for 3 hrs and just as we were ready to pack up, it appeared long enough for me to take only 2 images, one wide (this one which is nearly full frame) and one a little tighter. I spent a lot of time experimenting from different positions with different focal lengths b/c I knew I wouldn't have much time to get it right. This was photographed under the canopy very late in the evening so I had to use flash. Did some burning and cleaned up a shadow under the offending horizontal branch that I felt was distracting.

Any advice on how I could improve this image in terms of the flash effect would be much appreciated.

Canon 1D4, Canon 100-400L @ 210mm
F5.6, 1/125 sec, ISO 800, manual mode
Flash probably set at -1.3
Feisol tripod, Jobu head

[Minh Insixiangmy]

Love the back story, and the effort was worth it.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Marina, if you have the right subject and setting, ( as you have here ) small in the frame just rocks. I really like the 'lost' look on the face, together with the long curved recess he's perched in. An opportunity and time well spent.

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Marina - I think your comp and the small in the frame works really well here. I might play with a couple of points of brightness on the owl or darkening everything else a little to draw the eye to the owl.

TFS,
Rachel

[Lyle Gruby]

I like the small in the frame, but perhaps a little too small for my taste ! I'd also clone out the majority of the limb going across the tree. Can't wait to see more.

[gail bisson]

Hi Marina,
I like the idea here but this isn't working for me. Just too much tree and too little bird. I would crop in significantly.
If this was my spot, I would bring a ladder and some pruning shears and cut the offending horizontal branch that is curved and is 2/3 of the way up the frame. I would then stake this guy out again, climb up the ladder about 4 feet and go for a vertical that would place the owl in the RLC ( as you have done already)and include the cavity with a rim of tree around it.
You could then really play up the little green leaves to the left of the owl for a pop of color.
Just my 2 cents worth !
Gail

[PhilCook]

A great small in frame image Marina, and I like the image showing this rather special old tree, he looks so cute in that big hollow....I bet his home is drafty

[Miguel Palaviccini]

Marina,

Looks like patience pays off! I'd love to have this in my files, for sure.

Just wish for a bit tighter crop. I like the opening in the tree, and would have kept that all in the photo, but would crop from both sides and just a tad from top and bottom. With that said, I can only imagine the amount of effort you put in for two clicks and it was worth it!

Miguel

[Amy Marques]

An absolutely true story, Marina. :)
I would like to suggest cropping off some of the very top, down to the top of the broken limb. Getting rid of that bit of open, white sky on top left makes the image stronger- at least in my eyes. Try it... I think you'll like it.

[Don Railton]

Hi Marina

I am glad you have kept the full length of the hollow in the tree. I think this paints a picture of a cute young bird discovering the rest of the world for the first time... Just what was the bird thinking...?

DON

[David Salem]

Not always a fan of small bird in frame shots but this one is very nice and tells a great story. I love the elongated opening in the tree and the owlet looks great at the bottom. Your usual solid techs round off a nice shot. Well done Marina

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Marina, I really like this, as this portrays nicely the habitat these animals live in. Was this with a better beamer, as it looks like the flash has lit the whole tree? Without knowing how these react to the presence of people I would be nervous about getting too close and especially up close and personal, plus I'm not sure what effect a flash has to their sensitive eyes if these are night hunters?

Based on the image presented and if you are able to prune that thin branch arching over the hollow with an extendable secateurs without disturbing the owls, then going vertical with a say 16 x 9 crop of just the trunk and the curvature of the hole with the owlet at the foot might be nice and graphic? Just a thought.

BTW I think I may have seen a shot of what the owlet is seeing

TFS
Steve

[Marina Scarr]

Was this with a better beamer, as it looks like the flash has lit the whole tree? Without knowing how these react to the presence of people I would be nervous about getting too close and especially up close and personal, plus I'm not sure what effect a flash has to their sensitive eyes if these are night hunters?

Based on the image presented and if you are able to prune that thin branch arching over the hollow with an extendable secateurs without disturbing the owls, then going vertical with a say 16 x 9 crop of just the trunk and the curvature of the hole with the owlet at the foot might be nice and graphic? Just a thought.

Thanks for commenting, Steve. No, I did not use a better beamer for this capture. I tested a few shots with a better beamer but it didn't light up the tree evenly b/c we were too close for a BB. Barred owls are commonly seen during the day in Florida but do a lot of their hunting at night except when they have young. I watched the adult come in several times with skinks for the owlet. There is another pair at this park that is quite opportunistic. They hang out near the fishermen and swoop down for fish.

While I would have loved to prune the offending branch and pondered it often as I lay in wait, I don't think the park rangers would have been too keen on my showing up with ladder and pruning sheers. The nest cavity looks much better this year than last, and that was good enough for me.

[Steve Kaluski]

I totally agree Marina, let nature be and untouched. Thanks for the additional info, nice BKD to the subject. I rarely use a flash and therefore would not be well equipped to make any suggestions.

[Robert Holguin]

Very nice shot.
I really like how the owlet is just popping out it's head.
Love the view of the habitat, but to me it just feels a tad much. A closer crop would be nice.
Still a great shot. One I would be very happy with.
Well done.

[Troy Lim]

It is an awesome image Marina, I wouldn't change a thing.
Steve, here is a good read on flash on owls. http://photo.net/learn/nature/owlflash