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Thread: Long-eared Owls

  1. #1
    BPN Member Bill Dix's Avatar
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    Default Long-eared Owls

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    Thanks go to Geoffrey for this find. He called one afternoon last week to say that he was looking down the barrel at two LEOWs, which we knew to be around but had never sighted. It took me the better part of an hour to drive/slog to the spot in the forest where Geoffrey was waiting to point these guys out, by which time the light was fading. (Bring your cable release, he had advised.) The view with least obstruction involved fully lowered tripod with my face almost in the mud, looking up through a tangle of twigs and branches. Two inches up, down, left or right produced more branches. So this involved some PS work to remove a few twigs and attempt to (partially) mitigate the blurry areas caused by oof foreground vegetation. From my awkward position it was tough to see what I was focusing on, so I tried various methods: AF, Manual override, Live View. This image was focus-stacked using a combination of the above. I know it has some issues, but I don't see many images of this species, and was thrilled to see them.

    D500, 500f4 + 1.4 TC, ISO 5000, 1/60s @ f/13 manual. Gitzo and Mongoose. Full-frame.

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    I think I know where you took these and from experience I can say it’s a very tricky shot to pull off through all the twigs. My only question would be about the right eye of the back owl, was that actually like that or is that from Photoshop?

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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    Good idea Bill, in these circumstances it is good to try different techniques. I don't think the stacking has quite worked (see bottom RH corner on the bark) and the shutter speed was a little too slow, the plumage is a little smudged. Having said that i think it was well worthwhile.. Have you got any conventional shots with a faster SS? - Love to see one if you have.

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    Lifetime Member Mike Poole's Avatar
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    OK, so maybe not one for the wall, but you were out there, getting a view of a difficult subject, and probably a shot that will make you smile when you look at it in the future, kudos for getting there

    Mike

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    Hey Bill, thanks for sharing this adventure and great job for you and Geoffrey being out there and finding this pair. I'm sure it was all a tangled obstructed view but this certainly documents this not easy at all find!

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    BPN Member dankearl's Avatar
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    This does work well as a great photo, but as a bird experience, it sounds like a good time to me.
    Crazy looking Owls, never seen one.
    Nice record shot.
    Dan Kearl

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    Sounds like quite the experience. Never have seen one. Nice thinking on the fly. What is up the the back ones eyes? They look pretty uneven.

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    BPN Member Bill Dix's Avatar
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    Thank you all for your comments, and for recognizing this for what it was: a record shot of a great bird experience.

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    What you tried here in the field an in PP with stacking is really interesting. Not your usual image quality as you note, but I agree it is great to share a rare sighting.

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    BPN Member Bill Dix's Avatar
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    Thanks Greg.

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