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Thread: Too long a lens!!!

  1. #1
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Default Too long a lens!!!

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    Having found 'Torn Eye' residing back in the old Willow tree, it meant during my walks for the first week was just to observe and see if she/he followed some of the old routes and locations from a previous year and yes, all seemed to fall into a very similar pattern. The second week was just to try and get close to both Willow tree and old wooden trailer, favourite spots based on the white droppings that clearly marked the owls presence. Keeping flexible and using the bag hide I thought it might have offered more chance in changing location (prior to the blind going up) in that second week, as we both got used to each other and I could observe more, however first day not a hope!!!

    Thinking I covered a wide angle area from my position (not too close) and shooting mirrorless, only Torn Eye would pitch up, meters away from me on a crappy bit of wood. No chance of changing techs ie DoF and so I only got a few frames before the Pheasants spoke her/him as they sparred with one another. The following day the set up was different under the bag hide with both the 500 & 1.4 plus the 200-400 mounted to cover most eventualities and it worked. The green backdrop is an old Hawthorn hedge that divides the fields.

    Thanks to those who viewed or commented on the previous posting.

    Steve

    Subject: Little owl (Athene noctua)
    Location: UK
    Camera: Canon EOS-1D X Mark III
    Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS II USM (Gitzo tripod & Flexline Pro Ball head)
    Exposure: 1/1600s at f/5.6 ISO2500 +0.33EV
    Original format: Portrait, very slight crop from above, FF width
    Processed via: LRCC Classic & PSCC2020
    Time: 6.50am

    Note: The subject is fully wild and completely unconstrained. Besides the potential impact of my presence, nothing has been done to intentionally alter or affect the ongoing behavior of the subject and, of course, there has been no use of any form of bait or other form of wildlife attractants (including vocalisations) in the capture of this image.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  2. #2
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    Default

    Nicely detailed I like the eyelash shadow on the eye too. The raised foot makes for something a little different, DOF isn't usually much of an issue for me but I do wish there had been a little more.
    if this is likely to be a regular perch I would be tempted to replace it or dress it up , assuming this was practicable.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    if this is likely to be a regular perch I would be tempted to replace it or dress it up , assuming this was practicable.
    Jon, in the next posting I will show you the location and it will illustrate some points/question some may think, or even ask, but no, this perch is not a desired element and was later removed.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    A fine looking little owl Steve. I like the sweet BG and soft light and shooting angle. The raised foot is cool.

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Steve ... nice work !!! Lovely color and tones and the raised foot is working well .

    TFS Andreas

    BTW what is a bag hide ??

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    Super Moderator arash_hazeghi's Avatar
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    cool shot Steve, right eye injured?
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    I like the frames of this owl. Nice pose and background. Nice detail.

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    BPN Member Dorian Anderson's Avatar
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    Better than not enough lens, right? Looks good. A bit more DOF might have been nice - you had it at 1/1600 at f/5.6 - but that's relatively minor. I like the clenched foot but would have liked to the more detail on the extended other.
    Can you move him up to show a bit more perch? It feels like a bit of an afterthought now, particularly as you have more room above than anywhere else. I understand that could be a proximity issue though.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    cool shot Steve, right eye injured?
    Hi Arash, yes. The assumption is that it was from a fight, but it hasn't appeared to have hampered the owl in any shape or form over the years. The main concern currently is 'Scruffy' another Little owl that has appeared on the scene, much smaller with what we thought was a Tick/Mite issue, but speaking to the Wildlife vet and additional pictures to show the issues, again their advice was that it was from a fight. Certainly it's getting better over the last few weeks and I won't be showing any images from the early days as I hate to portray subjects in poor condition, plus this is the first time I felt compelled to get involve to help a wild animal, normally it's left to nature.

    What has been surprising is that Torn Eye is feeding Scruffy, it's too early to have come from a brood, but TE has seemed to have adopted this one, in addition food is being taken to the rear of the tree where there is another entrance to the nest, so is there another owl in residence that I've not seen? Hopefully things will all play out over time, but it's all a bit bizarre...
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  10. #10
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Can you move him up to show a bit more perch? It feels like a bit of an afterthought now, particularly as you have more room above than anywhere else. I understand that could be a proximity issue though.
    Hi Dorian, as I mentioned in the intro, the frame is almost FF, zero at the foot with only a slight trim at the top. The shot was more of a knee jerk reaction as I said, because I was not expecting the subject to come so close and no chance to move under the bag hide as this would have spooked the bird.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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