Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Litte Owls

  1. #1
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Somewhere in the world
    Posts
    20,551
    Threads
    1,285
    Thank You Posts

    Default Litte Owls

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Scruffy on the left, Torn Eye on the right. To date no one quite understands the relationship and it's good to see that Scruffy is slowly beginning to recover and look more like a Little Owl. Shot a few weeks ago, this shot is now impossible due to the huge vegetation growth in the field. This is shot at the foot of the old Willow tree that seems still to be going after a lightening strike, Torn Eyes is looking up at the jackdaws that also frequent the tree.

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

    Steve

    Subject: Little owls (Athene noctua)
    Location: UK
    Camera: Canon EOS-1D X Mark III
    Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS II USM (Pod & Flexline Pro Ball head/bag hide)
    Exposure: 1/1600s at f/8 ISO1250
    Original format: Landscape, very slight crop from above, FF width
    Processed via: LRCC Classic & PSCC2020
    Time: 8.35am

    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
    BPN Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Ithaca, NY
    Posts
    10,421
    Threads
    1,708
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    The pose on both owls is pretty neat. The right one looking up and the left one looking away. Killer detail per ususal.

  3. #3
    BPN Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Waynesville, Ohio, United States
    Posts
    1,334
    Threads
    224
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Love the owls Steve,just wish the background wasn't so busy. Nothing we can do about that.The stump with the green foliage is nice.I think the green makes the image more appealing adding some depth to all of the earth tone colors. TFS

  4. #4
    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    SW Michigan
    Posts
    14,112
    Threads
    820
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Steve:

    I like the overall concept, but find that the OOF fellow on the right a bit of a problem. So close, as his feet are in the plane of focus. You had enough light to go to a smaller aperture, but then the bg becomes more in play. Just wish we could teach these guys to stand in the same plane!

    Cheers

    Randy
    MY BPN ALBUMS

    "Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy" Sir Isaac Newton

  5. #5
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Somewhere in the world
    Posts
    20,551
    Threads
    1,285
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Thanks John, Kevin & Randy.

    Just to add a bit of context, the location is 'messy' and unlike the Burrowing owls, these are not habituated to humans, or live in nicer environments. It took a week to plan and watch their movements and in that week only TE showed, the second was a bonus. Then for two weeks using a bag hide I slowly got closer, each day keeping in one spot, one position, only moving when they flew as they spook easily. This is set in a meadow with nothing around and so it's pot luck to a degree on getting any images, it's just a case of building things up. Then I left it for a week, then put a fixed blind in, but vegetation has almost taken over.

    FYI this is the Willow tree early on in the shoot, ALL natural.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  6. #6
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Somewhere in the world
    Posts
    20,551
    Threads
    1,285
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    This again will hopefully give you an insight to the 'wider picture'
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  7. #7
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Somewhere in the world
    Posts
    20,551
    Threads
    1,285
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    And so... a few weeks on and as you can see, nature has taken over, so I have to be a bit more 'creative' in both shots and in what I can do, plus I don't want to move the blind, keeping all disturbance to a minimal input, now in by 6.00am out by 9.30am, light is not great after or in the afternoon. As my presence/impact has been minimal the owls at times are now coming in much closer and so lens are getting shorter, plus shooting mirrorless they are not disturbed and so I better a far better insight into their habits.

    Shot from the iPhone this morning.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  8. #8
    BPN Member William Dickson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Fife, Scotland
    Posts
    7,773
    Threads
    1,093
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    This is better I just thought the perch on your next one looked unnatural....Yes its very old, rusty nail and woodworm holes, but....

    Will

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics