Eagle-Owl

[Brutus Ostling]

Who are you? What's that?

For three days I was with Frode Johansen in his small boat up north at the polar circle. He works as 'opsyningsmand' at the nature reserve where there are around 10-15 nesting Eagle Owls. I got around 5-6 images from those days in the boat, one day I didn't get any Eagle Owl at all close enough. This one is not perfect, but I like the meeting, he is checking us out. I found it late and made a small one in the book four days before printing. I had to brighten the Owl.

In Sweden we don't have many of these Eagle Owls, so 10-15 pairs in 15-20 miles area is amazing.

[Juan Aragonés]

Great eye contact and wing pose. I agree about the need for more levels adjustment on the bird but a very nice image. Did you considered the possibility of a landscape crop?

[Raymond Barlow]

congrats on an amazing image .. wonderful wing position, and the eye contact is awesome.

[Markus Jais]

wonderful eye contact and wing pose. this is a fantastic shot of the large owl.

Markus

[Keith Carver]

Superb capture, love the eye contact! Agree that a landscape frame would be better if it's possible.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great pose, eye contact and BG. The near wing looks a bit noisy and I might give it a tad more room left and right. Could you post the techs?

[Brutus Ostling]

Did you considered the possibility of a landscape crop?[/QUOTE]


Yes, I had more sky behind the bird but only sky, and a dull one, this is full height cropped from a horizontal image. So there were two ways to go with this photo with a dark bird and a very very bright BG skye. Now I have darkened the sky 80 % or something like that, I could also have gone the other way and let it burn out instead. I havn't had the time to try that one yet.

[Brutus Ostling]

.... Could you post the techs?

Canon 1 Ds Mark III, EF 500/4 IS plus 1,4 converter (700 mm), handheld, ISO 400, 1/800 sec., aperture 9 (that means 1 1/3 stop down from full opening with the converter). Manual exposure as I nearly always do for flight shots.

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Wonderful flight pose and I love the straight on eye contact you captured here . I see a slight bit of noise around the head area . Excellent timing Brutus and congratulations !!!

[Doug Brown]

Yes the near wing is has some noise, but I like the balance you've struck here with your exposure. You preserved the sky and the owl both.

[Maxis Gamez]

Outstanding capture and eye contact. However, I think this should be horizontal! IMO!

[Desmond Chan]

Outstanding capture and eye contact. However, I think this should be horizontal! IMO!

Or may be a square :)

Great shot !!

[Jason Searle]

love the eye contact, great image.

[Linda Robbins]

Beautiful wings down flight pose. Excellent eye contact and sharp where it needs to be sharp...on the face and eyes. I am surprised that the near wing shows so much motion blur at 1/800 sec. Lovely capture!

[Fabs Forns]

Lovey pose and great eye contact. Very dynamic as presented. Glad to have you back.

Say hi to the critters when they arrive, please :)