Northern Hawk Owl

[Jody Melanson]

Model = Canon EOS-1D Mark II N
Exposure Time = 1/1600"
F Number = F8
Exposure Program = Manual
ISO Speed Ratings = 400
Metering Mode = Spot
Flash = Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length = 400mm
Exposure Mode = Manual exposure
Baited
Handheld using Bushhawk

[Randy Stout]

Jody:

This is fine. I am amazed that with your settings the wings are still so blurred. Tremendous sense of motion. Intense stare, great wing position, nice composition.

Thanks for sharing this one!

Randy

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Cool pose and composition, details look good, too. The eye contact is great, were you the bait? :) The sky has a slight magenta cast on my monitor and I would run some NR on the BG.

[bobby]

Very cool pose on this one Jody, he is an intense little rascal.

[Matt Lerer]

I think that's one of the coolest owl shots I have ever seen...very nice! I also have blurred wings on some of my owl shots at 1/1600 so they must move them pretty quickly. I've got to get up north next season for sure!

[Jonathan Michael Ashton]

Amazing shot, great exposure and the detail is terrific. There is something about it though that seems to puzzle me, the head, neck, back and tail are all sharp and part of the wings are, then all of a sudden they go soft. The shutter speed is high so I think it is largely due to DOF but I wondered if it could be partly due to masking?

Jon

[Jody Melanson]

Amazing shot, great exposure and the detail is terrific. There is something about it though that seems to puzzle me, the head, neck, back and tail are all sharp and part of the wings are, then all of a sudden they go soft. The shutter speed is high so I think it is largely due to DOF but I wondered if it could be partly due to masking?

Jon

No masking, Jon. Don't forget this bird including his long tail is only 16" long. His head is the size of your fist. The blur is from the speed of his wings. He isn't much bigger than a Passerine. Very fast bird in flight!

Thanks!

[Doug Brown]

What a fantastic pose Jody! I had no idea they were that small.

[Jasper Doest]

Simply one of the most impressive photographs of this species I've ever seen. That eyecontact is soo cool!