D700
70-200mm f2.8 VR with 1.7TC
340mm
ISO 800
f5.6 at 1/200s
Manual mode
Matrix Metering
Auto white balance
handheld
No post process yet, convert RAW to JPEG and crop at 100% (1024x681 pixel)
I took this image of three owls in front of their nest, which is a hole high up in a tree trunk. The tree is locates in a garden where there a gardener cutting grass around the tree every now and then, these owls don't seem to be bother by it (some went inside the hole, some just sitting there looking). Still I wonder is this an appropriate shot? I saw in the other thread that you shouldn't get close to a nest, especially with chicks inside. Is there any guideline in taking pictures around a nest, or is it simply just walk away when you see one? Please let me know if this is inappropriate, so I won't do it again.
All comments and suggestions are welcome.
Last edited by Thanaboon Jearkjirm; 10-25-2009 at 10:53 AM.
i think that the image that you are referring to had flash used in it. i think the flash was the problem mentioned. i'm not sure about it either way. i have never seen research that showed that flash makes the birds leave the nest. i have always tried to be as respectful as can be no matter what the circumstances. i dont think your photography of these birds is going to hurt anything. as you said, there a lawn mower going around the tree once a week. if they were disturbed, they probably wouldnt be there.
btw, cool pic!! cant wait to see what you do with it in PP.
Its one thing to maintain a yard, another to approach a nest with hardware in tow. We can talk about this until the cows come in, bottom line IMO keep a safe distance, do not disturb when feeding and do the right thing.
You are an experienced photographer, I trust your methods.
Last edited by Jeff Cashdollar; 10-25-2009 at 04:19 PM.
Agree with the above - there is no hard and fast answer, personally I would be using the longest lens in my arsenal - that way it would keep me far enough away and I would still get my shot.
You could take this shot with a 400mm or climb up a ladder and shoot it with a wide angle. - ID o the 400mm or longer option every time.
Hi Thanaboon,
You did nothing wrong, again, as mentioned; not disturbing their nest. I too would use the longest focal lens I have available to give them their comfort zone...by the way, nice capture...:D:cool:
Hi Thanaboon It all depends on the circumstance. Personally I don't see anything wrong with this image and the birds look just fine. Other species are different and we should always place the welfare of the birds as most important.
If they can get used to a lawnmower, you would think a camera would not bother them. If it were me I would use the longest lens possible, and if I thought I were disturbing them in any way I would leave.
I agree with the comments about as long a distance away as possible. From my experience, chicks can be a bit fearless, and naive, and sometimes kinda dumb about disturbance / people nearby. So it is with the three here. Its the adults that you have to worry about, as they get pretty stressed. If the lawnmower guy is there every week the adults can get habituated to people and machines, and thats probably true in this case.
This is a very sweet photograph, btw. Love that wink, the natural progression for me anyway is to observe from left to right, and this has a real sock to it.
Question (nest image)
