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Thread: Silent hunter - Northern Hawk-owl.

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    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
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    Default Silent hunter - Northern Hawk-owl.

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    An awesome time was had photographing this local celebrity. It has been attracting alot of attention, but good fun is had by all who visit it. This guy is incredibly fast and stealthy - take your eye off the viewfinder (or blink!!) while it is making its approach and good look finding it again before it has passed you!

    Canon 40D + 100-400L at 400mm, manual exposure, evaluative metering, 1/3200s., f/6.3, ISO 800 (settings histogram checked), natural light, handheld, baited.

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    This is a wonderful capture. I like the snow eruption created by the NHO as it leaves the ground. Wonderful eyes, sharp & great exposure. I also like how the grass stalks help anchor the image & adds reference.
    What was used as bait?
    How was it baited?
    Andrew

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    wonderful pose and mood here Daniel...love the intent gaze and hint of blur in the wingtips
    is it just my monitor or is the snow appearing slightly grey?
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Great action photo with the intense eyes and the snow kicking up. Agree with Morkel that snow (except for LRC) looks a little gray, but it might be that the owl is coming out of a shadowy area. Correct?

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    Todd Frost
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    Well done Daniel. Nice head on view, with a sharp bird. As you know my first sighting and photo opp was a few days ago and I was blown away at the speed of these bullets. Agree the snow could come up just a bit. Well done and look forward to more from this shoot.
    TFS
    Todd

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    excellent image as always right from harry potter story

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    BPN Viewer Haim Ziv's Avatar
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    Excellent and great done. Love the look on his face.

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    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
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    Hey thanks guys! Snow does tend to get grey/blue, especially in shaded areas. This is natural and I've already desaturated the blues quite a bit on the snow. The darker snow behind the owl and "splash" is in a dip on the ground that was a bit more shaded and I like how it puts the closer/higher snow in the FG into evidence...I guess I could still selectively lighten that darker area a bit more so I will put your suggestions into consideration:)

    Andrew, the bait used was mice. Not sure what you mean by how, excpet that the mouse was released onto the snow in plain view of the owl which is perched and ready to hunt. BTW, the splash was not created by the owl taking off, but rather by it snatching its' prey on the fly.

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    BPN Viewer Pieter de Waal's Avatar
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    Wonderful action captured here Daniel, as mentioned the eruption of snow and grass stalks add to the image and I also like the detail in the foreground snow.

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    What a great shot!!
    Good and sharp where it counts. Love how the grass balances out the image. It still would be great without it but for me it takes it to a much higher level. I personally like how the background snow is slightly darker. I think it gives the image more depth perception.

    TFS
    Neil

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    Daniel, wonderful action captured. I like how the wings are framing the face and that intense look in the eyes. TFS.

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    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
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    Daniel:

    I would say you had good luck with the NHO:)

    Snow looks good on my monitor, nice sense of action/motion with blurred wings.

    Won't see many of those in Florida.

    Cheers

    Randy

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    Brendan Dozier
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    Beautiful capture Daniel. Nice action pose and love the snow kick-up as well.

    Some neighbors of mine told me they have a Great Horned Owl living in a small palm tree in their yard. They say it is huge, and mainly eats gophers. I was wondering if you or anyone else could give me advice on how to best capture an image.

    Thanks,
    Brendan

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Hey Dan, love the intense stare of the owl, sharp where it counts, and the owl pops nicely from the snowy BG. Very well timed for the snatch.

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    Great action shot and great exposure. excellent detail in face. Wish the right wing wouldn't mask the owl body.
    Thanks.

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    IOTY Winner 2008 Chris van Rooyen's Avatar
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    Like the overall wider composition. Intense expression of the owl is really captivating. Not sure about the wing position but that is just a personal preference.

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    Nice work, Daniel! I'll echo Chris and add that the grays in the snow aren't much of an issue with me.

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