Somebody say "owl"?

[Kerry Perkins]

In the category of "yes you can", here is a shot I was completely unprepared for but got it anyway. Walking down a very densely overgrown trail to get to a spot where I was going to shoot white-tailed kites, I came upon this old boy. I had the 1.4x TC on the 400 and could not get any farther away from the owl. While I held my breath and took off the TC, this guy just sat there waiting... I dialed up the ISO, down the SS, and flipped up the flash on the camera. This is full-frame. I figured I wasn't going to get anything good at 1/125 hand-holding that lens (no IS), but when I got home I had a nice series. I like this one the best because he was getting bored with me and gave me "that look".

50D, 400mm f/5.6
Manual mode, f/5.6@1/125, ISO 800 WB 5100K
AI Servo autofocus, HH, on-camera flash at FEC -1 2/3

[Robert K Griffith]

Very nice HH shot! Any thoughts about straightening clockwise a touch?

[Kerry Perkins]

Robert, my thought is that it would be a good thing to do if your goal was to make the eyes level. However, all that would do is make the eyes level, which is what I think you are alluding to. I looked at the whole series of shots and he definitely did cock his head like this. Notice that the talons are actually skewed a bit in the opposite direction. I guess it could go either way.

[Allen Hirsch]

Sweet image of an owl.

That's pretty amazing, Kerry - out in the open in daylight? And you removed the TC and he just waited for you?

Proof that some fairytales do come true. ;)

[Kerry Perkins]

Allen, it was a special moment! I even got the TC into the little draw-string bag without dropping it on the ground. In fact, it was a pretty special day as, three hours of sitting in the brush later, I got the shot of a male White-tailed Kite handing off a vole to his mate in midair. In fact, I think I'll re-post it just for fun.

[Ian Cassell]

Now that's what I call a patient owl! He was probably mumbling to himself "I wish the guy would get the pic, already!"

It's a beautiful composition, Kerry. DOF is right-on. It may be a tad dark on just the face and a bit of catchlight in the eyes would help it (I'm surprised there is no catchlight since you used flash), but I like it the way it is!

[Johan Kruger]

super capture Kerry, that "look" put a big smile on my face

[John Chardine]

I'd be thrilled to make an image like this Kerry. We have the species here but you just don't see them like this. The eyes are piercing.