1st Post - Great Gray Owl Fledgling in Lupines

[JessFindlay]

Hey everyone!

My name is Jess Findlay. 19 years of age, from just outside Vancouver B.C.
I've been shooting for a few years now, mainly focusing on birds, other wildlife and landscapes.
Very excited to be apart of this forum. I have already seen some awesome images!
For my first post I thought I'd share my favourite shot so far from 2011.
I discovered a nest of Great Gray Owls in the Thompson Region of British Columbia and had an absolute blast spending time with them. I was lucky enough to get to photograph both the adults and fledglings on a few occasions.

Canon 1DMIV | Full Frame @ 24mm

Would love to hear any feedback!

Thanks for looking...
Jess Findlay
www.jessfindlay.com

[gail bisson]

Hi Jess and welcome to BPN!

I am of 2 minds on this shot. I love the lupins and the colors but the owl gets lost in all the foliage. The fact that you were able to get so close is mind boggling- 24mm.
The owl's direct stare is great. If this was mine I would take some off the bottom and right hand side ( eliminate the right hand lower lupin and the 2 right upper ones )to minimize the busyness of image. A great first post,
Gail

[Marina Scarr]

Welcome to BPN, Jess. I am green with envy over your luck with finding a GG nest and your opportunity to photograph this family. I love how you have created an environmental shot here with the owlet and lupines. I would be tempted to take just a tad off of the bottom but no more.

If you could post your equipment and settings it would be extremely helpful to viewers. Looking forward to more!!!

[Don Lacy]

Hi Jess, Wonderful first image I agree with Marina on cropping just a tad off the bottom but I love the rest of the image it take a good eye to pull of a habitat image like this. I would make one suggestion and that would be to join as a member so you can host your images on BPN server that way it will generate a preview and you will get more people to open your post when they see an interesting preview.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Hey Jess, welcome to BPN!! Awesome image here...you sure didn't let the opportunity go to waste. Quite the arrangement you have there...was this a setup, how did you get the owlet to sit there if it was? I kinda wish the lower right lupine was not clipped at right edge, but man o man what a stunning scene. Hoping to see more from you....

[Tom Redd]

Jess, welcome and great first post. What a great opportunity you were blessed to have with these guys. I agree with the previous comments and look forward to more from you.

[JessFindlay]

Hey Jess, welcome to BPN!! Awesome image here...you sure didn't let the opportunity go to waste. Quite the arrangement you have there...was this a setup, how did you get the owlet to sit there if it was? I kinda wish the lower right lupine was not clipped at right edge, but man o man what a stunning scene. Hoping to see more from you....

Thanks to everyone for the feedback! When GGO fledglings leave the nest they perch very low and sometimes on the ground. I definitely lucked out with this perch! It was very difficult to find the little guys in the first place as they moved around each day it seemed.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Thanks to everyone for the feedback! When GGO fledglings leave the nest they perch very low and sometimes on the ground. I definitely lucked out with this perch! It was very difficult to find the little guys in the first place as they moved around each day it seemed.

Very cool, thanks for the info. Although you lucked out on the opportunity it wasn't luck, but skill and knowledge, that gave you the final result.

[Robert Holguin]

Wonderful image. Love the stare, I personally like everything about. From the flowers to the perch.
Well done.

[James Fuller]

Fantastic Image...Hope to see more. I see a few small dust spots in the sky. Left hand side and one just above the right side of the owl.