Barn Owl

Gallery: AvianPosted December 9, 2009237 views13 comments

I visited the site where the barn owls were the most consistent, Cresswell Pond NWT in Northumberland UK. I made a dozen or more trips before I got any decent pictures. I quite Like this one. Its a typical flight shot and the light is late afternoon in winter.

I got to know the owl quite well I saw him so often, so much so I named him Eric, but rarely saw close enough to get the decent picture.

Canon 50D, Canon 300mm f2.8, f2.8 !/3200sec ISO 400

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on December 9, 2009 at 6:23 PM

Ron, you are posting some nice flight-shots . This Barn Owl is a beauty. The head looks sharp and there is nice detail and light on the bird.
Not a species that we see posted that often.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 9, 2009 at 8:22 PM

Ron, I really like the lighting and that far wing especially is lovely. Nice flight posture and I like the background. No question, flight shots of this species are few and far between and catch lights are esp difficult to get in them so the lack of one isn't huge for me but it can be done - mostly I miss getting them too. To my eye it looks like your point of focus was on the right wing.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on December 9, 2009 at 8:43 PM

You seem to have no shortage of awesome flight shots. Aside from the dark eye, this is a wonderful photo of a hard to get species.

- Luke

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Twaddell on December 9, 2009 at 10:33 PM

Very nice image, Ron. I only wish that it was not side lit, and had a bit of light on the face. But then what do I know, I don't have a single image of a Barn Owl.

Registered on August 16, 2007, 199 Posts, 2132 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on December 9, 2009 at 10:36 PM

Beautiful light, Ron and a great wing position.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Greg Cope on December 9, 2009 at 10:41 PM

What a treat to be able to photograph a barn owl with light like that! And its a remarkable shot, with a great background and light that makes my jaw drop.

Registered on January 22, 2007, 212 Posts, 2737 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on December 10, 2009 at 2:04 AM

Excellent! Sweet light against an interesting sky, and fine techs on the bird itself.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on December 10, 2009 at 5:52 AM

Wonderful Ron - love the soft light and the angle of the bird coming just slightly towards you

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Carrie O'Brien-Sib on December 10, 2009 at 7:15 AM

Another fabulous post, Ron! I like your style!

Registered on August 4, 2009, 149 Posts, 889 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on December 10, 2009 at 8:46 AM

lovely light, and nice and sharp. I like the feathered feet hanging down a little. could wish for a little more light on the face, but I like this a lot.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 10, 2009 at 2:35 PM

I go along with Ron D's comments on this one Ron. Overall a very nice flight shot of a tough bird to get images of. The face looks just a bit soft, but not bad. The POF was on the right wing as it is tack sharp and shows great detail. Just a bit more DOF and a bit less SS and the face might have been sharper. Overall a great image, and one I would love to have in my files.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on December 10, 2009 at 7:25 PM

Ron,

I like the light but wish there were more on the owl's face, though I know with their deep set eyes that is a challenge.

The other issues I would have addressed have already been mentioned.

I really enjoy the wonderful hues in the sky behind the owl, they compliment the bird very well.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on December 11, 2009 at 3:36 PM

Great flight shot of this incredible subject.

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments