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Short-eared Owl
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Short-eared Owl

by Ron Dudley

Gallery: AvianPosted October 24, 2010295 views33 comments
Another in my series from Red Rock Lakes NWR this summer. This is the male with another delivery for the female and nestlings. Background is the Centennial Mountains with partial snow cover.

7D, 1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 800, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, shot from pickup window on 6/25/10, small exposure adjustment in ACR, cropped to 44% of original image, cloned out a strand of grass hanging down from the owls talons, sharpened bird, NR on background, no additional processing or adjustments, natural light, not set up or baited

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

33 comments
Comment posted by Gary Marquart on October 24, 2010 at 5:42 PM
Another absolutely amazing shot Ron. You really hit the jackpot this summer with the owls. :toast:
Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments
Comment posted by Nancy Elwood on October 24, 2010 at 5:49 PM
Ron VERY nice!! I love owls and the BG really sets this one off!
Registered on January 15, 2010, 101 Posts, 396 Comments
Comment posted by Eric Diller on October 24, 2010 at 6:19 PM
Very nice Ron....awesome flight shot!
Registered on October 2, 2009, 69 Posts, 434 Comments
Comment posted by Neil Rossmiller on October 24, 2010 at 6:33 PM
Very nice, Ron.
It holds up very well for such a tight crop. I really like the intensity in the owls eye.
Neil
Registered on October 30, 2009, 156 Posts, 749 Comments
Comment posted by Luke Ormand on October 24, 2010 at 6:33 PM
A different look compared to your other shots of this species with that background that almost looks fake. The lighting is great especially on that eye.... love the feet hanging down from the prey. Another masterful image.
Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments
Comment posted by Keith Bauer on October 24, 2010 at 6:37 PM
Ron: Another stunner! For me the thing that really sends this image over the top is eye. The implied motion with the angle of the owl and the head turn are just fantastic. Put all that together with the background that you have and there is nothing to add other than congrats!!
Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments
Comment posted by richard ettlinger on October 24, 2010 at 6:37 PM
Sweet ShoT!! 7D WOW!!! :toast:
Registered on June 17, 2004, 377 Posts, 1565 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Ditch on October 24, 2010 at 6:38 PM
Very nice. Wish it was mine.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Moore on October 24, 2010 at 7:29 PM
Love the seperation you have achieved.Very 3D.Super as always.

Dan
Registered on February 11, 2010, 143 Posts, 1248 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Olsen on October 24, 2010 at 9:18 PM
Wonderful capture with great wing position in the frame.
How many trips a day did the owl make to the nest?
Thanks for posting!!
Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments
Comment posted by Angela McCain on October 24, 2010 at 9:21 PM
Wow. Great image of this owl, with the light filtering through the wing. The sky is a nice change. Looks like Harry Potter.
Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Dudley on October 24, 2010 at 9:26 PM
How many trips a day did the owl make to the nest?
Richard, hard to estimate because the male was very actively making these trips in the mornings and evenings but not so much during mid day so we would leave and shoot elsewhere. My guess would be maybe one trip per 1/2 to 3/4 hour during active times.
Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Gulash on October 24, 2010 at 9:27 PM
Tremendous photo Ron! You got the pose, the exposure, sharpness, prey...wow. Must have been a wonderful experience to capture this. :jump:
Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments
Comment posted by Robert Bunch on October 24, 2010 at 11:53 PM
Not much to criticize on this one. I like it beaucoup!
Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on October 25, 2010 at 5:29 AM
Love the BG here Ron. The eye has it for me in this one. Very nice as usual.
Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Drummond on October 25, 2010 at 6:25 AM
This one really leaps out at you - well done Ron

cheers
Rob
Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments
Comment posted by Steve Balke on October 25, 2010 at 9:23 AM
Wonderful capture, Ron. The pose, head turn, deadly looking eye and prey are a striking combination. I contemplated suggesting that lightening the shadow on the prey might be a good idea so we can have a better look at it. However, on second thought, keeping the exposure as is preserves the owl as the center of attention. :toast: :toast:
Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments
Comment posted by Giorgio Gregori on October 25, 2010 at 10:22 AM
Excellent flight shot, with the further merit of the prey. Very high standard, as in all your works.
Giorgio
Registered on November 16, 2007, 87 Posts, 793 Comments
Comment posted by May Haga on October 25, 2010 at 11:46 AM
Another totally amazing capture Ron.
May
Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Saunders on October 25, 2010 at 1:24 PM
Oh now this is just beautiful. Way to go Ron :toast:
Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Hackley on October 25, 2010 at 3:36 PM
Excellent shot Ron, the blue sky really compliments the owl. I like everything about this, good image detail for 44%, well done.
Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments
Comment posted by Charles Gangas on October 25, 2010 at 7:54 PM
Another sensational image Ron. Nice head turn and full wing extension inflight against a beautiful BG. :toast:
Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Walters on October 25, 2010 at 9:22 PM
Like the comp and the position of the wings. Like how you cans see the prey as well.
Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Conway on October 25, 2010 at 10:09 PM
The gift that keeps on giving. I am torn between admiring it and being jealous of that time you spent with them. Give my eye teeth.... :wink:

Peter
Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments
Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on October 25, 2010 at 11:05 PM
Sweet shot Ron. I really like that wing position and head turn. Very nice lighting. The prey is a huge bonus. I am still not comfortable shooting at ISO 800 with my 7D. I think it is time I start experimenting.
Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments
Comment posted by Rohn B. McKee on October 25, 2010 at 11:42 PM
This owl is magnificent, thank you for sharing him with us. Beautifully exposed as usual. I like the flight action. the look on his face. He is all business.
Registered on November 18, 2008, 109 Posts, 415 Comments
Comment posted by Steve Canuel on October 26, 2010 at 1:00 AM
Great shot Ron. The mountain BG provides a nice color that really allows the owl to stand out. The outstretched wings and angled head add to the sense of motion of flight.
Registered on September 12, 2010, 53 Posts, 660 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on October 26, 2010 at 1:51 AM
Another beauty Ron, that dark bg really sets him off. :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Muhammad Zaid Wani on October 26, 2010 at 11:58 AM
Another stunner! :toast:
Registered on August 18, 2005, 23 Posts, 1406 Comments
Comment posted by Axel Hildebrandt on October 26, 2010 at 12:20 PM
Very cool capture, I like the soft light, wing position and BG. The vole adds a lot to it.
Registered on October 16, 2006, 66 Posts, 441 Comments
Comment posted by Ákos Lumnitzer on October 27, 2010 at 7:51 AM
Amazing IQ for being less than 50% of the image. The pose and concentration are priceless, as is the poor little rodent. :smile: Congrats mate! :toast:
Registered on April 24, 2004, 25 Posts, 510 Comments
Comment posted by Mia McPherson on October 27, 2010 at 10:29 AM
Another beautiful Short-eared Owl Ron, the mountains in the background are great. I like the up lifted wings, the vole in the talons, great look at the eye and how you handled the postprocessing.
Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Huff on October 27, 2010 at 3:48 PM
Awesome photograph Ron!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ron Huff
Culdesac, Idaho
Registered on August 31, 2010, 69 Posts, 440 Comments