Short-eared Owl

Gallery: AvianPosted January 30, 2011171 views21 comments

This is a first for me, and a shot I have been after for a very long time. I'd spent the previous evening watching this bird hunting voles in the last light of the day, so it was a goal achieved to finally capture one perched on a fence post.

1/640th @ f7.1 iso640 ( 70% of FF )

All C&C's most welcome.

Thanks for the feedback on my last post, and thanks for looking.

Andy...

Comments

21 comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 30, 2011 at 6:16 AM

Nice one Andy - great detail in the larger version. Love those yellow eyes

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Scott Frye on January 30, 2011 at 6:44 AM

I like the nice subtle colors. The background colors are great but there are some darker vertical lines that seem out of place. If it were mine I would try to clone those lines out sor a smoother background

Registered on February 3, 2007, 387 Posts, 1136 Comments

Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on January 30, 2011 at 6:50 AM

Thanks for the comments guys

I know what you mean re the BG Scott, the dark vertical lines are OOF Mullein plants that have died, hence the dark colouration. With this being a natural BG I decided to leave it as photographed.

Andy...

Registered on September 24, 2006, 123 Posts, 1254 Comments

Comment posted by Jason Scanlan on January 30, 2011 at 7:27 AM

I like it andy.Very nice

Registered on August 12, 2007, 8 Posts, 46 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 30, 2011 at 7:28 AM

Andy,

Lovely pose & eye contact, soft natural colors and pleasing comp. The background looks fine to me, I would expect some color varaition and in a natural setting like this.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 30, 2011 at 8:00 AM

Love the large version of this Andy. Bird is really sharp. The BG is perfect for this comp. The dark lines made by the mullen plants are not an issue for me at all, very natural. Well done overall.

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

Comment posted by Rob Graham on January 30, 2011 at 9:42 AM

very nice, Andy. The dark stripes don't bother me either, but I shoot against pastures all the time. I'm still trying to get a shot like this, but not having much luck finding the owls this year.

Registered on August 22, 2006, 842 Posts, 2824 Comments

Comment posted by Ralph Kerr on January 30, 2011 at 10:00 AM

Andy,
Nothing more I could add, except to say it is a great photo

Registered on January 30, 2007, 369 Posts, 852 Comments

Comment posted by Alan Bryant on January 30, 2011 at 11:04 AM

Hi Andy

Great image of this chap

Nice comp and details.Dont mind the BG, IMO it adds

Registered on March 31, 2006, 473 Posts, 1081 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 30, 2011 at 12:31 PM

Nicely done. I always like these understated monochromatic images.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 30, 2011 at 4:16 PM

The owl looks great Andy and I really like the soft colors here. I like the background just as it is.

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

Comment posted by Des Ong on January 30, 2011 at 6:21 PM

Nice one Andy, the dark streaks sort of frames the subject in a subtle way, no bother at all for me personally.

Registered on July 12, 2007, 23 Posts, 234 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on January 30, 2011 at 6:49 PM

Great shot! Love the yellow in the eyes!

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on January 30, 2011 at 9:42 PM

Nice color palette on this and I like the stare. Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on January 31, 2011 at 4:47 AM

Thanks for the feedback guys

Andy...

Registered on September 24, 2006, 123 Posts, 1254 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on January 31, 2011 at 11:41 AM

Andy,
I really like those yellow eyes. Very nice detail, background and comp.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 31, 2011 at 12:41 PM

Your patience really paid off, oustanding image, good detail and background, what a look the owl is giving, the larger version looks great, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on January 31, 2011 at 12:42 PM

Congrats getting the picture you wanted! I know the sense of elation that you must have felt.

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by David Williams on January 31, 2011 at 6:00 PM

This is a beautiful shot of one of my favorites, Andy. This is just the way we see them here in Montana, too.

Registered on March 8, 2005, 315 Posts, 2291 Comments

Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on February 1, 2011 at 3:39 AM

Cheers guys, pleased you like it

Andy...

Registered on September 24, 2006, 123 Posts, 1254 Comments

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on February 1, 2011 at 5:59 PM

What a beautiful image, must have been quite an experience

Well done Andy.

Geoff.

Registered on August 20, 2010, 192 Posts, 980 Comments