Short-eared portrait

Gallery: AvianPosted February 16, 2011187 views21 comments

One from last friday morning. I arrived at the site early, expecting a long wait until the owls were on the wing, when out of the corner of my eye I noticed this stunning bird land on a post just 25ft from my drivers side door. This incredibly confiding bird allowed me to exit the car, set up the camera, and have one of the best wildlife experiences I have ever had. To be so close to a wild owl was simply amazing and will live long in the memory, thanks for looking.

7D, 500F4IS + 1.4T/c
1/500th @ f7.1 iso800 ( Full Frame with a couple of pixels off of the top and the lefthand side to centre the bird, no cloning and not baited )

All C&C's most welcome and thanks for the feedback on my last post.

Andy...

Comments

21 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 16, 2011 at 11:37 AM

Very nice detail and clarity - it is a bit centered though.

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

Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on February 16, 2011 at 11:44 AM

Cheers Luke, I thought the centred composition would suit the head on stare.

Andy...

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on February 16, 2011 at 11:48 AM

Wonderful portrait. That stare is memorizing. I think the centered comp works for this image with the direct head on stare. Nice image.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Alan Bryant on February 16, 2011 at 11:53 AM

Comp works very well IMO

Nice image of this great looking owl.Love the eyes

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

Comment posted by Craig Strand on February 16, 2011 at 12:19 PM

I think the centered image is perfect here, the capture and detail exceptional. I really love everything about this image including the owls pose, the perch (and barbed wire) and complimentary BG.

Very well done, congrats!

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on February 16, 2011 at 2:16 PM

Excellent portrait- great eye contact, details and awesome BG- well done, Fabio

Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on February 16, 2011 at 3:02 PM

Excellent detail and I like the look from the owl, the larger image looks great, a pleasure to view, way to go.

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

Comment posted by Graham Goddard on February 16, 2011 at 3:27 PM

Spot Andy, but you knew I'd say that

Registered on November 21, 2008, 66 Posts, 253 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 16, 2011 at 4:07 PM

Stunning! And centered is perfect IMO.

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on February 16, 2011 at 4:11 PM

A rivetting portrait.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Sonja Otto on February 16, 2011 at 8:40 PM

Absolutely gorgeous picture. On the large image, it looks as though the eyes are boring right through you. I also love the background blur. Great job!

Registered on February 15, 2011, 0 Posts, 21 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 16, 2011 at 10:57 PM

Amazing, Andy. Sweet image. Wonderful detail and I like the soft light.

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

Comment posted by Marc Dubuc on February 16, 2011 at 11:30 PM

Striking portrait. I like the details and BG!

Registered on January 4, 2011, 59 Posts, 229 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on February 17, 2011 at 1:17 AM

Andy,
Great story. Glad you were able to experience something so memorable. I love the post and I love the barb wire. I'm not sure why but everything about this shot is very impressive. Really, really like this Andy. Wish this was mine. I've not been very lucky with owls before.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on February 17, 2011 at 9:12 AM

Thanks for the feedback guys, appreciated as always

Andy...

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

Comment posted by Max Waugh on February 17, 2011 at 10:12 AM

The moment I would have stepped out of the car it would have been gone. Way to go, Andy.

I think the centered comp works fine. I think the diagonal spikey line of wire, though a man-made element, complements it will too.

Wonderful portrait.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on February 17, 2011 at 4:54 PM

Very nice - composition works for me, too.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 17, 2011 at 5:46 PM

Agree with your centred version Andy - great stare and the post even has some character.

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on February 17, 2011 at 5:52 PM

This is simply outstanding, Andy. A perfectly executed photo of this cosmopolitan species. The head turn takes it over the top.

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

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on February 17, 2011 at 6:34 PM

Stunning image Andy

You lucky so and so, I'd love to get that close to one of these.
Well captured.

Geoff.

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

Comment posted by keith mitchell on February 18, 2011 at 3:02 PM

Andy it does not matter which forum still recon this is the best i have seen,excellent.

Keith.

Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments