Burrowing Owl/w repost

Gallery: AvianPosted May 9, 2011186 views21 comments

Nikon D300s
600mm
1/1600
F/7.1
Exp Program Manual
Metering Spot
White Balance Cloudy
ISO 200
Raw
Window mount Shot from Vehicle
Distance 18.6 meters

I've been searching these guys out lately and a friend knew where several owls with little ones were hanging out so we planned a trip early in the morning to get the best light possible and shot from a car mount. A wimberley head can be attached to these car window mounts and it was a superb operating system. As luck would have it these guys let us pull right up next to them (this shot was from 18.6 meters)and allowed us to get several images. This shot was taken about 5 minutes after the sun came over the top of the mountains and gave us some very robust colors...Actually had to desaturate quite a bit on the reds. I'm trying to get these little speed demons in flight but have been none to successful so far. Please let me know what you think. Larger post for a better look see. Thanks for looking and Happy Mothers Day. Alan...Thanks for the trip.

Comments

21 comments

Comment posted by Robert Holguin on May 9, 2011 at 12:59 AM

Wonderful shot. Love the light and the fabulous pose. Great perch andthe detail in the larger image is great. Well done.

Registered on January 25, 2011, 44 Posts, 294 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on May 9, 2011 at 8:36 AM

I like the back side view and the head turn. Shows off some great detail. Perch is great. Exposure looks just at touch bright to me. I'd bring it down (especially on the owl) just a little bit.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on May 9, 2011 at 9:42 AM

super, David. great pose and light. good setting too. this is really nice.

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on May 9, 2011 at 10:11 AM

I really like that you got this on a perch such as this - a sight I have not seen often, if at all.

PS: On my monitor, the original looks best.

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on May 9, 2011 at 10:22 AM

Wow...that is super close David! The Burrowing Owls in COlorado that I have run into are MUCH more skiddish. I really like the perch and not sure I have seen too many perched on twigs posted here. Usually they are on fence posts or rocks or the ground by the burrow, so I think this one is unique. Good work!

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Darren Colello on May 9, 2011 at 11:58 AM

What a beauty. Spectacular work here David. Love it!!!!!

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by David Schoen on May 9, 2011 at 12:32 PM

This is really nice!

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on May 9, 2011 at 12:52 PM

Nice composition and setting. I agree about going a little darker with this.

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

Comment posted by David Haynes on May 9, 2011 at 2:34 PM

Thanks for all the input. Keith and Richard....I will re-post tonight with a darker image. At work right now and can't get to it till about 8:00pm tonight West coast time. Thanks for the suggestion.

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

Comment posted by keith mitchell on May 9, 2011 at 3:15 PM

Little nit covered ,superb image.

Keith.

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

Comment posted by David Sparks on May 9, 2011 at 4:30 PM

Wow! Very nice. Love the perch and BG. Minor addition to the suggestion to darken the bird a tad - if you do so, why not darken the white areas of the perch a bit too?

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on May 9, 2011 at 4:44 PM

Really love this shot David. The comp could not be better IMO. The bare branch perch and then then greenery and then the smooth BG. Really all play nice in this shot. The bird is very sharp with nice detail. Brightness works for me as posted. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on May 9, 2011 at 4:56 PM

That is unique, a burrowing owl perched on a branch, do not think I have ever seen that before. Nice head turn and look from the owl, good feather detail and background, I agree it could go darker but a fine shot, well done.

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

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on May 9, 2011 at 5:59 PM

Splendid work, David. Love the eyes and that flimsy perch. Creates a bit of tension in the image.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on May 9, 2011 at 6:31 PM

Beautiful shot- Great pose, light and BG on this- well done, Fabio

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

Comment posted by Steve Canuel on May 9, 2011 at 9:18 PM

Great subjects for photographing or just watching. Really like the over the back look and the complimentary colors of the BG.

Registered on September 12, 2010, 53 Posts, 660 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on May 9, 2011 at 9:36 PM

Here is a slightly darker version of this shot. Let me know what you think as several people have suggested that I darken the original a bit. Thanks.