Great Horned Fledgling

Gallery: AvianPosted October 31, 2011161 views10 comments

Early in the morning the last day I was in Malheur NWR last spring, I found this great horned owl fledgling sitting on the window ledge of an old shed with one of it's parents. I photographed the pair as they sat together with my 100-400mm, then I thought it would interesting to get in tight on the youngsters fluffy face. The owls dosed as I switched lenses, just as I was ready to shoot a red-winged blackbird flew behind me and caught this younsters attention.

Canon MIV, 600mm & 1.4x, 1/320, f9, ISO 800, manual spot meter reading

All your comments and suggestions are very much appreciated

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Scott Frye on October 31, 2011 at 5:56 PM

I like the owl emerging from that black background. For me, owls are all about the eyes and these eyes have some good detail in them. I would try to selectively brighten the eys just to see how that would look

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

Comment posted by denise ippolito on October 31, 2011 at 6:15 PM

Ken, I never saw one of these fledglings. Nice details and cute looking face. The black background works well.

Registered on December 17, 2009, 202 Posts, 1529 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on November 1, 2011 at 12:12 AM

The branched birds are some homely they're cute, aren't they? The eye contact makes the shot here.

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on November 1, 2011 at 5:44 AM

Wow! What a marvelous image Ken! I love the all-too serious expression and the way it appears that the subject is wearing some sort of anti-terrorist ski-mask ;^)

Seriously, wonderful shot, very engaging :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Ralph Kerr on November 1, 2011 at 7:02 AM

Very nice, Ken. I particularly enjoy the facial detail in the larger version. It is giving you that "go away and let me sleep" look.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on November 1, 2011 at 10:37 AM

Very, very cool Ken. Love the close-up view.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on November 1, 2011 at 2:49 PM

Way to cool Ken, wonderful look, what a wonderful find to have cooperative owls in enough light to photograph without using flash. Excellent shot.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on November 1, 2011 at 8:22 PM

I enjoy seeing this fine detail Ken.

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on November 2, 2011 at 6:21 PM

Great close up Ken, excellent image,

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on November 21, 2011 at 6:18 PM

Very nice fledgling portrait Ken, ya gotta love that cute fluffy face

Looks a bit pissed off too. Excellent details in the LP, well done!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments