Barred owls

Gallery: AvianPosted January 12, 2012473 views32 comments

Here is the pair enjoying some quite time together, or one could see it as the female on the right looking stearnly off into the distance,while the scorned male sits quietly by. Hey,its fun to anthropomorphize every once in a while.

Please view the larger image for max details.
Please note: had to reduce the quality down to a 9 to get the 1200px image file small enough for posting, so detail may not be as good as it could be.

Canon 1DM4
500mm f/4 + 1.4x TC
ISO 1000
f/8
1/500s
Manual exp.
Hand held from my boat
63% of FF

Comments

32 comments

Comment posted by John Robinson on January 12, 2012 at 5:56 PM

Absolutely spot on !

Lovely picture indeed.
JohnR

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 12, 2012 at 6:08 PM

A terrific series - this is another exceptional image that I'd be proud to have taken. The hanging moss adds a lot to the composition and the image.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 12, 2012 at 6:23 PM

Really nice! The detail in the large version looks fantastic to me. I enjoy everything here.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Suzanne Huot on January 12, 2012 at 6:28 PM

Wonderful composition ,love the body language too .Super nice to have them both in focus .does not get much better than this one.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 32 Posts, 240 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Backlund on January 12, 2012 at 7:26 PM

I'd be happy to get one like this, let alone two. Fantastic!

Registered on September 29, 2005, 252 Posts, 3380 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on January 12, 2012 at 8:16 PM

There is nothing to dislike about this photo - the only very minor nit is the savannah moss ever so slightly encroaching on the owl on the left - a different angle would have prevented this but being you shot it from a boat, well easier said than done.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 12, 2012 at 8:26 PM

Luke, thanks for the comment. Actually, a different angle would not have solved the problem of moss encroaching on one of the owls. Moving to the right to get the moss off the left owl brought moss into the right owl. The angle I chose was the best available and I feel the bit of moss on the left owl works fine.

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on January 12, 2012 at 8:57 PM

Another wonderful image! This is just priceless.

Ray

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

Comment posted by Mark Schiebelbein on January 12, 2012 at 9:10 PM

I like the pastel colours here and the hanging moss is very nice. Their yellow beaks and feet show up really well also. Very nice!

Registered on November 8, 2008, 55 Posts, 393 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on January 12, 2012 at 9:51 PM

Poor fellow, probably feels he's always in trouble! Fun image Ron, technically textbook.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 12, 2012 at 10:15 PM

He does look a little discouraged!
Sweet image - tough to catch a pair out in the open.
Excellent look at these wonderful faces, eyes, and talons.
Well done!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Coskun on January 12, 2012 at 10:36 PM

Wonderful image. I love that there are two owls here. I'd be lucky to have one! Great exposure, detail, and composition.

Registered on October 31, 2011, 170 Posts, 1240 Comments

Comment posted by John Blumenkamp on January 12, 2012 at 10:45 PM

Amazing image Ron! Capturing the pair is fantastic, and I really like the perch and overall habitat you show here. Fantastic image quality. Great work.

Registered on February 26, 2011, 58 Posts, 313 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 12, 2012 at 11:17 PM

Great poses on both of these Owls, Ron. Great composition.

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on January 13, 2012 at 12:00 AM

An incredible catch. That extra DOF was just enough to capture every detail. The larger image lacks no qualities at all in my opinion. Well done.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Eirini Pajak on January 13, 2012 at 7:38 AM

Amazing shot! Honestly these two look a bit like the peanut gallery!
Nicest owls shot I have seen in awhile!

Registered on December 13, 2011, 216 Posts, 1671 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on January 13, 2012 at 9:58 AM

Ron, this is awesome. What a great opportunity to get both and sharp too. Now I am really excited for our day of shooting

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Butch Lama on January 13, 2012 at 1:37 PM

Wow... Beautiful couple with puffed up throat. Love the comp with the moss hanging in the frame.

Registered on July 23, 2010, 42 Posts, 316 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on January 13, 2012 at 1:44 PM

They look like those two oldies in The Muppet Show..
Anyway: excellent shot of a very exciting situation that lot's of people never get the chance to see ! Thanks for sharing and well done !

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on January 13, 2012 at 2:43 PM

Awesome look at this pair, Ron. I love those poses. That perch and the hanging moss are just icing on the cake. Great job.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on January 13, 2012 at 2:45 PM

This is so sweet. What wonderful details, I love seeing those feet and talons. The poses are great as well.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on January 13, 2012 at 7:54 PM

The larger version is just wonderful to look at! Very nice one to add to your great series! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on January 13, 2012 at 8:09 PM

Love everything about this one Ron, a fine piece of work.
I really can't add to what others have said other than - You da man!!

Have a great weekend

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

Comment posted by John Marley on January 14, 2012 at 7:29 AM

Awesome photo. Native Americans called those owls crazy owls. They bark and squeel and make all kind of strange noises. I heard one at night and thought it was a coyote howling but it started getting closer and closer and then it flew over the backyard.

Registered on March 4, 2011, 5 Posts, 15 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on January 14, 2012 at 12:11 PM

I had to take a double look to see who photographed this pair. There not flying?

This is awesome Ron, great poses and detail!!!

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by wade pettitt on January 14, 2012 at 12:35 PM

Ron, this is really cool. I like the pose and the expression of the owl on the left. Well done.

Registered on May 6, 2009, 184 Posts, 471 Comments

Comment posted by dan elster on January 14, 2012 at 6:13 PM

Stunning!!

Registered on September 23, 2005, 299 Posts, 2443 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 14, 2012 at 9:45 PM

beautiful, and so expressive, Ron. love the poses and comp, but especially the expressions of the owls. really a great looking image.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on January 15, 2012 at 11:16 AM

Two for one - doesn't get much better than that. Actually she is saying " if he is going to ignore me then I am going to ignore him".

May

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

Comment posted by Eric Diller on January 15, 2012 at 1:49 PM

Fantastic image!

Registered on October 2, 2009, 69 Posts, 434 Comments

Comment posted by keith mitchell on January 15, 2012 at 2:17 PM

Hi Ron.
I was going to post an Owl shot after looking at this i think i will change my mind,this really is stunning ,reading the comments it's all been said.

Keith.

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

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on January 16, 2012 at 5:40 PM

Somehow I missed this, Ron. Nicely done for all the hand-held glass.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments