barred owl w/repost

Gallery: AvianPosted January 22, 2012352 views30 comments

This image was shot in the very early morning just as the sun poked up above the horizon. This bird was back in the flooded woods, but the woods are primarily cypress, so this time of year they are for the most part leafless allowing light to penetrate into the area. Not much light though.

The "thing" trailing off of its wing is a piece of cypress leaf.

I really like the golden glow in this shot.

Please view the larger version for max details.

Canon 1DM4
500mm f/4 + 1.4x TC
ISO 1000
1/1600s
f/5.6
Manual exp.
Hand held from my boat
72% of FF

Comments

30 comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 22, 2012 at 8:28 PM

Awesome!. Again.

Wonderful light; great detail. And it is in flight.

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

Comment posted by Jay Martin on January 22, 2012 at 8:30 PM

Awesome shot - love the lighting.

Registered on December 6, 2005, 200 Posts, 2209 Comments

Comment posted by Randy Bacon on January 22, 2012 at 8:43 PM

Gorgeous shot Ron, the large version is incredible.

Registered on November 24, 2008, 56 Posts, 492 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on January 22, 2012 at 8:47 PM

The image of the owl is very good with great detail, but the light is what makes the image.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 22, 2012 at 8:57 PM

wow, Ron! that is some absolutely incredible light. the detail in the bird is awesome, the setting beautiful, and the comp fantastic (I really like how the bird fills the frame yet has plenty of room in front of the face), but the light, THE LIGHT!

I love it when you lock onto one of these subjects and just crush it with a series of amazing shots. Keep 'em coming!

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

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on January 22, 2012 at 9:02 PM

Nice work to keep this bird in focus while in flight, especially in the low light.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on January 22, 2012 at 9:13 PM

Ron you're consistently knocking these images out of the park, just an outstanding BIF capture with superb light.

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

Comment posted by David Bostedo on January 22, 2012 at 10:08 PM

Great detail and light Ron! Nice one... a little more space in front of the owl would have been welcome, but really great as is.

Registered on May 5, 2006, 178 Posts, 2224 Comments

Comment posted by John Blumenkamp on January 22, 2012 at 10:11 PM

Beautiful light and detail Ron, and the owl really pops against the darker background. I really like the wing position and detail. If I have any suggestion it would be to have more space around the owl, with the majority to the left. Nice work!

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

Comment posted by David Haynes on January 22, 2012 at 10:31 PM

Ron,
Sweet light. Love the twig in the left wing. Rising early has clearly paid off for you Ron. Not much light as you state but it sure is golden. Very nice as per your usual image quality Ron.

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

Comment posted by Peter Coskun on January 22, 2012 at 11:08 PM

Great detail and light! The pose is perfect and the large version is a treat. The catchlight is an obvious plus to this. I would have preferred a little more space around the bird, but that's just me. Fantastic image!

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on January 23, 2012 at 12:12 AM

Magnificent capture. Great light and perfect detail. Excellent as always.

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

Comment posted by Roger Kirchen on January 23, 2012 at 1:15 AM

Stunning image. Great details. Beautiful golden light and smooth BG.

Registered on March 6, 2011, 95 Posts, 847 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 23, 2012 at 6:33 AM

A consistent nit on this image is a desire to have more room around the bird. I do have a bit more room and I could recomp this image, but I purposefully composed this shot to maximize detail. With the right wing extending past the head leaving any more room in front of the bird's head made the comp actually not as attractive to me. Just wanted to let everyone know why I comped the image this way.

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on January 23, 2012 at 7:34 AM

Lighting is spectacular and the background is great. You can't ask for a better owl in flight image

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

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on January 23, 2012 at 8:39 AM

Golden, crisp, clear, sharp, beautifully done.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 23, 2012 at 8:44 AM

An awesome image for obvious reasons - particularly the wonderful light and detail on an owl in flight. The catch light under these conditions is huge and I love the background. The cypress leaf on the wing is actually a plus for me. If this were mine I would give the owl more room all around if I could - detail is always nice but for me the crowded feel of the bird is too big of a price to pay.

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on January 23, 2012 at 9:00 AM

Sweet light. Excellent capture. Maybe a little light in the frame? Thanks for sharing this image.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 23, 2012 at 11:00 AM

Here is a version with more room. Better?

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on January 23, 2012 at 1:07 PM

Another awesome flight shot of this beauty Ron. I like the second version just a bit better.

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 23, 2012 at 2:11 PM

For me your repost is a significant compositional improvement.

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 23, 2012 at 5:25 PM

Too cool to see a owl flight shot in this type of light with such detail, amazing image Ron. What a wonderful photo opportunity you have had with these owls. I happen to like the repost with more room but either way a fantastic shot. I really like the catch light and feather detail on the larger image, well done.

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on January 23, 2012 at 6:02 PM

Didn't even need to scroll down on this one. probably one of the best Ron. Love the golden glow.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on January 23, 2012 at 7:57 PM

Stunning capture Ron. Love the wing position and the awesome light.
May

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on January 23, 2012 at 8:28 PM

I really like the very early light, it makes for a more unique flight image IMO.
Like the close framing for this one also..
Excellent technique to get it this sharp at 1/1600th, and under the low light conditions.
Very nice work, it's a fav

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

Comment posted by Mark Schiebelbein on January 23, 2012 at 8:55 PM

Don't know how you do it, Oh wait, I do! Practise, practise, practice and hours in the field. Another stunning flight shot. The golden light is incredible.

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

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on January 24, 2012 at 3:33 PM

Beautiful warm light and a great flight shot of this owl. I think I like the tighter crop better. Well done.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 24, 2012 at 9:45 PM

I'm on board with either comp, Ron. Either way, when you hang it on the wall the owl can be the same size, just a question of how large the rest of the frame will be!

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on January 25, 2012 at 12:51 AM

Fabulous!!

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

Comment posted by Kirk Greene on January 26, 2012 at 1:13 PM

It just can't get much better than this for a barred owl flight shot. It would have to have some type of interesting prey to somehow improve the image. The quality of light is great as is the wing position. I would consider brightening the eye just a touch.

Registered on May 12, 2004, 191 Posts, 1578 Comments