Great Grey

Gallery: AvianPosted March 9, 2014733 views27 comments

It has been too long since I last posted to avian, surprising how quickly time passes...only gets worse the older we get they say. Frankly, birds just seem to be very sparse around here this winter, very worrisome to me. However, there has been a number of Great Grey Owls that have taken up residence just outside town limits. There were two that gave me some great opportunities lately. Three others have been hit by cars, one died and two others were sent to a raptor rehab facility.

Nikon D4, 600VR, 320 iso, f6.3, 1/1000, tripod/wimberley, 57% of original frame. (Absolutely no baiting, calling..., no cloning in post)

Comments

27 comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on March 9, 2014 at 1:57 PM

Excellent flight shot Gary, I'd love to have these guys drop in on the Northeast one of these years. Terrific detail in the LP.

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

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on March 9, 2014 at 2:05 PM

Gary,
Excellent flight shot of this GGO and the pose of the subject you managed could not be better. The framing of the composition was a nice choice with the oof branches to the left adding additional interest.
Sorry to hear about the three that had vehicle run-ins.

Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on March 9, 2014 at 2:07 PM

Really nice flight shot of this Great Gray Gary Gulash (notice the 4 G's?

). Only seen one of these ever, so I am definitely envious. LOVE these owls....one of the coolest experiences I had was with my one encounter and this excellent image brings back that memory. I know you didn't clone, but wondering if you were tempted on the twigs? They don't bother me, just wonder because they don't really serve a purpose...although as Mike mentioned, I guess they do convey more depth.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on March 9, 2014 at 2:14 PM

Thanks for you comments. Kurt, I was a bit annoyed by the presence of those branches when I reviewed on my lcd. I weighed the option of cloning them out, but in the end decided that I could live with it and perhaps it might even strengthen the photo versus a sterile featureless sky, matter of personal taste I guess.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Rebecka on March 9, 2014 at 2:24 PM

What a terrific shot. I love the OOF branches on the right. It adds context and a sense of place for the subject, IMHO. It's not a bird that is just somewhere in a blank sky, but may be lower to the ground than might be assumed if the branches were not there. Maybe he's coming in for a landing.

I also love that the bird looks intensely focused on something. Maybe he's going to get himself a snack!

Registered on February 5, 2009, 170 Posts, 924 Comments

Comment posted by Jefferson Silva on March 9, 2014 at 2:27 PM

This is wonderful.
Very nice details, colors.
Usually I clone out branches like the ones on the right, but I think they add to the image.

Registered on December 18, 2012, 162 Posts, 975 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on March 9, 2014 at 2:31 PM

Wow....... Wonderful species, very well photographed... A good way of returning here after some absence

. Sad to hear about the car victims though... Cheers, Hans

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

Comment posted by Thomas Miller on March 9, 2014 at 2:41 PM

Fantastic shot! Sad to hear about the owls.

Registered on March 10, 2011, 56 Posts, 56 Comments

Comment posted by Marina Scarr on March 9, 2014 at 3:38 PM

Lovely flight image, and the branches on the right really help to balance out the image. Might consider a tad off of the bottom to have a bit less of a squarish crop.

Registered on March 6, 2014, 11 Posts, 104 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on March 9, 2014 at 3:43 PM

Super shot, great techs and excellent detail.

Sad to hear of the injuries.

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 9, 2014 at 3:49 PM

Very nice flight shot of a very nice bird.

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

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on March 9, 2014 at 4:04 PM

Oh sure, just drop on in and kick us in the pants any time Gary.

awesome.

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

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on March 9, 2014 at 4:49 PM

Great shot Gary!
I like the oof limbs as they add just a little interest and a sense of place for the owl.
Very well done!!

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Roane on March 9, 2014 at 7:00 PM

Stunning capture, Gary! The sharpness is exsquisite and I like the simple, soft blue background and determined pose!

Registered on December 12, 2008, 213 Posts, 2226 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on March 9, 2014 at 10:17 PM

This is just crazy good. I personally like the branches in the image. Amazing capture.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on March 9, 2014 at 10:20 PM

Excellent flight shot.

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on March 10, 2014 at 12:11 PM

Wonderful owl flight shot with the wings in the up position, way to go Gary.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on March 10, 2014 at 5:57 PM

Excellent flight shot, Gary. Is the white on the "chin" snow or just blown out plumage? Doesn't look from the rest of the image as if it should be either one, so I'm a bit puzzled by it.

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

Comment posted by David Haynes on March 10, 2014 at 8:01 PM

Gary,
Sorry to hear about all the tragedy in regard to these owls. Hopefully the two that went to the raptor center will be fixed up and released back to the wild in good shape.
AS for your image I love it. The OOF branches on the right give it some perspective and I like that. The image is very sharp, well exposed and terrific framing to include those branches. Well done!! Hope you start to see more birds.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on March 11, 2014 at 10:19 AM

Hi Dennis. Thanks for your comments and enquiry re the white on the chin. Good eye to notice that, I guess technically it is blown out whites, definitely not snow. I have noticed that in 100% of the photos I have taken of this species that I can not get detail in this area and it always looks blown out and thus lacking in any detail. I have many photos of these guys shot under ideal lighting and low iso and the area still looks messed up, go figure. If you view Marina's recent GGO I think you will notice the same effect. I wonder if there is some flourescence or other effect occuring with this area of plummage?

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on March 11, 2014 at 11:11 AM

Very nice pose for a flight capture, Gary. It's unfortunate that these guys have a tendency to run into cars a lot.

Max

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

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on March 11, 2014 at 4:23 PM

Great flight shot with very good wing position! Great grays, and all owls IMO, are such beautiful creatures. Hopefully the two sent to rehab made a full recovery.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on March 11, 2014 at 10:06 PM

wow--late to the game on this one, but I agree with the others--what a spectacular shot. personally I really like the branches--for me they make the bg much more interesting than if it were simply whitish clouds/snow.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 13, 2014 at 6:58 AM

Magic Gary - love that intense gaze

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

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on March 13, 2014 at 9:05 AM

Lovely shot of the GG Owl Gary. I'm always amazed at how flat their faces are. That can't be aerodynamic.
spot on exposure.

Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 13, 2014 at 8:14 PM

Spectacular flight shot Gary, I like the bit of oof limbs in the bg as well.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 14, 2014 at 4:08 AM

Awesome flight shot Gary

I like the flight angle, sweet wing position too.

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