Barn Owl

Hi all,

One from today. Decided to visit somewhere different, looks like it might be a good place for barn owls! What do you think of this? It's cropped from a landscape to a portrait, so not that usable really. The orange oof bit is a reed.....

Techs: D200, 500mm F4.

1/320 @ f8. 200ISO

Cropped in CS3, levels, sharpened.

C and C most welcome!

Looked at the OOF and thought what a pity, then I read your notes. If possible moving slightly to the right might give you more options, perhaps only increasing your field of view.

You know, that when I know I’m going to work near for example, as in this case reeds, I carry a telescopic carbon rod, I can only compare it too a fishing rod, but it isn’t. At the end is attached a coat hangers hook. I can use this to move any vegetation gently too one side. If your really cleaver, then adapt the end so that you can run a lead weight on its string over the end, drop it down and then taking the end in your hand to one side, and tying it back your have opened a good field of view, particularly if you do it on your left and right. Think about it on a grebes nest, gently open it up, take your shots, close it backup but leave weights and string there and you can come back to shoot/monitor a breeding sequence.

Anyway back to your shot, apart from the L.H. side softness, I think that this is a great environmental shot well seen and anticipated. Well worth a number of return visits.

I think this is a fine environmental shot and the OOF stuff isn't a major distraction. I love the position of the owl and the translucency of the wings.

Looks ok to me Dawn. Seeing lots of these at present and more oftens than not as your image shows in some lovely winter sunlight.
Rays idea might work at times but by the time you had attempted that Mr Owl would be long gone.

Major

My sort of image Dawn, It's realistic, sort of how you see them with your eyes rather than zoomed in through lenses. Nice atmosphere.
Dave

Very nice , the warm light make me think of spring . They have so many different shapes when in flight , depending on when you hit the button, but this is on of their most beautiful.

Dawn

If the field is a prime hunting area then you can prepare your shooting position, as Barn Owls will frequently quarter the same field time after time, particularly if rich in food.

Just get there an hour or two before you took this shot.

Thanks all for your comments, much appreciated. Thank for the tips too Ray. I was in a clear position, but the reeds were blowing all over the place. I'm sure I can find a better viewpoint next time.

Thanks!