Silent Hunter

Gallery: AvianPosted January 10, 2009687 views20 comments

Here is the second Great Gray Owl we found on our bird count in northern Saskatchewan on that cold overcast day in December

It's a busy background, but it is the birds natural habitat, and it was on its hunting territory.

Canon 40D
100-400@400
F5.6
1/70 hh
ISO 800

Comments

20 comments

Comment posted by Alan Bryant on January 10, 2009 at 10:49 AM

WOW talk about blend in with the BG

A cracking image IMO.Those owls are awesome.I really like the look of all the BG stuff.As you say its were he lives.

Registered on March 31, 2006, 473 Posts, 1081 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on January 10, 2009 at 10:53 AM

Funny , you mentioning blending in with the background. At times if you looked out of your viewfinder for a second , both myself and the guys I were with, all lost sight of the Owl, that's how amazingly camouflaged these Owls can be

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Marella on January 10, 2009 at 11:24 AM

Great shot, Nick. I like the look with all the BG stuff.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 142 Posts, 862 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on January 10, 2009 at 11:36 AM

Beautiful. I like that you can see both eyes but the owl is not looking right at the camera.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on January 10, 2009 at 12:50 PM

Great catch. Spectacular bird shown in it's environment.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on January 10, 2009 at 4:04 PM

This is a very nice GGO shot. Yep, the background is busy, that it is also a very natural setting. I'd take this in my files any day. Nicely done.

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

Comment posted by David Sparks on January 10, 2009 at 6:29 PM

The background is a positive for me, in that it does illustrate camouflage properties. Pretty sharp for 1/70th and handheld.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 10, 2009 at 8:43 PM

I like this a lot Nick and the setting is perfect for the bird. I don't think I have ever hand held an avian shot at 1/70th and got a result good enough to post, no matter which lens I use. Just a thought, I keep thinking that I might crop so the bird is slightly more to the left in the frame but I don't know if you have the room or what background issues you might have to the right.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 10, 2009 at 10:55 PM

Hi Nick. I think this is my favorite Great Gray Owl of the year thus far. The bg is busy, but it works with the bird amazingly well. There's a real Gothic feel to this-and I'm not much into that sort of thing, but it does appeal to me.

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

Comment posted by dan elster on January 11, 2009 at 9:52 AM

I think the backround adds, not subtracts, as does the fact that the bird isn't staring right at you. This makes for a really natural looking image. I see what Ron is saying in that a hair more room on the right.
Way cool.

ps. I appreciate the thoughts on adding canvas in my last post.

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

Comment posted by Benjamin Olson on January 11, 2009 at 5:59 PM

I love the cold, intense stare of the owl's yellow eyes. The background does a great job of showing the camouflage capabilities of the Great Gray! Great composition! Nice work!

Registered on April 7, 2007, 169 Posts, 725 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 13, 2009 at 8:55 AM

for the well deserved WP for this excellent image Nick!

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on January 13, 2009 at 10:32 AM

Great image Nick, congrats.

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

Comment posted by Alan Bryant on January 13, 2009 at 1:06 PM

Congrats on the EP

Registered on March 31, 2006, 473 Posts, 1081 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on January 13, 2009 at 5:21 PM

Thanks Alan

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on January 14, 2009 at 6:27 PM

Such a gorgeous owl! I admire that you kept it in its environment by including as much of the bg as you did. Great shot and a fine example of camoflage! Kudos on the Pick!

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen on January 14, 2009 at 9:42 PM

I like the natural habitat. We can't always have that creamy smooth, bathed in amber light background. I love the face. It stands out well from the generally gray background and plumage.

Registered on November 11, 2007, 42 Posts, 803 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Spiecker on January 18, 2009 at 8:23 PM

Congrats on the well deserved EP Nick. I have yet to see one of these and each winter I think I will make a trip up from AZ to find one and some other winter specialties but brrrr.. Keep posting winners!

Registered on March 23, 2006, 366 Posts, 4649 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on January 18, 2009 at 9:12 PM

Thanks guys

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 28, 2009 at 1:17 AM

I don't get over to the EP section very often, Nick, so please accept my belated congratulations. I really liked this image.

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