Evening Takeout

What an unusual image on so many levels! Love the backlighting and the fact you still held on to some details. GH Owls have quite a varied diet, but I'm still a bit surprised that this one took a crow...mostly because crows are so savvy. Two species that have been at odds since the beginning of time, I'm sure.
Right near the tip of the owls face, there is a bit of funky noise or something(?)..it could just be ripples in the water. Hard to tell, but hardly a nit.

Great "outside of the box" image!

Thanks Dan, and yes they are the ripples on the water. I debated smoothing them out, but it was such a unique situation that I decided to hold true the capture and didn't alter much but a few minor curve and contrast adjustments.

Nice job on this flight photo. Just enough detail in the owl. Very interesting accompanying explanation.

Beautiful backlit image, Anthony, and a neat piece of behavior.

Quite an unusual image in many ways Anthony. Nice job getting at least some detail in the owl in this lighting. How sure are you that the prey is a crow? The feet look lobed to me.

I am by no means a bird expert . I saw it swoop down over the lake down into a small group of crows and come up with a large black bird. He spent the rest of the day sitting on it in various locations slowly munching on it. All I could see is either a bloody mass (not very photogenic, but have some nonetheless) or this this black ball of feathers with legs when it would fly off.

I actually have a great deal more detail in the owl as I did not clip any of the shadows, but I decided to increase the contrast in the darks a little to enhance the blacklight glow on the owl and the rest of the scene. Perhaps more detail in the owl? I felt the brighter owl was out of place in the rest of the scene.

That's actually a very nice photo. I think the detail in the owl is right on with the acent of the back lighting. Nice job with it.

Hi Anthony,
This shot is exceptionl! Did you do this hand held? Were you in burst mode? What Camera Mode were you in? I still have a lot to learn....
Larry Roche
Buffalo, NY
larry@larryspictures.net

Thanks all. Yes I was handheld, continual focus (servo), high speed continuous burst at 8fps (on the D700 with the optional battery grip and same battery from the D3 it will fire at 8fps instead of 5fps). This is full frame for the most part at 200mm with only a sliver taken off the left and top.

As Ron points out the lobed feet contraindicate a crow. It is more likely this is an American Coot.

Likewise, I saw the feet and was thinking grebe. But what color/feather pattern does show, does lean towards coot as Richard noted.

The mystery grows...... I see Coots on the lake quite often, so it would be the logical suspect. Thanks all, like I said before....I am by no means a bird expert.