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Great Grey's Day 4/5
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Great Grey's Day 4/5

by dan elster

Gallery: AvianPosted May 28, 2010141 views14 comments
Day 4 was quiet.

The start of day 5 had me wondering if something had happened to the young. No sign of them or the parents. Between that, the driving rain and the crisis in the gulf and I was getting really depressed.
I searched everywhere(I thought), but after 1/2 an hour every tree in every direction starts looking the same...I brifly thought I was lost(and in trouble!). I finally heard the call of one of the fledglings which led me back to the nest and then to a huge old growth tree about 20 yards from the nest. One of the fledglings has left the nest already!
Long story short...two hours later, one of the adults came and fed this fledgling. Almost every shot is soft due to terrible, dark light. I'm reasonably happy with this one. What I like most is that it has a "wildness" to it. It's not super sharp. I used NR and it was also cropped to get rid of some bright sky in the upper left. This "project" is really making me realize where I'm lacking as a photographer:equipment, technique and especially processing. -everything :confused: BTW, on my way out, I saw the second fledgling in the nest!
Watching an adult great grey fly through old growth forest is one of coolest things I've ever seen.

40D, 1-400mm, 1/60 @ 5.6, ISO640, moderate crop.

Comments

14 comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 28, 2010 at 4:26 PM
Nice, Dan. Excellent action in this one, and the detail looks good to me, particularly given the circumstances. The vole hanging from the beak adds a lot of interest. :toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Douglas Graham on May 28, 2010 at 5:08 PM
Id be really happy :jump: Nice photo and the story makes it even better.
Registered on May 14, 2009, 123 Posts, 522 Comments
Comment posted by John Tobias on May 28, 2010 at 5:11 PM
I also would be happy to have a shot like this in my collection. IMHO the pose of the owls plus the inclusion of the habitat makes this a very outstanding shot.
Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments
Comment posted by Luke Ormand on May 28, 2010 at 5:31 PM
To get a shot like this is really special and certainly unique. It's not super sharp and there is a bit of motion blur in the prey but those can be forgiven due to the extreme conditions you were under. A 7D would have let you use ISO 1000 or a bit higher for some more sharpness but you are making great strides.

- Luke
Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments
Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on May 28, 2010 at 8:33 PM
Amazing capture I don't think the sharpness is all that bad and the habitat and their great eye contact make up for it
Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Ditch on May 28, 2010 at 9:11 PM
But you've still got a few things every successful nature photographer needs: patience, luck, and interesting subjects.

I like the intensity in the larger version.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Gulash on May 28, 2010 at 10:41 PM
Well said Richard. Dan, a fine nature photo. I would tone down the bright perch limb a little, easy to do. :toast:
Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments
Comment posted by Neil Rossmiller on May 29, 2010 at 12:49 AM
Richard left out tenacity, but I agree with everything else.
Good jobs only get better with practice.
I'll be looking forward to more.
Nice shot!
Neil
Registered on October 30, 2009, 156 Posts, 749 Comments
Comment posted by Mia McPherson on May 29, 2010 at 7:47 AM
Dan,

I am truly enjoying your photographic journey with this owl family and I admire the skills that you are using to photograph them, including your patience, determination and willingness to share the adventure with us. I think you did quite well with this image considering the light & habitat
Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments
Comment posted by KC Choo on May 29, 2010 at 9:10 AM
Dan, I am just jumping on the bandwagon of this series of yours. I had a similar experience of a Barred Owl fledging recently, but it was only over a day. Fantastic photographic record and the vole is a special addition. I might just try to lighten the mid-range a little bit.
Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments
Comment posted by May Haga on May 29, 2010 at 8:38 PM
Wow, what a great image and to capture the fledgling with food in its mouth. It was well worth the effort.
May
Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments
Comment posted by David Chauvin on May 30, 2010 at 6:36 AM
This is definitely my favorite from this series. :cool:
Registered on August 5, 2004, 1007 Posts, 5595 Comments
Comment posted by David Sparks on May 30, 2010 at 9:48 PM
Dan:
It's a great capture - a real nature photo. The intense looks by both birds, nice positions of the wings of the adult, the vole in the beak of the fledgling, the forest BG and moss are all very positive elements of a strong image. :toast:
Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments
Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on May 31, 2010 at 10:08 AM
I agree with what you said re: the nits. However, you have a wonderful subject here. Your comp is excellent and the position of the 2 owls is wonderful, with the adults wing out in a protective sort of way. Prey is a plus, too. Nicely done...I'd be thrilled with this AND the experience! Sharon
Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments