Short Eared Owl Backlit

Gallery: AvianPosted February 11, 2011284 views24 comments

Canon 1D Mark 4 With EF 500mm f4 & 1.4 tc
1/320 sec, F5.6, ISO 1600

Had another go at some short eared owls. This one was backlit but I am happy with the result. It depicts how well these birds hover over prey. I was lucky enough to have this one fly right at me and hunt 30 feet away.Thanks for looking.

Michael Lotito
Aquebogue, NY

Comments

24 comments

Comment posted by richard remington on February 11, 2011 at 7:33 PM

Michael,

Simply amazing. The eye is riveting.

Rick

Registered on March 12, 2010, 105 Posts, 368 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on February 11, 2011 at 8:04 PM

Nice shot Mike! Looks like you did all you could with this shot. ISO 1600 and f/5.6 and only 1/320 SS generated from that. Really low light. Great job getting the head sharp, made the image work. The motion blurr of the rest of the bird makes this full of action for me. The BG is excellent and so is the comp. Very well done.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on February 11, 2011 at 8:19 PM

You're working hard at these owls Mike and your results are getting better and better. I like this one very much and as Ron B said you've squeezed out everthing possible in this light, which is impressive. In my recent SEO posts the SS was in the range of 1/000 to 1/800 and I thought that was pushing it. This quality at 1/320 in flight couldn't be improved on IMO. I like the wing and foot positions, your composition and the background. Congrats!

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 11, 2011 at 8:23 PM

Very impressive. I'd be very happy to get something this good of one, especially in such low light.

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

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on February 11, 2011 at 9:51 PM

Nice job Mike, nice background for this bird.

Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on February 11, 2011 at 10:06 PM

Well done! Love these Owl!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on February 11, 2011 at 10:59 PM

gotta agree with the others, this is really well done in difficult conditions. great work and technique capturing this at 1/320. love the comp and colors too.

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

Comment posted by Robbie Knight on February 11, 2011 at 11:24 PM

great shot ! Foot, wings, eyes you have it all working. Robbie

Registered on April 10, 2010, 30 Posts, 135 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 11, 2011 at 11:36 PM

Great job on the exposure, Michael. Excellent detail and the eye is wonderful.

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on February 11, 2011 at 11:46 PM

Wonderful flight pose and I like the shaed tones of bird and background.

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

Comment posted by Marc Dubuc on February 12, 2011 at 12:13 AM

Great picture!

Registered on January 4, 2011, 59 Posts, 229 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 12, 2011 at 2:27 AM

Wonderful shot Michael - great wing position and i love the intense stare

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on February 12, 2011 at 4:20 AM

Great technical job on this image- Excellent detail and BG- well done, Fabio

Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments

Comment posted by Graham Goddard on February 12, 2011 at 6:04 AM

Agree with Ron on this image (my fav bird!) espcially re the techs !

Registered on November 21, 2008, 66 Posts, 253 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on February 12, 2011 at 7:20 AM

Mike, this is excellent all around. I love the crisp sharp detail in the face and the position of the wings and "landing gear". I agree with Ron B on the motion blur and the background works beautifully. Congrats!

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

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on February 12, 2011 at 7:44 AM

This is primo!! I will just say I would love to have a picture of an owl this good.

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

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on February 12, 2011 at 7:44 AM

This is primo!! I will just say I would love to have a picture of an owl this good.

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

Comment posted by Eric Mannino on February 12, 2011 at 7:59 AM

Brilliant! Not much to add that hasn't been said. I just wish I could SEE an owl. That, I think, would be a good start. Great shot.

Registered on November 16, 2009, 22 Posts, 65 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Rhodus on February 12, 2011 at 8:19 AM

Everything came together perfectly in this shot Michael. Beautiful capture and technical execution.

Registered on November 16, 2003, 157 Posts, 3326 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on February 12, 2011 at 8:56 AM

Nice!! Great position in the frame. Larger version really shows off the details. Great work to get the head so sharp at 1/320!!

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on February 12, 2011 at 10:49 AM

Nice one, Micheal. So perfectly sharp where it counts. Love the background complimenting the colors in the owl.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on February 12, 2011 at 12:25 PM

Michael,
a beautiful image of this owl. Great wings pose, brilliant yellow eye and superb background color. Bravo.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on February 12, 2011 at 2:17 PM

Impressive image esp with that SS. Exposure is spot on as well. Very nice inflight shot.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on February 13, 2011 at 2:37 PM

Now this is very nice

The colours of the BG match the bird's, making it very easy on the eye.
Well captured.

Geoff.

Registered on August 20, 2010, 192 Posts, 980 Comments