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Short-eared portrait

Gallery: Regional: UKNPPosted February 16, 2011311 views23 comments

One from last friday morning. I arrived on site early, expecting a long wait before the owls were on the wing, when out of the corner of my eye I noticed this stunning bird land on a post just 25ft from my drivers side door. This incredibly confiding owl allowed me to exit the car, set up the camera, and have one of the best wildlife experiences I have ever had. To be so close to a wild owl was simply amazing, and will live long in the memory, thanks for looking.

1/500th @ f7.1 iso800 ( Full Frame with a couple of pixels off of the top and the lefthand side just to centre the bird. No cloning and not baited )

All C&C's most welcome and thanks for the feedback on my last post.

Andy...

Comments

23 comments

Comment posted by John Robinson on February 16, 2011 at 11:17 AM

Usual standard. Good stuff.
Cheers
JohnR
PS Not Worlaby Wally is it ?

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by Oscar Dewhurst on February 16, 2011 at 11:26 AM

Another stunning owl shot Andy

- I am determined to shoot these when I can drive to find them!

Oscar

Registered on August 6, 2009, 85 Posts, 502 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Acreman on February 16, 2011 at 11:35 AM

great pose love the eye contact well taken

Registered on February 11, 2009, 14 Posts, 10 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Ellard on February 16, 2011 at 12:18 PM

Lovely, the detail in the larger image is great

Registered on December 17, 2010, 60 Posts, 634 Comments

Comment posted by Jeroen Stel on February 16, 2011 at 12:33 PM

Stunning portrait!
Would consider cloning out the barbed wire but that's a personal preference.

greetings,

Jeroen Stel

Registered on November 10, 2003, 366 Posts, 481 Comments

Comment posted by Iain Tookey on February 16, 2011 at 1:24 PM

Beautiful! I don't mind the wire either, that's where it landed!

I know what you mean about experiencing 'wild contact' with a shortie, when I photographed mine a while back, it left me on a high for days.

Registered on November 20, 2008, 3 Posts, 17 Comments

Comment posted by keith mitchell on February 16, 2011 at 2:17 PM

Andy it's just spot on,i like the back veiw with it's head turned,excellent.I have seen a lot of shots of birds down on these Carrs(I live about 5 miles away}recon this is the best i have looked at.

Keith.

Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments

Comment posted by Shaun Simpson on February 16, 2011 at 2:25 PM

Superb image those eyes just stare straight through you, fantastic image and obviously a fantastic experience

Registered on June 6, 2010, 12 Posts, 110 Comments

Comment posted by Karen Summers on February 16, 2011 at 2:56 PM

I was there on Saturday it was amazing lovely shot Andy

Registered on December 3, 2009, 83 Posts, 818 Comments

Comment posted by Graham Goddard on February 16, 2011 at 3:26 PM

Andy - I think this is about the best shot I've seen of these fantastic birds from this location. Those eyes are just something else - I am very jealous indeed !

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

Comment posted by Chris O'Reilly on February 16, 2011 at 5:17 PM

Excellent quality, Andy. Congrats on what sounds like a very special encounter with cracking bird.

Cheers,
Chris

Registered on May 30, 2008, 8 Posts, 65 Comments

Comment posted by Neil Burton on February 16, 2011 at 6:18 PM

and I moved overseas...idiot. Wonderful as are all these shorties, barbed wire is a fave of mine with raptors.

Registered on September 16, 2010, 26 Posts, 461 Comments

Comment posted by Dave Bartlett on February 16, 2011 at 6:54 PM

Simply excellent, and those eyes are stunning.

Dave

Registered on March 9, 2008, 9 Posts, 113 Comments

Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on February 17, 2011 at 4:32 AM

Thanks for the feedback guys, pleased you like it

Cheers Keith & Graham, considering how many wonderful shots have been taken of this superb creature, thats high praise indeed!!

Andy...

Registered on September 24, 2006, 123 Posts, 1254 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Jones on February 17, 2011 at 5:52 AM

Those encounters with nature stay deep in the sole Andy and this sounds like one of those moments, when a wild animal lets you into their world its what makes wildlife photography for me

Beautifully composed, amazing detail,soft lighting,the colours in the plumage are very good and clearly shows why these birds are hard to see on the ground and within their habitat

Registered on January 31, 2009, 67 Posts, 316 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Lawrence on February 17, 2011 at 1:52 PM

Mesmerising.

Registered on February 13, 2008, 3 Posts, 163 Comments

Comment posted by Des Ong on February 17, 2011 at 3:14 PM

Stuffed bird I reckon

you know what I think already.

Registered on July 12, 2007, 23 Posts, 234 Comments

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on February 17, 2011 at 6:46 PM

Excellent image Andy

Well captured.

Geoff.

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

Comment posted by Rene de Heer on February 18, 2011 at 11:47 AM

Very nice and the eye contact makes it even better
Rene de heer

Registered on November 15, 2003, 31 Posts, 215 Comments

Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on February 18, 2011 at 2:40 PM

Thanks to those who took the time to comment on this one, cheers

Good to meet up on Monday Des, just a shame we lucked out.

I've also noticed that the "Full Frame" specialists have failed to comment on this image, considering this is my best full frame shot to date, I would have liked some feedback from you guys.

Andy...

Registered on September 24, 2006, 123 Posts, 1254 Comments

Comment posted by Roy Bailey on February 19, 2011 at 6:32 AM

light colour and detail are just perfect,starting to cosider these perches as being natural. Hope I get to share a similar experience with these one day.

Registered on November 16, 2008, 24 Posts, 486 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Haskell on February 20, 2011 at 6:24 PM

Fantastic owl shot Andy. Well envious, with a cracking background. Those eyes are really good and its great to see this is full frame too! Its great when you get to experience wildlife like this.

Ian

Registered on October 30, 2008, 24 Posts, 673 Comments

Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on February 21, 2011 at 6:56 AM

Cheers Ian, pleased you like it. I now have a new outlook on photography, I'm trying to go for the full frame shots wherever possible

Andy...

Registered on September 24, 2006, 123 Posts, 1254 Comments