Madagascar Scops Owl

Gallery: AvianPosted October 23, 2011163 views13 comments

Canon EOS 7D, EF 500mm f/4L IS USM, Aperture Priority @ f/8 (1/30 sec), -2/3 EV, ISO 400, Tripod, JPEG from RAW, Full Frame

Had the good fortune of coming across two different species of Owl during my 4-days visit to Southeastern Madagascar last month, though in neither case was it easy to get a clear shot and the ambient light in the forest made it very difficult to get a fast enough shutter speed without upping the ISO, which I hate raising above 400 on the 7D.

Despite having so much of the tree in the frame and losing something of this beautiful female Madagascar Scops Owl's tail, I'm happy enough with the result.

Next photo I'll post will be of her husband!

Critique and comments always welcome.

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on October 24, 2011 at 12:10 AM

Very nice image! I wish these guys were out where I live, they look like pretty cute little owls. I really like the light in her eyes! I like the kind of "hidden" feel that the out of focus foreground gives. Can't wait to see the next post!

Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on October 24, 2011 at 12:25 AM

Great looking owl, I like the camoflauge and the sharpness. While I don't mind the oof element on the left, the bright highlights on the right are a bit distracting, but I'm not sure there's much you can do about that.

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on October 24, 2011 at 6:51 AM

Those are some intense looking eyes, wonderful detail in the feathers Ashley.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on October 24, 2011 at 9:04 AM

Great image of an amazing species Mr Vincent ! Like it a lot. The fact that it's partly obscured by 'things' adds to the idea of owls always being hidden somewhere

Very well done ! Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by David Hemmings on October 24, 2011 at 12:07 PM

Great work here Ashley, excellent image.

Registered on May 26, 2006, 178 Posts, 1680 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on October 24, 2011 at 2:49 PM

A nice intimate look at this beautiful owl, I like how it blends in to it's environment but stands out as well in your photo. I agree about the highlights on the right side being distracting. NIce find, sweet photo Ashley

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on October 25, 2011 at 7:16 AM

Ashley, nice capture of appears to be a difficult shooting situation! I also like the eyes of this owl. I do wish the foliage on the right side was not there or toned down. Looking forward to the next post. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by David Sewell on October 25, 2011 at 1:37 PM

Another fine capture. You certainly didn't waste your time in Madagascar.

David

Registered on September 10, 2008, 63 Posts, 801 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on October 25, 2011 at 8:51 PM

hat a beautiful creature. It blends into the surroundings (FG and BG) well but the eyes make it stand out. It would be best to not have the big highlights on the foreground cactus but overall that's minor.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on October 25, 2011 at 8:59 PM

Nice find. The light in the eyes really gives this a little extra oomph, and happens to echo the speckled plumage nicely.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on October 25, 2011 at 10:58 PM

Another great image by you, Ashley. Lots of detail in the face and eye, but I'm not sure about the many lights in the eye. I find that just a bit distracting. (I did magnify it to see if I could see you in there somewhere.) I would tone down the highlights on the right.

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on October 26, 2011 at 3:25 AM

Thank you for your thoughtful words and comments Jenaya, Nate, Ray, Hans, David H, Ken, John, David S, Luke, Max, and Angela :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Deibert on October 26, 2011 at 8:33 AM

I saw this before, I can't believe I didn't comment on it. Another beauty of a picture, Ashley! I love how she is framed (though a bit much on the right side). Anyway, great detail, sharpness, DOF, and color!

Mark

Registered on September 30, 2011, 48 Posts, 125 Comments