Great Horned Owl

Gallery: AvianPosted December 13, 2011870 views21 comments

In recent weeks this owl has been hanging out in this tamarisk but it's usually so deeply buried that it can barely be seen. However, on a couple of recent cold mornings I found the bird relatively exposed in an apparent attempt to warm itself in the sun.

With all the detail in this setting my "larger photo" is only 1050 pixels in an attempt to avoid compression issues

7D, 1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, shot from pickup window on 11/11/11, small exposure adjustment in ACR, cropped to 60% of original image, sharpened bird and some of the tamarisk, no additional processing or adjustments, natural light, not baited, set up or called in

Larger version provided

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

21 comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 13, 2011 at 8:51 AM

Yes! Sweet shot Ron. There is so much I love about this shot. The light is super, setting awesome, and bird with the one foot out posture great. The detail and sharpness are of course excellent. An outstanding capture.

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on December 13, 2011 at 8:55 AM

Well they sure don't come out and pose in a more convenient location than that!! The habitat on this really works well. Great details.

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

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on December 13, 2011 at 9:03 AM

Oh, my! If you had placed this bird you couldn't have placed it in a more beautiful spot. Absolutely beautiful colors throughout the image, and so sharp and clear.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Harris on December 13, 2011 at 10:02 AM

Ron, Ron, Keith and Barbara cover everything so I will just add the I really like this image a lot.

Registered on August 2, 2010, 169 Posts, 741 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on December 13, 2011 at 10:20 AM

The natural framing is great. Adds a nice boost of color, though one might argue that the owl almost gets lost in it. Nothing wrong with a little camo.

Max

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on December 13, 2011 at 10:46 AM

Always nice to find an owl in daylight as you really get to appreciate their feather patterns, colors and those eyes, I also like the complimentary colors of the tamarisk, nice job in spotting this, excellent shot Ron.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on December 13, 2011 at 11:16 AM

Terrific! A self-framed subject. Great detail, just as we expect from you.

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

Comment posted by Scott Frye on December 13, 2011 at 11:27 AM

Great the way the branches parted for a clear shot -- lot to like about this shot

Registered on February 3, 2007, 387 Posts, 1136 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on December 13, 2011 at 11:42 AM

what a beauty, Ron. great colors and the bird is perfectly framed.

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

Comment posted by Ron Huff on December 13, 2011 at 12:47 PM

Ron, this is an awesome shot. The detail, expousre and color are great.

Ron Huff

Registered on August 31, 2010, 69 Posts, 440 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on December 13, 2011 at 1:10 PM

Superb image ! Really like the way it is framed by the branches. Colors, detail, sharpness on the eyes : all spot on ! Really great

, hans

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

Comment posted by Suzanne Huot on December 13, 2011 at 3:07 PM

I rather like the framing around the Owl.In a perfect world he would have come out evenfurther to avoid the small branch below one eye.A very beautiful composition regardless and your patience payed off very well .

Registered on December 28, 2010, 32 Posts, 240 Comments

Comment posted by Allen Brooks on December 13, 2011 at 3:41 PM

Neat shot. Great how you have the owl framed by the foliage. Good detail and lighting. I'm envious. Well done.

Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on December 13, 2011 at 9:13 PM

Outstanding Ron-loved it when I saw this on your blog, glad you posted the image here.

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

Comment posted by John Blumenkamp on December 13, 2011 at 9:48 PM

Beautifully captured Ron! I love all the vegetation filling around this amazing owl.

Registered on February 26, 2011, 58 Posts, 313 Comments

Comment posted by Jude Haase on December 13, 2011 at 10:30 PM

Sweet framing in this one Ron!!

Registered on April 3, 2006, 236 Posts, 1657 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Schiebelbein on December 13, 2011 at 10:31 PM

Perfectly framed and the foliage really compliment the bird in both colour and texture.

Registered on November 8, 2008, 55 Posts, 393 Comments

Comment posted by David Williams on December 13, 2011 at 10:32 PM

Love it, Ron........nice natural framing and wonderful detail.

Registered on March 8, 2005, 315 Posts, 2291 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on December 15, 2011 at 1:57 PM

Beautiful colors and wonderfully framed. Excellent image,

Ray

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

Comment posted by May Haga on December 15, 2011 at 7:54 PM

Great image Ron. Really like how the bird is framed by the Tamarisk.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on December 16, 2011 at 12:50 AM

Ron, I really, really like this shot. The branches frame him perfectly! The colors of the pine also help to create a wonderful scene. Nice work!

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments