Spotted Eagle Owl Chick

Gallery: AvianPosted December 18, 2011176 views9 comments

We recently returned from an awesome trip to the Kalahari desert...the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park to be more specific.

One afternoon we came across a triplet of Spotted Eagle Owl chicks who were chock full of attitude and curiosity, and were out of their nest which was located in a tree by the roadside.

This is one of the images I captured. The setting sun was used for rim-lighting. This is full frame - no cropping done.

Techs:
Nikon D3s with Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II + 1.4xTC @ 700mm
f5.6 @ 1/800 SS @ ISO-1400

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on December 18, 2011 at 4:59 PM

The image has a wonderful look from the rim lighting, with this near side nicely exposed.
I agree with the close-comp, it lets us see the most detail on this shadowed side..
Unique image, love this!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Eirini Pajak on December 18, 2011 at 5:23 PM

I really like the backlighting on this as well as his interesting expression! I think these are difficult shots to do and still maintain lots of detail, which you did!

Registered on December 13, 2011, 216 Posts, 1671 Comments

Comment posted by Tonia Graves on December 18, 2011 at 5:50 PM

Morkel, I really like the rim lighting on this! Good detail & implied action w/ the open beak.

Registered on October 29, 2011, 92 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Frye on December 18, 2011 at 6:18 PM

Nice lighting around the owl -- really different look ad I like it

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 18, 2011 at 7:09 PM

I like the open bill, nice textures of the perch and the rim lighting is interesting. Too tight for my tastes though.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on December 18, 2011 at 10:57 PM

Interesting, Morkel. I like the idea of the rim lighting, but it's just too bright for my taste in this instance. Great pose and attitude.

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

Comment posted by Mark Deibert on December 19, 2011 at 8:51 AM

Love the rim lighting - something that I try to capture in my work. Wonderfully done!

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on December 19, 2011 at 3:28 PM

An interesting way to present this owl, I like that we can still see detail in the shadows, nice job in getting this shot, well done.

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on December 19, 2011 at 4:11 PM

Thanks for all the feedback!

I knew it would be a tad tight for some...

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments