The Ambush

Gallery: AvianPosted May 20, 2013198 views9 comments

The male Little Owl just tucked himself away out of sight ready to make another strike. Taken just before he got his snack, a nice, fat, earthworm which you saw him devour a few weeks ago in a previous image. The crisscross of branches makes ideal cover for this chap.

Steve
Subject: Little owl lying in wait {i}(Athene noctua)[/i}
Location: UK
Camera: Canon 1DX
Lens: 500f/4 MKII plus 2x
Exposure: 1/400s at f/8 ISO1000 0 stop compensation, Gitzo tripod/Wimberely head

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on May 20, 2013 at 9:26 AM

Steve,
This is a great find, very cute subject and a beautiful image,
Well Done . . .

Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on May 20, 2013 at 10:42 AM

Really neat to see this owl in this type of position. I might remove a bit of the top of the frame as the image is pretty "top heavy" with all the wood up there. But I like it as posted as well.

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

Comment posted by Claude Dagenais on May 20, 2013 at 11:11 AM

Well titled Steve, very nice detail, I like the comp as it fits the mood very well.

Registered on April 10, 2013, 56 Posts, 571 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on May 20, 2013 at 11:25 AM

Thanks guys, with so much good stuff floating around in Avian it's much appreciated,

a few frames and then he was off. I also have a frame or two of him looking right, but had no time to change format sadly.

Hi Ron, with the 2x on you are very limited in focus point & crop. I went for this because I wanted the weight of the branches to give the impression of compressing the subject as the head slightly dips, but could move the whole crop down.

cheers
Steve

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on May 20, 2013 at 1:10 PM

Good job - I actually like the "heavy" wood atop. However, I would have placed the bird a bit more to the right - not sure if you have room.

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

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on May 20, 2013 at 2:29 PM

Hi KC, sadly with the 2x you have only one centre focus point, therefore that has to be spot on the eye, this then dictates your image area & crop. If this was not the case then yes, I would have placed the subject more to the right.

BTW Which part of Van are you in?

cheers
Steve

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments

Comment posted by keith mitchell on May 20, 2013 at 4:22 PM

Steve this is certainly different I do like the way the Owl is tucked in sorry can't find a nit! wish it was mine.

Keith.

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

Comment posted by Jeff Lewis on May 20, 2013 at 5:21 PM

Very nice capture, the tack sharp eye really makes it. My wife's walk by comment was "that is so ridiculously cute". I would vote for a snippet off the top as well. Excellently done,

Registered on January 29, 2013, 9 Posts, 89 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on May 21, 2013 at 7:36 PM

I like this a lot! The only thing I can think to improve it would be to have had the owl a little more to the right. Also...the title is great! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments