Great Grey Owl

Gallery: AvianPosted October 11, 2013698 views7 comments

I was amazed at how close to humans this owl would get. I was fascinated with the eye lashes, so made a significant crop of this one to show the eye lashes. Was almost too close to focus the lens. Comments always appreciated.

1DIV, EF600,ISO 640, f6.3, 1/6400, Tripod.

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by jack jaeger jr on October 11, 2013 at 7:27 PM

Whatta great perspective of this guy, and sharp as a tac.

Registered on April 2, 2012, 26 Posts, 355 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on October 12, 2013 at 11:14 AM

An interesting look at the face of this bird, Ralph - not an angle you see every day.

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

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on October 12, 2013 at 1:42 PM

Stunning..... Was this a wild animal ? Cheers, Hans

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

Comment posted by Ralph Kerr on October 12, 2013 at 10:50 PM

Hans, yes, this is a wild owl. No call, bait or anything of the kind. Landed unbelievably close.

Registered on January 30, 2007, 369 Posts, 852 Comments

Comment posted by John Launstein on October 13, 2013 at 3:33 PM

Hi Ralph - really cool image of my favourite bird in the universe. I can attest to having to back up to focus on wild great greys on those rare occasions when they are almost TOO cooperative! Great look and you captured what we might interpret as personality or character...he kind of looks like a wise old owl here and maybe not the most fun-loving individual of his kind.

Quite an intense and somewhat serious pose. I have a similar pose in my gallery of an owl out our way (Alberta) that kept making his way TO us as he flew fence post to fence post, then suddenly got hyper-focused on the grass below him (so was looking downward instead of upward). A favourite memory with both Jenaya and Marlise at each of my shoulders squeezing their own shutters the whole time. But your comp here is even closer and more detailed, and I really like it!

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Andrews on October 17, 2013 at 10:40 AM

Stunning portrait Ralph!

Registered on December 31, 2011, 45 Posts, 222 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on October 18, 2013 at 2:34 PM

Very cool image Ralph, congrats, I would add back in a little room on the left if you have it. Must have been a great experience

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