Great Horned Owl

Gallery: AvianPosted November 16, 2015458 views9 comments

I found a pair of Great Horned Owls nest where the female was sitting on her eggs. I was able to get fairly closely nest as long as I stayed in the truck, however the best slightly higher than the truck. So I wanted to get up higher in order to get a better view of the owl on her nest. I decided to get in the back on the truck which would put me up higher, however when I got out of the owl flew off. I made a beeline for the back of the truck, grabbed my tripod and mounted the camera and sat on the side of the truck and waited. It wasn't long and the owl flew back to the tree, but at on branch higher up in the tree. So I got ready, in a few seconds she flew down toward the nest over the existing ivy that was there as I was clicking off photos. I actually made series of landing photos. This photo being number two. I shot the photo with a EOS 7D MKII mounted on a Tamron 150-600 lens. All the gear was mounted on a MeFOTO tripod. This Photo was taken in Lecanto, FL

I shot the photo AT 1/400@f6.3, ISO 1000

This photo was one of several hundred I took chronicling the nesting, hatching, branching and fledging of the two owlets the pair had.

This Photo won the 2016 NANPA Showcase 1st runner up for Birds

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on November 16, 2015 at 9:26 AM

Unique capture. I like the light shining through the wings. Well done.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Cay-Uwe Kulzer on November 16, 2015 at 9:49 AM

Robert,

I pretty well can understand that the photo won a price, since the whole scenery is very special.

Congratulations devil

P.S. Corrected some typos enlightened

Registered on January 27, 2004, 494 Posts, 4021 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on November 16, 2015 at 11:53 AM

A unique image, and very nice. I like the backlight. I like the depth.

I'd like to know where this was - at least what state or province.

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

Comment posted by John Tobias on November 16, 2015 at 1:05 PM

Outstanding image! I like the background story for the image. Hope you will post some more. Congratulations on the NANPA prize.

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

Comment posted by Jerry Marella on November 16, 2015 at 4:34 PM

Very cool! Love the fanned wings and the inclusion of the habitat. Well done!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 142 Posts, 862 Comments

Comment posted by Larry Sobolik on November 16, 2015 at 6:51 PM

very nice. The muted background and verdant green showcases the bird beautifully, as does the backlighting of the wings. As one who has spent much time trying to capture birds in flight, I can appreciate what you succeeded in doing. And it's always nice when the bird seems to cooperate when the cameras ready. Again, very nicely done.

Registered on October 27, 2015, 19 Posts, 8 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on November 17, 2015 at 12:03 PM

Really cool image of the Owl agains that lovely fern bg, Robert. Sounds like you had some great opportunities with this pair and their fledglings. My only nit on the image is the extremely bright sky patch showing throush on the left side of the image. I think it might be worth cloning in some of the other oof fores bg on top of the bright spots.

devil

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on November 20, 2015 at 8:14 PM

A wonderful photograph edge to edge of this owl alighting Robert! A great view of its habitat and the light coming through the wings is sweet..
A Beauty devil

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

Comment posted by Ken Smith on December 8, 2015 at 11:42 PM

Wow...

Beautiful light illuminating the feathers..and perfect moment in full wingspan flight.

Congrats!

Registered on September 5, 2008, 449 Posts, 2444 Comments