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Silent Hunter - WC #718

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted January 13, 201686 views6 comments

We were camping in Waterton Lakes National Park in early May, photographing baby foxes and the first of the black bears to emerge from hibernation. I was getting my gear ready to head out for the evening when one of my daughters knocked on the trailer door and told me to follow her--and quickly--with my camera. I obliged, and she led me to this handsome white-morph Great Horned Owl, still clutching it's recently killed prey in its talons.

It turns out that (a) this is a male, and the father of two owlets; and (b) he decapitated the ground squirrel before flying off and delivering to his mate and young ones in the nest a couple hundred yards away.

I do have more graphic images (although arrived after the decapitation), but I like this frame best for the dark forest feel and the sense of the proud hunter the owl seems to be exuding here.

Please note that I have retouched three areas in this image to reduce distracting bright spots (sky and highlit branch).

Thanks in advance for your comments, critiques and suggestions--please view the larger version if you have time.

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Nikon D600
Nikkor AF-S 500mm f/4D IF-ED
ISO 1600
1/100sec @ f/5.6
-0.7 stop exposure from meter
Mounted on FEISOL CT-3372 Elite tripod with Acratech GV2 ballhead and Wimberley Sidekick

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on January 13, 2016 at 10:12 AM

A beautiful look at this bird and it's catch, John. The owl really pops against the dark forest and it's catch shows well.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 13, 2016 at 12:12 PM

Nicely done, John. Congratulations to your daughter on the find and to you on the photography and processing.

devil

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

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on January 13, 2016 at 12:20 PM

Well done John! This color morph is rarely depicted. The dark surroundings provide some pop for the bird's plumage...............Jim

Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments

Comment posted by David Schoen on January 13, 2016 at 7:22 PM

The owl looks quite proud at its catch. You've done a really good job with the color & sharpness here in difficult light.

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on January 14, 2016 at 1:38 AM

Hey John,
Superb capture for the both you and the Owl. As always, you have managed to stay with the theme in a very classy manner and deliver a beautiful image. The subject, detail, colors and habitat are all excellent.
Well done . . . devil

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

Comment posted by Gary Minish on January 16, 2016 at 9:23 PM

I think Mike had the right term for this shot, John. It's very "classy", especially for a predator & prey image! The exposure, especially considering the light conditions, is perfect as is the focus and composition. I normally wouldn't hang a bird with prey image on my wall but I'd hang this one in a minute! Very, very nice! devil

Registered on February 4, 2006, 625 Posts, 3583 Comments