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Menards Owls
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Menards Owls

by Brian Murphy

Gallery: Man & FaunaPosted March 19, 2016330 views4 comments
I wanted to post this to show how man and nature can work together. Also I am originally from a big city and at the age of 60 I have not seen owls unless they were in a zoo type setting until now. 
A great horned owl has returned to the local Menards for the second or third year now and they are celebrities with the locals. Management doesn't  mind the customers taking photos along as they can do so safely. The store personnel also work around the owls keeping them safe an undisturbed.
I did face a few challenges with lighting due to the roof panels being a greenish tint and the roof lighting slightly different. I also had to shoot from the outside into the garden center to keep away from forklifts and customers. 
I did crop the photo to remove some of the mulch pallet and other surrounding distractions. I also cloned out some messy distractions in the pallet and darken the glare on the plastic and roof.  A fill flash was used and I did remove a bit of redeye.
I was hand holding my new lens and experimenting with my new flash. 
The owlet on the left constantly watch me, the owlet on the right was watching the goings on to the right and down below and I think the middle one was looking for mom.

Canon T5i
Lens Sigma 150-600 C @ 468 mm Hand held
Flash Canon  430EX II  I do not have a flash extender yet.
Iso 800
F 6.3
 SS 1/200
Comments are more than welcome. I have a lot to learn.
Thanks for looking.
Brian

Comments

4 comments
Comment posted by Keith Bauer on March 19, 2016 at 11:19 AM
Brian:

I'll only comment on the flash.  Looks you did a very good job with it.  Nice natural looking light on the Owls, nice catchlights.

You said you don't have a flash extender...... For the most part, I don't think you need one.  You'll have plenty of reach for most subjects with your 430 EX II.  Many folks think they need one and the reality is they end up just creating harsher, more focused light, rather than natural, broader, softer light.  

Nice work in a tough setting.
Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on March 20, 2016 at 7:31 AM
Hi Brian,

Well done with these baby GHO's.  The flash worked perfectly.....................................Jim
Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 26, 2016 at 6:56 PM
Congrats on the pick Brian, nice image!  devil
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Elizabeth Holbrook on April 2, 2016 at 9:17 AM
What a great opportunity.  I glad you were able to capture these beautiful birds.  I like the one eye in the middle peering out between the other two owls.  Nice composition and tones.  Congratulations.  
Registered on May 6, 2015, 43 Posts, 221 Comments