Short-Eared Owl

Gallery: AvianPosted January 18, 2017318 views12 comments

I've had a chance to lead a couple of local tours in recent weeks. It's a great time for bird photography in western Washington, as birds of prey show up in greater numbers in the rural areas north of Seattle. Short-eared owls are my favorite subject at this time of year, and right now there are a lot of them around. Shorties are fun to photograph, as they fly low and circle a lot, often giving one many opportunities for BIF photos (especially if you can find one that's not too shy).

This particular owl didn't mind the attention at all. On consecutive afternoons, my client and I had it hunting extremely close at times, sometimes too close for the lens. So I came away with quite a few shots. It was fun sorting through the various poses, and the light at the end of the first afternoon certainly was nice.

Canon 1DX
Canon 600mm + 1.4x
ISO 800
1/1600th
f/5.6

Max

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on January 18, 2017 at 10:34 AM

Simply beautiful Max. That golden light is just stunning. Love the head turn also.

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on January 18, 2017 at 10:39 AM

Sweet light! That head turn back is just the icing on the cake. Really nice blush

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 18, 2017 at 1:24 PM

Very cool, Max. Wonderful light. Maybe a bit more canvas top and right?

devil

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

Comment posted by Jim Hansen on January 18, 2017 at 8:57 PM

I really love this Max. Great light and pose. Reminds me of when I used to live near Eureka, California and the short-ears always provided a visual treat out in the coastal fields.

Registered on May 5, 2011, 161 Posts, 908 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 18, 2017 at 10:33 PM

awesome. great light and setting. nice wing position. the head turn back into the frame makes the comp work for me. I might tinker with slightly brightening the shaded side of the face, but not by much.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Ralph Kerr on January 18, 2017 at 11:57 PM

Max, a great photo. I particularly like the seeming shafts of light breaking through to brighten the wings and the side of the face. A fine job. Congratulations.

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on January 19, 2017 at 2:11 AM

Max,
Great head turn and stunning light devil

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on January 19, 2017 at 2:50 AM

What a tough moment to capture! I love it when I see them glance over there shoulder like this while they're hunting, and you caught it perfectly Max!

Wonderful light and beautiful environment.

Sweet One devil

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

Comment posted by Max Waugh on January 19, 2017 at 10:11 AM

Thanks guys. Ken, this one was photographed the day after I saw you. It was hanging out in the same spot both days, a bit further from where you had been positioned the previous afternoon (basically just past where the plastic dyke covering ends). Definitely the "best" owl for photos while we were there.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Thompson on January 19, 2017 at 11:12 AM

I like this as posted Max. That look and position of the owl are both great. The lighting and habitat add a whole lot to this image. Excellent!

Registered on August 7, 2014, 125 Posts, 2319 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on January 19, 2017 at 11:39 AM

Beautiful, Max. devil