Litte owl in morning light

[Steve Kaluski]

• Canon EOS-1D X Mark III
• EF500mm f/4L IS II USM
• ƒ/8
• 500mm
• 1/800s
• ISO 2000
• Steve Kaluski
• Sun, 05 April 2020 6:52 AM
• www.untamedimages.co.uk
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 9.4 (Macintosh)

Taken just before 7.00am in the morning, Torn eye was sitting quietly on the old wooden trailer located near the old hollow trunk of the Willow tree, a favourite spot for Torn eye to sit. Working from the blind that had been positioned a week prior and gradually moved a meter per day, in order not to spook or stress the owl. Utilizing LV and in silent mode the owl never knew anyone was around meaning that both Torn eye & Scruffy would venture closer and closer, to the point where the 100-400 was being used. It's tight at the foot to avoid a lot of distracting vegetation in the FG, but rarely do you get light like this.

Thanks to those who viewed or commented on the previous posting.

Steve

Subject: Little owl (Athene noctua) in morning light
Location: UK
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X Mark III
Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS II USM (Gitzo tripod with Flexline pro ballhead)
Exposure: 1/800s at f/8 ISO2000
Original format: Portrait, slight crop from above, almost FF width
Processed via: LRCC Classic & PSCC2020


Note: The subject is fully wild and completely unconstrained. Besides the potential impact of my presence, nothing has been done to intentionally alter or affect the ongoing behavior of the subject and, of course, there has been no use of any form of bait or other form of wildlife attractants (including vocalisations) in the capture of this image.

 

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Beautiful light and head turn Steve. Love that little claw and BG. I understand the perch so it is acceptable. Nice PP with pleasing natural colours.

 

[Steve Kaluski]

Thanks Sanjeev. :S3:

I understand the perch so it is acceptable.

As the trailer has been in the field for over 15 years, slowly weathering down and becoming part of the habitat, then for me, man-made or not, it's natural. :w3

 

[Jonathan Ashton]

Super Steve, tones and details all there, at this magnification and this angle it would be nigh on impossible to get the tail and back in focus, the eye and the claw keep the viewer's attention.

 

[Steve Kaluski]

Super Steve, tones and details all there, at this magnification and this angle it would be nigh on impossible to get the tail and back in focus, the eye and the claw keep the viewer's attention.

Cheers Jon, glad you liked it, never got the sunrise like this again...

I was talking to AR a while back and perhaps not putting the FP on the eye, but may be, more towards the back, may have given the 1/3 - 2/3 and gained (even with f/11 and raising the ISO) perhaps a tad more?????

 

[Gabriela Plesea]

Dear Steve,

Wonderful capture of little Torn Eye at sunrise! Killer BG and superb colours, great detail where it matters most.

I really like this as is. He is so cute, love the pose and raised foot. Would be too afraid to risk it and move FP from the eye... so I would just up ISO and try F 11, F 12, F13...and see what worked best :tinysmile_shy_t:

Warmest regards,

 

[Joseph Przybyla]

Hi Steve, I think it is wonderful that your can follow and photograph these owls year to year and recognize them. I will have to pay more attention to see if I can pick up details to identify individual birds. Your Little Owls are so similar to the Burrowing Owls in Florida. Image nicely displayed as always. Thank you for sharing.