Powerful Owl

[avkomp]

just back in from a visit to the powerful owl family, the chicks fledged a month ago and the family went missing in action. we did a dusk visit to the area and found them.
got a tick getting this pic. hate ticks. last night we found them low and close, but no camera. tonight less so. only one of the family in the open too

d4 600f4 tc17 (1000mm) tripod, flash 1/60 f8 iso 1600 full frame image

[avkomp]

Owls just sit there and let you photograph them........

[Isac]

Oh! easy as that - sounds simple.

[avkomp]

Well, first you need an owl. But after that simple enough. The flash means you get a very high virtual shutter speed, despite using 1 /60 on the camera. This means you won't have to worry about camera shake so all you need to do is compose and focus (manual or auto) shoot when you see it's eyes. A lIttle bird may fly off but the owl will more or less stay there at least for enough time to shoot again if you got it wrong

[Isac]

Excellent avkomp - many thanks and I'm sure other members will appreciate it too.

[Alan]

Great photo. As you say the hard bit is finding the bird first - then all the years of experience photographing them comes into play and it is easy for you to adjust/frame etc almost without thinking.

[eaglem]

Nice clear & crisp shot

[Ironwood]

Stunning photo. Those eyes are piercing.

[wigz]

Fantastic shot and I like the way you have kept some colour in the background. So all I need to do is find an owl.

Alan

[avkomp]

Thanks Alan, the colour in the background is a bit of a mystery. this was taken at dusk. Not dark enough for the torches to come out, but not daylight. The moon was coming too, so perhaps a bit of clear sky? As for finding owls, bird lines may report sightings, botanic gardens often have them etc. after you see a few, you get a feel for where they may be. Wash on the ground, pellets etc let you know they around. We drive around turf farms at night too, might see barn owls on fences. Local bushland creeks at dusk may turn up owls calling. Etc