I’ve had very few good opportunities with Short-eared Owls in winter but yesterday morning along the causeway to Antelope Island my luck changed a bit for the better. It was overcast but there was almost 6″ of fresh snow on the ground which helped slightly by reflecting some of the available light onto the bird.
The setting in these three images is “high key” (light color tones with little contrast) because of all the snow. The background is the snow-covered lakebed of the Great Salt Lake. High key images don’t appeal to everyone.
1/2000, f/5.6, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in
Northern Harriers and Rough-legged Hawks often hunt the causeway so when I first came across this owl my camera settings were already set for possible flight shots. I snapped off a few images at those settings before I made adjustments. I wasn’t particularly happy with the vegetation in front of the bird…
1/500, f/8, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in
but it soon flew a few hundred feet west along the causeway and perched on a rabbitbrush that gave a slightly better view of the owl. For this shot I had maneuvered my position to get some very out of focus vegetation in the mid-background to provide at least a little bit of color back there but the difference is only slight.
1/500, f/8, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in
I was happy to get a few shots with direct eye contact. There’s just something about the eyes of an owl…
Ron
I agree with Charlotte, you are a “Master Photographer” and I am so lucky to see and enjoy what you so freely share. You have made this past January a joyful month of learning wonderful facts about birds, witnessing them in their struggles in the snow, and suffering hunger pangs with them as they search and hunt. I have oohed and ahed, chuckled, laughed, thrilled and felt fear and even sorrow at your Utah Nature Show. I never thought anyone could make me feel a coyote’s pain but I did thanks to your masterful photography. Seriously Ron, I love your photos and commentay so much that I would gladly pay for the priviledge of seeing and reading them. You are such a humble man, I really believe you have no idea how great your stuff is; and when you ask to be critiqued, we are all properly dumbfounded because you are the Master.
Now this owl is over the top. Those feathers! I felt their softness, I could see their softness. Those crazy, crazy eyes!!! Show stoppers! I bet I’ll have dreams about those bright crazy YELLOW eyes. WOW!!!
Ron, I’m sitting here hypnotized and slack-jawed over the striking colors and contrasts. The eyes … they mesmerize. And that is not an exaggeration. How utterly beautiful!
Loved your comment, Ingrid.
Just stunning… There really are no words, absolute perfection! Well, those are words.
I’ll take those words, Christina. In a heartbeat…
Glad to see you had some luck with a SEOW Ron. I personally love the high key aesthetic of these images.
With your artistic background I was wondering what you thought of high key, Bryce.
I think these are wonderful shots Ron. They are so crisp.
Thank you, Gale.
Stunning! You keep getting great owl pictures. Around Houston they have camouflage cover at least 365 days a year. We get all excited when somebody gets a good owl shot. I love the 3rd one where he’s looking straight down the barrel of your lens. He knows the color of your eye. He is not intrigued by the sound of your voice. He is not soothed by the sound of your camera shutter. You do not look edible and he would like you better if you were a half mile away.
You may very well have the “thoughts” of the owl nailed, Howard.
Excellent photos! The eye contact pictures are amazing.
Thank you, Sam.
Amazing! So true about the eyes of an owl. It is amazing how sharp your pics are. Any advice about getting pics so sharp? I would love to hear it.
Jolie, There are lots of “tips” but I believe two of the most important would be: 1, get as close to your subject as possible (without harassing the birds, of course) and 2, use quality lenses.
Ron, do you always use a tripod for sharpness, or are some of your shots handheld with VR/IS?
Ingrid, I almost never use a tripod. I’m usually shooting from my pickup, using a modified pool “noodle” as a lens rest or handholding for some flight shots. I always have IS turned on.
Thank you, Leisa, Diana, Wally and Maria. I’m happy to hear that high key worked for you.
The high key works terrific. I think you did a great job in harmonising the snow with the sky and the white feathers of the owl. It is the perfect choice for me.
High key, middle key, no key……images of this quality should appeal to everyone! This species would be very rare in our area so thank you for letting me “see” one through your keen eyes.
The vegetation enhances the natural beauty of the SEOW.
Thanks for “seeing” it and including it
The eyes are stunning!
Hi Ron,
I’ve run into your blog just a few days ago and I’m so impress about the quality of your photos. It’s incredible. The Short-eared Owl is now uncommon to rare into the province of Quebec, where I live, and it’s always a feast when one of them is located nearby. Although I am an active birder, the last one I saw within a radius of 300 kms (about 200 miles) from my home was in August 1997. Thank you for the sharing of your nature encounters.
Welcome, Laval. Populations of this owl are often hit and miss from year to year for a variety of reasons but it sounds like it’s been mostly miss in your area for a long time. Too long. I hope they make a comeback.
Beautifu shots from the master. Thanks for sharing!
I don’t know about the “master” part, Chalotte but I sure appreciate the compliment.
I have a question for you Ron. Why don’t you approve of caling the birds? I’m just curious. We are wintering in Texas and they don’t allow it in either State or Fderal Parks here and I was just wondering what the logic behind it is.
Thanks!
Chalotte
That’s a fair question, Charlotte. I consider myself to be a nature photographer so I don’t like to “set up” my shots in any way. I want them to be as natural as possible. Beyond my photography, I’m still against calling birds in. Doing so often disrupts migratory and nesting behaviors, wasting precious energy during stressful times. Calling birds in has been banned in many parks for very good reason, IMO.
Thanks so much for your response. It certainly I for,Ed me and answered my question. Thanks for your I formation.
Charlotte
Magnificent setting and wonderful, pin sharp portraits.
I’m glad you like the setting, Christian. Thank you.