Out of all the elements involved in an image sometimes for me it’s the light that “outshines” all others.
1/400, f/9, ISO 500, Canon 40D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
This photo, taken on August 2, 2009 with the now near-obsolete Canon 40D, is one of the older images in my portfolio. This bird, its siblings and parents, had a burrow along the narrow causeway to Antelope Island so they had become very tolerant of traffic and I spent many early mornings photographing the adorable family. This shot was taken at 6:04 AM just as the sun was coming up over the nearby Wasatch Mountains and the light was beginning to reach the owl so the top half of the bird and the upper background are bathed in very warm light while the rest of the image is still in shade. I like the effect.
This image brings back extra-fond memories for me. I photographed this family for several weeks and I swear they got to know me (or at least my vehicle) as well as I knew them. I don’t remember ever having other photographers photographing these birds while I was there (these days a conspicuous burrow like this would attract lots of attention from photogs and because I despise shooting in crowds and try hard to avoid disturbing my subjects I’d be elsewhere).
This owl is actually a sibling to several of the juveniles featured in one of the rotating banner images at the top of my blog. In fact one or more of them is likely the same bird.
Burrowing Owls live up to 9 years and I like to think that at least some members of this family are still out there, flying free and enjoying life.
Ron
Hi! Love those little Owls! Great photo!
Breathtaking shot, Ron. I am deeply moved by this.
Too many burrowing owls would be barely enough. Too many people (sometimes as few as two) people is more than enough.
Love everything about this shot. An absolute charmer which has won my heart.
Love these birds. And I agree, the light and the resulting color palette is wonderful.
This is a show-stopper for me. I love how the shadows on the right side of the body really pop the color out. Just gorgeous.
And I love stopping your show, Arwen. Thank you.
What a wonderful image! Engaging subject, expertly photographed and, of course, that very special light! As others have already mentioned, it’s extra-special for you because it evokes a memory and a whole range of emotions. When our images stop causing us to have those reactions, it’s time to take up golf.
Thank you for sharing your art and your philosophy, Ron!
(Didn’t know you was a philosopher did you?)
(I’ve been fortunate this spring to have already found a half-dozen Burrowing Owl nesting sites and am having a blast waiting for young ones to appear!)
I left golf behind long ago, Wally. If I ever stop having “those reactions” I guess I’ll go back to building furniture as a hobby. Don’t want to do it now because I need all my fingers to operate my camera…
The light and mood of this image is exquisite. It must have been so wonderful to follow this little family. I hope to have a similar experience with Borrowing Owls someday.
I hope you do too, Sharon. And soon!
This is a beautiful image. It captures the bird’s personality as well as showing all the markings. I also like the warm light.
I’m glad you like it, Susan. Thank you.
What a treasure!!! I love everything about this image…the soft, golden light, the rocky perch, the sikey, green grass, the soft background, and of course, that wonderful, funny little bird…especially the fact it’s unbanded, Every image of these birds makes me smile!!! A great way to start the day…Thanks!!!
Thank you, Patty.
I never used to see banded Burrowing Owls back then. Now most of them have bands and a few have transmitters with antennae sticking out of their backs. I probably dislike like that fact as much as the birds do but realize it’s a (mostly) necessary evil for the overall good of the species.
Wonderful light, beautiful bird, great image. Reminds me of recent ruminations about the differences in the image the camera captures and the one our visual system stores. The exif data in the file doesn’t contain information about the emotions experienced while taking the photo or the memory of the events associated with that outing.
Excellent point, Dave. There are times when I’m starting to process an image that I get lost in the memories and sometimes it distracts me to the point that I go back and look at other shots from that encounter, or that day, or even other unrelated images from different days. Or weeks. Or years.
Then a half hour later I remember that my original processing task is screaming for attention and reluctantly go back to work. Memories are part of the fun, aren’t they?
Sweet little owl & gorgeous photo, Ron!! We do tend to become attached to the wildlife we see regularly & I also hope some of this family are out there enjoying the earth & the sky!!
“We do tend to become attached to the wildlife we see regularly”
We certainly do, Jo Ann! There have been times when I’ve actually been tempted to give a pet name to a few of them but that’s something I try to resist because my instinct tells me that doing so is somewhat demeaning for a wild animal (though I know that some others have differing views on the subject and that’s ok too…)
“Beautimus-Maximus” Ron ! A wonderful portrait.
Glad you like it, John. Thank you.
They are such adorable creatures. I have only seen them twice. Sure I could regularly visit a burrow. It’s a beautiful shot Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks very much, Charlotte.