Last night while looking for something else I found a pleasant surprise in my archives. It was this Short-eared Owl photo that I’ve never posted before and the fact that I hadn’t posted it surprised me very much because I like it a lot.
1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
The photo was taken in June of 2010 at Montana’s Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge as the male owl was delivering a vole to his family on the nest. I won’t list all the things I like about the image and there’s a bunch of them but near the top of the list is that vertically extended right wing, in contrast to the horizontal left wing. This is a flight posture I’ve always loved, especially in a raptor The lower background is mostly sagebrush flats and the upper background is the Centennial Mountains in shade.
I do have a small nit to pick but I don’t think I’ll pick it…
I nearly always had low light during the several days I was photographing this owl. I was also still getting used to operating a relatively new camera and eight years ago my flight shot skills were primitive at best so with those three strikes against me the low light often defeated me. Looking back I’d say I was very near the limits of both shutter speed for an owl in flight and ISO for the 7D with any expectations of getting high quality photos.
Finding this image again was a serendipitous event for me.
Ron
Truly love this photo! Don’t find a thing to be nit-picking on this one. Getting a flight shot of a Short-Ear always makes my day. I am always amazed at the wing-spread of this bird…when you see them sitting on the ground or on a pole/branch, they look like a small compact bird. Then they take off and the beautiful wing spread captures you! ❤️
I’ve had the same impression regarding their wings many times, Kathy. Thanks.
I just noticed this is a ‘one-foot carry’! That makes it all the more special! I don’t know why I didn’t notice that before…WoW!
It is a phenomenally beautiful shot (for all except the vole).
So many things to marvel at. It is the light shining through the feathers on the upright wing which keeps drawing my eye. Megathanks.
Yup, bad day for the vole, EC. A bunch of them had days like that because of this owl. He was an incredibly skilled hunter. Thank you.
Another great predator with prey photo, but my all time favorite is the one where the owl is flying right at you…with some poor vole in its grasp….NOTHING can beat that one!!! It’s a classic!!!
The photo you mention is one of my favorites too, Patty.
Wow. That wing position really is amazing. 😀
I think so too. Thanks, Arwen.
Other than the wing position, I really like the layered background and the look of intense concentration on the Owl’s face. Definitely a wonderful shot, and I’m glad you posted it.
Susan, I was lucky enough to get that background in several shots of the owl that day. I love it too.
Ron: WOW! And thank you.
Thanks, Richard.
Wow, Ron! A sharp Shortie in flght- doesn’t get much better than that!
Thank you, Diane.
Man, if that is an example of when you were less than good “my flight shot skills were primitive at best” I can’t see ANY evidence considering your skills as primitive! That shot is one fantastic shot, sharp, perfect pose (in my mind), showing ventral and dorsal views with vole, wings outstretched and a wonderful background. No “nit” in my mind, anywhere in that shot. Another picture to be enlarged for the wall.
Many thanks for sharing.
Given how many photos I took of this bird over several days my success rate truly reflected my lack of skills, Dick.
I’m with Judy. Give me a Ron Dudley “primitive shot” anytime. 🙂
Everett Sanborn, Prescott Arizona
Thanks for the vote of confidence, Everett – deserved or not.
Beautiful show of the owl! I’ll take your “primitive” shots any day! 🙂 The wing position and catch showing well are wonderful! Glad you hung on to that one!
I’m glad too, Judy. And that I found it again. I wonder how many more there are like that…
Fabulous shot, even without the constraints! Love the wing position!
Thanks very much, Marty.
You mention having low light for days during the time period in which you made this shot, plus referring to the technical specs of your equipment , exposures, etc. which got me
wondering– do you keep a daily journal–physical or virtual– of all these aspects of your work to which you can refer, even years later ?
No, I don’t keep a journal, Kris. But I have several older posts about my time with these owls that I can refer to as a memory refresher. However, in this case I didn’t need to because my time with them was such a memorable experience. I remember!
Beautiful shot. It appears to be perfect to me. Wondering what the nit is. Also, what you consider to be the highest ISO to use with a 7D to get quality photos? Thanks again.
Joanne, the nit is I wish I had just a tad more room at the bottom of the frame for a composition I’d like a little better. I could easily add canvas down there but I don’t like to do that.
With the 7D I always tried to avoid going higher than ISO 800 because that camera doesn’t handle digital noise as well as later cameras do.
Ahh…thanks. I see what you mean about the composition, but I wouldn’t have noticed it if you didn’t say. (Trying to train my critical eye.)
I believe the 7D MII is a little bit better with slightly higher ISOs.
“I believe the 7D MII is a little bit better with slightly higher ISOs”
I agree.
Beautiful image, Ron, and I agree, given your equipment and light constraints, outstanding! Love it!
“Equipment and light constraints” plus flight shot skill constraints! I wax lucky to get it. Thanks, Thomas.
Pretty darn good for”primitive” flight shot skills….I think it’s a great shot. Love the wing positions also and the background is excellent..
Thanks again Ron
I’m glad you like it, Steve. It’s a good thing I had a lot of time over several days with this owl because I sure botched a lot of shots in that light and with my less than admirable flight shot skills.