Largely because of all I learned from him this may be my favorite individual bird I’ve ever photographed.
1/800, 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
Even though I’ve never posted this image before long time blog followers will likely recognize him as the adult male Short-eared Owl I photographed at Montana’s Red Rock Lakes NWR as he repeatedly delivered voles to his family at the nest. In June of 2010 I spent many hours with him over several days and my debt to him is huge, going way beyond the hundreds of wonderful images he allowed me. I didn’t approach the nest so he was very tolerant of my presence and went about his business as if I wasn’t there.
Nine years ago I was still a largely unskilled and rather ignorant bird photographer with a lot to learn. Because they’re so difficult I had only recently begun to get serious about flight shots and as far as trying to accurately match camera settings to conditions goes… I had no clue! But even I was smart enough to realize that my time with this owl just might be a once in a lifetime opportunity so I damn well better get it right, or as close to right as I possibly could. In this sink or swim situation the owl gave me many chances and I worked hard in the field trying to correct my countless mistakes and eventually I was able to get dozens of shots I like very much and hundreds that are pretty darned good.
During my time with him I significantly advanced my skills in two critical areas:
- How to track a bird in flight from my pickup window using my “noodle” as a lens rest. At that point I’d had some limited experience with Barn Owls, Northern Harriers and Bald Eagles in flight but that was often using a tripod which is a very different technique than shooting from my window noodle lens rest and I was never particularly skilled at it because my chances with those birds were always sporadic. But this owl gave me chance after chance over several days and eventually the required skill set became integrated as muscle memory.
- How to choose appropriate camera settings for the conditions. One of the challenges with this owl was low light because it was nearly always overcast while I was photographing him and I usually had dark shaded mountains in the background. Fast moving birds in flight require sufficient shutter speed to get them sharp and that’s hard to get in low light. One way to get more SS is to adjust my aperture but with my gear (including my cropped frame camera and attached teleconverter) I’m limited to f/5.6 or above so my other option is to increase my ISO. But increasing ISO introduces more noise (grain) into the image so I had to decide where the best balance was to give me as much SS as possible with a noise level I was willing to accept. After enough time with this owl I decided I wouldn’t go above ISO 800 (my older 7D doesn’t handle noise as well as my Mark II) and I’d take my chances with shutter speed and motion blur.
In addition to improving my skill set he also taught me a lot about Short-eared Owl natural history and behavior.
So thanks ol’ buddy. Your kind can live for up to 13 years in the wild so I hope you’re still out there somewhere, terrorizing rodents and lovin’ life!
Ron
I am struck by the photographic and computer skills that you have achieved and combined to produce your blog. Not to mention your knack for writing engaging and informative stories every day, your choice and skill in focusing on and finding such wonderful subjects, and your perseverance in doing so. To be sure, the camera and computer are marvelous inventions but they are tools that a craftsman must master to create what you do. I would be remiss in not also thanking the voles for being so prolific.
Thank you very much, Lyle.
I achieved the photographic and computer skills with a lot of help from others – friends, folks on a photo critique forum (NPN) and complete strangers who reveal their techniques and “secrets” on public forums so I try to pay it back on my blog when I can. There’s a lot of folks out there who know far more than I do and I’m always a little nervous about coming across as a know it all (when I don’t) but I guess I’m willing to take that chance.
And yes, a hearty thank you to the voles!
Ron
I’ve been a lurker for several years. This shot just blew me away and thanks for the tips.
Mike
Nice to know you’re out there, Mike. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Can you imagine that owl telling it’s mate “I sure hope that photographer did not screw up all the wonderful photo ops I gave him”?
Yup, or in the alternative “Why did you give that bozo so many great flight poses? With prey to boot?”
Ron, what a great blog today. I loved the link to the Noodle photos as well as your very helpful narrative. Your owl is beautiful and patient to afford you some “lessons learned”. Thanks so much, Ron
Thanks, Alice. I probably should have included that link in my text. Maybe I’ll do it now…
I love this image even more with the backstory.
Nice to know, Arwen. Thank you.
Huge thanks.
I am heading out the door early this morning for a sombre occasion so seeing this absolutely beautiful bird has put a most excellent stamp on the day.
You disprove one of my mother’s mantras.
‘Patience is a virtue.
Possess it if you can.
Seldom found in women,
Never found in man.’
And I am so grateful for the wonderful eye candy and learning your patience has given me.
Your mother’s mantra made me smile, EC. Thanks.
Lovely blog post today., but I’m new enough to your blog to have to ask: What’s a noodle?
Fair question, Nancy. See the link below:
https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2014/09/24/tips-tricks-and-strategies-for-using-your-vehicle-as-a-mobile-blind/
I love it when critters are patient (mostly) teachers! It’s amazing what you can learn from other critters if you take the time to listen, isn’t it? Mariah, 25-year-old female redtail hawk, taught me SO much over the years that it’s difficult to cover everything. Perhaps the biggest lesson for me was to always remain calm no matter what. Panic is a stupid decision (and it IS a decision) from which a whole bunch of other stupid decisions flow. In emergencies, you need your real intelligence, not that panicked brain! I cannot even begin to tell you all the times that lesson has saved my bacon!
But there were so many more secrets about the meaning of life and how to live it that she shared with me followed by lessons from a male Kestrel, a female Kestrel, Jack and Coco along with many other birds (including a crazy and dangerous human imprint female Harris’ hawk)…and the dogs, of course.
Of course, what a glorious image, as usual. One of the other thing that delights my soul is watching raptors parent! They’re so good at it!
Agreed, Laura. Panic is so rarely useful that a case could be made that it never is. Thank you.
This Shortie has become like an old friend thanks to your blog. I never tire of seeing him! 🙂
Even though I’m about 99% sure I will never own a camera with a changeable lens, I am always interested in your photography lessons. I have even passed on your noodle wisdom to a photographer friend.
Never say never, Marty. Maybe some day…
Pass it on to all you like. It’s a great way to handle a challenging problem.
I sometimes come to the “entrance page” to your blog just to look at him! (Or was your “never” related to my camera “lackumen?” 🙂 )
I was referring to your relative confidence that you wouldn’t own a DSLR.
VERY nice shot of the owl and the tutorial is ALWAYS welcome! 🙂 My 1990 Chevy 1/2 ton with bench seat and pulled forward for stubby legs is a challenge for that BUT! Usually have Joe on board also – he turned 90 Fri……….. Rained all night and still raining which we desperately need BUT! Had a funny on CNN recently of SEO’s taking excepting to a camera planted near their nest – actually knocked it over eventually! YES!
Belated birthday greetings to Joe! Woo Hoo! 🙂
Judy, I always get bench seats in my pickups, for the most important passenger – my lens caddy and lens.
Happy Birthday to Joe!
Going along with Dick’s comments, I too have learned much from you via your blog. My noodle is always in my auto, I don’t have the ‘side gear’ you have for holding your camera but I do have a heavy foam protective mat/box to hold my camera on the passenger floor and I’ve gotten pretty adept at speed in getting it. (Learned this after having my camera and lens fell to the floor with a quick stop from the passenger seat.) But most of all I’ve learned that one ‘size doesn’t fit all’. Patience with the settings/ lighting does require time and a lot of it; remember your mistakes and learn from them but most of all…patience with the birds/critters. Many thanks for all that you share. Oh yes…that photo is pretty darn special too!
I’m NEVER without my noodle, Kathy. And my “lens falling to the floor” was my main motivation for building my lens caddy that I love so very much and have used for about 11 years now (modifying it to fit new pickups when I bought them). It gets your attention when a $10K lens goes crashing to the floor when you hit the brakes!
I appreciate knowing that all my musing about equipment, techniques, successes and failures has been helpful to you. Thanks for that.
I remember this owl well, beautiful shot.
Many thanks professor, I am copying your last two paragraphs and posting on my wall next to my camera gear! You are lucky to have such a willing model to learn from. Believe me, possible subject models here in the East are not that willing, but I’m moving forward and trying.
Thanks for sharing.
They’re very rarely that cooperative out here either, Dick. I was just lucky to be in the right place at the right time with a cooperative owl.
I’m glad you found all the geekiness helpful!
Hey, what can I say, that is me, sort of. VBG!