An owl, any owl, in marginal light is better than no owl at all.
Eight days ago I saw three and possibly four different Short-eared Owls in Utah’s west desert. Based on behavior, I’m confident that at least two of them were a mated pair. All of them were on the ‘wrong’ side of the road so they were backlit or strongly sidelit.
I took photos anyway. After not seeing Shorties for so long, how could I not?
1/4000, f/5.6, ISO 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I believe this owl is a female but I can’t be sure. She was mostly backlit as she hunted from the metal fence post. After a while she decided to…
1/4000, f/5.6, ISO 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
fly to a different hunting perch where her luck might improve and I managed to capture her at takeoff and…
1/4000, f/5.6, ISO 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
in flight. In this challenging light this might be my favorite photo of the series.
1/4000, f/5.6, ISO 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I got one more photo of her in flight before my camera focus either locked on to the fence and vegetation directly below her (out of frame at bottom) or I partially or completely lost her in the frame. Or both.
1/3200, f/5.6, ISO 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
14 shots in the burst later I managed to get her in frame and in focus again for a single photo while she was still in flight.
1/3200, f/5.6, ISO 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
This was her new hunting perch (I had to back my pickup up quite a distance to get this shot). At least it’s a natural perch but the light angle didn’t improve. At this point, she wasn’t done and neither was I.
To be continued. This procrastinator needs to go finish his taxes.
Ron
These are FABULOUS!!!
Thank you, CJ.
Are you being too fussie? I loved and enjoyed all the photo captures! If you were painting from them you could make it YOUR perfect but for me I enjoyed the heck out of all of them.
“Are you being too fussie?”
Could be, Linda. Based on comments in the past, it wouldn’t be the first time.
Don’t get me wrong, I like these photos. But the back light certainly didn’t make getting photos I like any easier. And it made processing those photos more difficult.
So glad the Shorties have returned! She’s quite the beauty. I especially like her talons in the “push-off” shot (#3). She’s most certainly judging you in the first one too.
Marty, she’s certainly giving me a dubious look in that shot.
I LOVE the owl. Of course.
And on this side of the world I am also doing my taxes. Last year’s taxes.
Off to see the accountant with the laboriously completed paperwork tomorrow.
I guess it’s ‘that time’ in a lot of countries, EC. I hope you get good news from your accountant tomorrow.
I really like backlight in photos, especially in this case. This shortie is a beauty, and I love the look she’s giving you in the first photo, something like, “You’d better do me justice, bud…” And the fourth one, with her wings curled down around her, left primaries splayed like fingertips, talons curved upward, is also very appealing to me. Can’t wait to see what else you’ve got!
I’m with Michael, must get the pain over and done with ASAP (I had my state refund in hand the first week in Feb!). Fortunately my tax situation isn’t so complicated, TurboTax has been my friend for my years. Good luck to you, sir!
*many
Chris, it’s a good thing you like backlight in photos because “to be continued” will have lots of them.
I use TurboTax too, although I’m reluctant to call it/them my friend.
Yes, they seem to be back and any photo is good when it comes to these nomads we have not seen for years. I saw 7 in the same general area. I hope they stay and are prolific. They were not close and very flighty when I was within good range for photos. I am sure 4 are mated pairs, I watched a food hand off on one couple. Next time we run into each other remind me to tell you about an encounter I had there.
Jon is home still working on ours too, he always waits to the last minute! Our are so complicated, he usually has to ask for an extension because he runs into something he can’t answer until calling and asking how to respond.
Yes, it’ll be very good to have Shorties breeding in that area again. They’ve been a long time gone.
Now you’re making me nervous. I hope your “encounter” wasn’t a bad one. I had an awful encounter there a few years ago and sure don’t want anything like it to happen again.
It could have gone bad but I think I turned it around and we both left smiling.
Great shots – and amazing patience – and horrible timing on your taxes, though it could be worse. Take care!!
Thanks, Judy. For me it’s typical timing.
My favorite photo is the first. It’s artistic.
Glad you like it, Cheryl.
Wow! Taxes vs. Short-Earred Owls. Shakesperian dilemma! Good luck.
Made me smile, John. Thanks.
Never, never get tired of owls! The swirl of the wings on that one photo is lovely. And the splayed talons make it seem as if she has pushed off from that perch. Such power. Thanks, Ron.
Glad you like them, Ellen. Thank you.
I’ll take backlight any day. The effect of it shining thru the wings is just the best!
Carolyn, I’ll admit that it does have its virtues.
Beautiful one and all tho I’m partial to the vertical wings at take off!
Mixed bag this year – refund State and pay the Feds. Hope they haven’t got things so screwed up at the IRS that it causes problems for some who filed later…….
Our owls have “gone silent” – GHOW/Northern Saw Whet and a “screecher” of some sorts.
Taxes long gone – want it out of my hair and off my mind ASAP..
Thanks, Judy. It’s looking like I’ll be the opposite – refund from the feds and have to pay the state. Thankfully I’m owed more than I owe.
Really love the shots; the backlighting is very dramatic, and actually adds to my enjoyment. Sympathize re the taxes; as a dual citizen I have to file in both countries and need to pay big time for professional assistance.
Burrdoo, I believe I’m a dual citizen also, even though I’ve never pursued getting the documentation to prove it. My sister has though.
What a TREAT for you, to have all those owls willing to pose for you in daylight ! And what a treat for me to view your captures…..
short=eareds are my favorite owl–those winsome faces ! On the last shot, I like the way the soft shapes in the background evoke the owl’s
markings, and the tracings of light on the twigs echo the outline of light around the owl…….thanks for the visions !
Thanks, Kris. They’re probably my favorite owls too, although I adore them all.
I am beginning to understand the admiration and affection you have for these owls. The light did not diminish my enjoyment of these photos.
As far as the painful annual ritual of taxes go, I rip that Band-Aid off as soon and as quickly as I can.
“I rip that Band-Aid off as soon and as quickly as I can.”
If I was smart(er), I would too Michael. I even have a refund coming but I still put it off. I hate the process…