Great Gray Owls

[iceman17]

Last year was a good year for photographing Owls.I shot many rare Northern Hawk Owls that can be seen in my last post.It was also a good year for the mighty Great Gray Owl.This bird also does not migrate very far south so I thought I would also share with you some of these shots.
I was learninga new camera at the time and the W.B was all wrong.I also noticed that for the most part my shutter speed was much lower than my focal length,bad yes since I was handholding the camera.Oh well these turned out better than I had hoped.Hope you all enjoy them..Mike.

http://iceman17.smugmug.com/photos/36105094-M.jpg

http://iceman17.smugmug.com/photos/36105098-M.jpg

http://iceman17.smugmug.com/photos/36105103-M.jpg

http://iceman17.smugmug.com/photos/36105107-M.jpg

http://iceman17.smugmug.com/photos/36105110-M.jpg

[Steve Cavigliano]

Good work Ice :thumb :thumb

What a beautiful bird :lust I liked all of these, but the last one is probably my favorite :clap Really nice contrast and detail. You did well to isolate him/her from all those darn bare branches :huh

Can't wait to see what you catch this year :D

Steve

[bfjr]

More Owls :wink

Now I'm jealous

well done :thumb

[Rohirrim]

Nice Shots! I also like the last one best. :thumb

[Khaos]

Excellent shots. I always like the bird deep in the branches shots. They bring the nature aspect in nicely. They are hard to do in getting the bird sharp and exposed correctly. Very nicely done.:thumb

[Harryb]

Excellent shots. If you were using your 70-200VR lens the VR paid off on these shots.

[Osprey Whisperer]

Whoo Whoo WhooRayyyy :thumb :thumb :thumb


Nice .

BMP

[ginger_55]

Love the owl, especially w the shallow dof. What did you say you did wrong again?

I am going to have to learn to do it wrong,:rofl , starting with how to find the owl. And, here in the coastal southeast, how to find bare branches. Very cool.

ginger

[iceman17]

Thanks Steve,the Owl let me walk around a bit without getting spooked so it was easy to frame it...iceGood work Ice :thumb :thumb

What a beautiful bird :lust I liked all of these, but the last one is probably my favorite :clap Really nice contrast and detail. You did well to isolate him/her from all those darn bare branches :huh

Can't wait to see what you catch this year :D

Steve

[iceman17]

Hi Ben,it was indeed a good year for owls.I even managed to capture a few snowy owl shots but they didn't turn out so good...Ice:cry More Owls :wink

Now I'm jealous

well done :thumb

[iceman17]

Thanks Steve,for wild birds they sure didn't seem to mind me being there...iceNice Shots! I also like the last one best. :thumb

[iceman17]

Hi Khaos,these birds allowed me to move around to frame my shots.Some folks that have seen these in other forums have stated that they dont like the branches,the way I see it is this is were the bird lives so its natural.Thanks for your reply:): ...iceExcellent shots. I always like the bird deep in the branches shots. They bring the nature aspect in nicely. They are hard to do in getting the bird sharp and exposed correctly. Very nicely done.:thumb

[iceman17]

Hi Harry,fact is I was using a very slow Sigma 28-300mm lens.Its not all that sharp but I have got many good shots with it over the years.I now have the 50-500mm and hand hold it for the most part as well.I find it difficult using a tripod when shooting birds because you have to be ready when they take flight.Thanks for your reply...iceExcellent shots. If you were using your 70-200VR lens the VR paid off on these shots.

[iceman17]

Thanks Mike,I hope to get a second chance this year using my new Bigma...iceWhoo Whoo WhooRayyyy :thumb :thumb :thumb


Nice .

BMP

[iceman17]

Hi Ginger,I shot these last feb in -27 deg.The owls seemed warmer than I was :): .Thanks for your kind words..iceLove the owl, especially w the shallow dof. What did you say you did wrong again?

I am going to have to learn to do it wrong,:rofl , starting with how to find the owl. And, here in the coastal southeast, how to find bare branches. Very cool.

ginger