The Center for Birds of Prey

[Harryb]

Hi Y'all,

My personal highlight of the MI IV shoot was a trip to the Audubon of Florida's Center for Birds of Prey. I will be telling more about them later but right now I want to introduce the birds we met there

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/129676845-O.jpg

red shouldered hawk
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/129676665-O.jpg

barred owl
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/129676675-O.jpg

great-horned owl
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/129676770-O.jpg

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/129676790-O.jpg

crested caracara
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/129676816-O.jpg

barn owl
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/129676831-O.jpg

and our hostess, Teri Marks, Education/volunteer coordinator. She's the one w/o feathers
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/129676647-O.jpg

[GREAPER]

Great Stuff Harry.

The close up of the Great horned shows EXCELLENT detail. Well done.

[Zanotti]

Really nice shots Harry. Its amazing what those Nikons are capable of!

I noticed that all of us have really nice Caracara shots. Going into it, I would have guessed that this would have been the hardest to shoot, but of the 5 of us that were there that day, 4 of us have great Caracara shots (and to be fair, I have not seen Gluwater post any yet.)

I was a bit reluctant to go that day, as I think I shared with you all the night before. But I have to admit, the shots ( and the company) were really cool!

Z

[Harryb]

Great Stuff Harry.

The close up of the Great horned shows EXCELLENT detail. Well done.

Thank you very much Brian. It was just an incredible thrill for us to be able to see these beautiful birds up close.

[pathfinder]

I agree with Harry, that the visit to the Raptor Center was defintely the highlight of the trip.

To see these birds close up and personal, and be able to shoot them with standard lenses, rather than super teles was just great. No matter how good super teles are, they are never as detailed as with a good shorter lens shooting through a much shorter column of air.

Very nice series of shots, Harry. And thank you for arranging the trip to the Raptor Center.

[Osprey Whisperer]

Nice set of pics Harry. :thumb :thumb The raptor center was a wonderful experience. Many thanks for setting that all up.

[Paavo]

Love the Owl close up. He was a beauty, wasn't he?

[kdog]

So that's what they look like. :giggle

Seriously, Harry. Those are superb portraits. Great photography.

-joel

[Harryb]

Really nice shots Harry. Its amazing what those Nikons are capable of!

I noticed that all of us have really nice Caracara shots. Going into it, I would have guessed that this would have been the hardest to shoot, but of the 5 of us that were there that day, 4 of us have great Caracara shots (and to be fair, I have not seen Gluwater post any yet.)

I was a bit reluctant to go that day, as I think I shared with you all the night before. But I have to admit, the shots ( and the company) were really cool!

Z

Hey Z,

Its not the Nikon, its the shooter. :smile6 I probably could have done almost as well with a frigging Canon. :lol

I think everybody who went got some good shots. These were not particularly easy shots either. You had some tough lighting and some very funky backgrounds to deal with. I took quite a few shots to come up with a few good ones.

I' m really glad you joined us that day.

[gluwater]

Great shots Harry, the closeup of the Great horned Owl is magnificent. I think I am the only one that didn't take an extreme close-up, well at least I know where to find them to do it again. Thanks for taking the time to set up the shoot at the Raptor Center for us. It was a highlight of the trip. And thankfully Jim made it there is one piece despite the best efforts of the Orlando drivers.

[Harryb]

I agree with Harry, that the visit to the Raptor Center was defintely the highlight of the trip.

To see these birds close up and personal, and be able to shoot them with standard lenses, rather than super teles was just great. No matter how good super teles are, they are never as detailed as with a good shorter lens shooting through a much shorter column of air.

Very nice series of shots, Harry. And thank you for arranging the trip to the Raptor Center.

Thanks PF, it was neat to be shooing an eagle with a 28-70 instead of a 500mm + TCs.

[Harryb]

Nice set of pics Harry. :thumb :thumb The raptor center was a wonderful experience. Many thanks for setting that all up.

Thanks Mike and we were very lucky that the center could accomodate us on such short notice.

[raptorcaptor]

Excellent shots Harry! :clap Too many rodents! We need to keep the raptors in top form!

[jwear]

the center really looks like a great pick Harry :clap your shots ain't bad neither :rofl nice work

[Harryb]

Love the Owl close up. He was a beauty, wasn't he?

H sure was, all of them were beautiful and it was interesting to see their interactions with the staff. I have to say the barn owl was my favorite.

[gluwater]

...all of them were beautiful and it was interesting to see their interactions with the staff....
They sure were interesting to watch, especially the one that had a crush on Teri, the handler. For those that weren't there, he would start squalking at her when she passed by and she said it was because it was maiting season and he had a crush on her. It was pretty funny to see and hear.

[Harryb]

So that's what they look like. :giggle

Seriously, Harry. Those are superb portraits. Great photography.

-joel

It was interesting Joel. I'm so used to framing them with a 5000mm and TCs that it was a greter challenge than I expected to work with them at close distance. Thanks for the kind words.

[Harryb]

Great shots Harry, the closeup of the Great horned Owl is magnificent. I think I am the only one that didn't take an extreme close-up, well at least I know where to find them to do it again. Thanks for taking the time to set up the shoot at the Raptor Center for us. It was a highlight of the trip. And thankfully Jim made it there is one piece despite the best efforts of the Orlando drivers.

Its a good thing you didn't do any extreme close-ups or there would be no difference in our shots at all. :D

It was a pleasure setting up the visits but Jim's driving did have me worried on that one trip. :rofl

[Harryb]

Excellent shots Harry! :clap Too many rodents! We need to keep the raptors in top form!

Thanks Glenn, I love to think of how many squirrels they have eaten so far. :evil

[traunerk]

why does this guy keep reminding me of groucho marx?:dunno


http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/129676816-O.jpg

[Harryb]

why does this guy keep reminding me of groucho marx?:dunno


http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/129676816-O.jpg

maybe because they are both Jewish? :scratch

:ivar

[thebusch]

Some beautiful images of beautiful birds!

Can I go next time? ;-)

[riddim_maker]

MI V here I come!
awesome portraits Harry

:bow :bow :bow

[Skippy]

Hi Y'all,

My personal highlight of the MI IV shoot was a trip to the Audubon of Florida's Center for Birds of Prey. I will be telling more about them later but right now I want to introduce the birds we met there
red shouldered hawk
barred owl
great-horned owl
crested caracara
barn owl
and our hostess, Teri Marks, Education/volunteer coordinator. She's the one w/o feathers


Harry this is a brilliant series, I love that Red Shouldered Hawk :clap
I like them all, but that one really catches my eye, the detail in those birds is just awesome Harry :ivar .... hmmm my thousand sparrows in the back yard dont even come close to one of those birds mate :rolleyes
...... Skippy
.

[Swartzy]

Thanks for sharing these Harry. It's not often we get to see these birds up close and personal, let alone beautifully photographed! It sounds as though you had a great time this year.

[Harryb]

the center really looks like a great pick Harry :clap your shots ain't bad neither :rofl nice work

Thank you for that fulsome praise Jeff. :D

[RearviewMirrorDC]

Harry, great shots! I especially like the shot of the eagle - but the shot of the hawk is really beautiful, too! Inspiring!

I actually bought my camera after seeing the first eagle I've ever seen (that I recall) - not just around here, but ever.

I love birds - - thanks for the great idea. I just looked and there is a Raptor Conservancy nearby. Thanks!

[BigAl]

Harry, those are magnificent. Just shows how much more efficient a shorter lens can be! :thumb

[Harryb]

Some beautiful images of beautiful birds!

Can I go next time? ;-)

Hey Gary,

Haven't spoken to you in the longest time. :wave.

How are things in Germany? Have you gotten that DSLR yet?

We would love at have you at MI V.

[thebusch]

Still kicking around over here and picked up a DSLR but not one you would approve of. :D

Those are some mighty tough images! Love the detail and color!

[Harryb]

Still kicking around over here and picked up a DSLR but not one you would approve of. :D

Those are some mighty tough images! Love the detail and color!

Hey if you're happy with it that's all that counts.

Glad you liked the pics.

[Harryb]

MI V here I come!
awesome portraits Harry

:bow :bow :bow

Thank you very much Russ. We would all love to see you and meet you at MI V.

[Harryb]

Harry this is a brilliant series, I love that Red Shouldered Hawk :clap
I like them all, but that one really catches my eye, the detail in those birds is just awesome Harry :ivar .... hmmm my thousand sparrows in the back yard dont even come close to one of those birds mate :rolleyes
...... Skippy
.

Thanks Skippy, those raptors are something to see. Being able too get within a few feet of them was awesome.

If those raptors came calling you wouldn't have all those sparrows in your backyard. :eat

[Harryb]

Thanks for sharing these Harry. It's not often we get to see these birds up close and personal, let alone beautifully photographed! It sounds as though you had a great time this year.

Thank you very much. It was a great time this year, lots of photo ops and a really great group of folks. You can't ask for much more.

[Harryb]

Harry, great shots! I especially like the shot of the eagle - but the shot of the hawk is really beautiful, too! Inspiring!

I actually bought my camera after seeing the first eagle I've ever seen (that I recall) - not just around here, but ever.

I love birds - - thanks for the great idea. I just looked and there is a Raptor Conservancy nearby. Thanks!

Thanks very much. It is always a thrill to see an eagle in the wild. No matter how many times I see them it just gets to me.

A conservancy center is a great spot to get shots that would never be possible under normal conditions.

[Harryb]

Harry, those are magnificent. Just shows how much more efficient a shorter lens can be! :thumb

Thank you Al and it was a joy to shoot these subjects with shorter glass.