Owl chick close-ups

pyry · June 1, 2008

We have a somewhat used-to-people family of long-eared owls living in a park in the city. Six fledgelings! They let you in closer than you can focus to - and use you as a practise target for their stink eye.

Enjoy

#1 Mom-owl silhoutte

#2 Woken up by the hustle going on under the tree. Not impressed either.

#3 This one decided that said hustle was not worth waking up for.

#4 Yaaaaawn!

#5 The chicks showing what they thought about five photographers falling over themselves to get a shot: indifferent, annoyed and fast asleep.

#6 Once we had them awake: The Dude abides pose.

#7 & 8 The bull fighter pose, Olé!

#9 This how close they let you approach - The Sergio Leone composition!

#10 They say owls are wise, doesn't this look just that

#11 "I wanna make you withdraw."

#12 "I said..."

#13 Somewhat surprisingly, the last shots I had were of a clear Jedi mind trick, "These are not the owls you are looking for..."

C&C welcomed, tell me what you think! :thumb

Maestro · June 1, 2008

10, 11 and 12 all do it for me. I like the expressions that you captured in those images and the focus is tack sharp! The back-lit momma is quite nice too. The Bull Fighter pose looks like it shows some mighty scrawny legs.

Thanks for sharing. I have yet to be able to photograph any type of owl except when in captivity and even those aren't that good.

JavaLover · June 2, 2008

Very cool! I love your commentary and especially like 4,9,11 and 12.

Jack'll do · June 2, 2008

A really nice series but I too find 4 9 10 11 & 12 special.

thumb

pyry · June 2, 2008

Maestro wrote:

10, 11 and 12 all do it for me. I like the expressions that you captured in those images and the focus is tack sharp! The back-lit momma is quite nice too. The Bull Fighter pose looks like it shows some mighty scrawny legs. Thanks for sharing. I have yet to be able to photograph any type of owl except when in captivity and even those aren't that good.

Thanks a lot

I thought burrowing owls' legs were pretty long, but turns out long-eared owls can match that. Good for catching rodents.

Shooting owls is about finding them in te first place and then hoping they sit somewhere visible and wishing they do something funny. I got extremely lucky with these (after being tipped off about them)

pyry · June 2, 2008

JavaLover wrote:

Very cool! I love your commentary and especially like 4,9,11 and 12.

Jack'll do wrote:

A really nice series but I too find 4 9 10 11 & 12 special. thumb

Thanks! The ninth is my favorite, just being able to do that is something else.

dbaker1221 · June 2, 2008

great set...

I'd love to come across something like that

raptorcaptor · June 2, 2008

Good set!

2,5 and 12 are my favorites!

pyry · June 2, 2008

dbaker1221 wrote:

great set... I'd love to come across something like that

Thanks! I'm sure you will if you look around

raptorcaptor wrote:

Good set! 2,5 and 12 are my favorites!

Thank you!

NorthernFocus · June 2, 2008

Excellent set of images and great comentary to go along with them

Harryb · June 3, 2008

Wonderful captures in some very challenging light.

pyry · June 3, 2008

articblooms wrote:

Excellent set of images and great comentary to go along with them

Thanks a lot, glad you liked them

Harryb wrote:

Wonderful captures in some very challenging light.

Thank you!

It was a bit of a struggle trying to find angles with a darker backround, with the chicks sitting in the shade. I was actually surprised at how well most of the shots turned out while doing the pp, I thought I'd have mostly blown out skies and all that...

bfjr · June 3, 2008

Harryb wrote:

Wonderful captures in some very challenging light.

pyry · June 5, 2008

bfjr wrote:

jwear · June 5, 2008

great set --it is hard to find owls anymore

good find and post

pyry · June 5, 2008

jwear wrote:

great set --it is hard to find owls anymore good find and post

Thanks!

I'll have to admit to seeing owls in the real wild, outside the city, about once. Heard a few though.

Owls in the city are whole 'nuther story. The Finnish national soccer team is now named 'Huuhkajat' (translates 'Eagle owls') after the Eagle owl that took residence at the stadium. The naming occured after the owl did this

Did I mention that said owl, now known as Bubi - after a well known local sports commentator - also got the title of the city's citizen of the year for that stunt.

So photographing that bird would be the next goal I guess

grimace · June 6, 2008

raptorcaptor wrote:

Good set! 2,5 and 12 are my favorites!

I agree. Great work!!

pyry · June 9, 2008

grimace wrote:

I agree. Great work!!

Thanks a bunch

Owl chick close-ups

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