<< Previous Next >>

Ghost of Darkness


Ghost of Darkness
Photo Information
Copyright: Nico van Gijsen (Nico) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 209 W: 1 N: 332] (1313)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-03-20
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D70, Nikkor 70-300mm AF-G
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-01-18 6:32
Viewed: 2647
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Sleeping out in the open of the African bush one is very much in tune with your senses and even the faintest sound is instinctively analised in terms of the tooth and the claw that rule the night.
Even the hoot of the little white faced owl (Otus leucotis) can sometimes be enough to make you hold your breath and sit up, listening to find confirmation for the fear that is already in you.
On this particular night I was aware that a pride of lions was within less than a kilometer of my campsite. I knew, because that is where I saw them resting under a tree just before sunset.
After the second hoot of the owl I knew what it was and I got up and was glad to find this little fellow, eyes burning bright like a real Ghost of Darkness hiding between the branches, but ooking very shy. He (She?) simply would not allow me a more open shot, flying away each time I tried to get the branches out of the way. And when I went back to my camping spot he would be back to hoot again. I would return and we would start the same game again. I think he probably smiled.
This owl may easily be confused with the African Scops Owl as both have "ears", although the latter is quite a bit smaller at 15 - 17 cm. Our White Faced Owl above grows to about 28 cm.
The picture was taken in the central Kalahari of Botswana, using on-camera flash on my D70. Pic was sharpened and cropped in PS and noise reduced with NI.
petrudamsa, Dave, chiliu, Luc, livios, gerhardt has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Superbes yeux; dommage que l'avant-plan vienne se superposer, mais tout de même très chouette !

Very well caught. In other pictures I would say that the FG branches disturb much the subject. Not here, this is the essence of this photo and this title. It is like a ghost hiding in the forests that appears only for short times thru the branches.

Regards, Petru

  • Great 
  • Dave Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 525 W: 47 N: 674] (2173)
  • [2006-01-18 16:41]

Interesting read Nico! Is it safe to sleep out in the open over there?...;-) We don't want to read about you becoming a meal...;-(
Good title and neat image!
Thanks,
Dave

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1494 W: 0 N: 1175] (6494)
  • [2006-01-18 17:38]

Hi Nico,
The spot lighting is fantastic, amazing detail in eyes,
I like the composition here.
Thanks for sharing!

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2006-01-18 20:17]

Very good.
Thank you, Nico.
Sorry, I have no time these days to write complete comments.

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2006-01-18 23:06]

Nico, this is really very nice.

I do enjoy owls, and this is a great one.

Fantastic eye to eye contact.

I like colors and saturation too.

  • Great 
  • moemf Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 116 W: 0 N: 160] (701)
  • [2006-01-19 6:44]

Lieflike foto! Great composition and POV through the leaves. Ghostly indeed!

This is the only way you get to photograph them... in the branches. ;)

Very nice capture. I like the eyes. Well done.

  • Great 
  • Hisam Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 18 W: 1 N: 22] (215)
  • [2006-02-11 0:44]

Very nice picture of the owl, lighting and composition are excellent

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF