The eyes have it

Photo Information

(7487)

Genre: Animals

Medium: Color

Date Taken: 2004-12-07

Categories: Birds

Camera: Nikon D70, Sigma 80-400 OS

Exposure: f/9.0, 1/400 seconds

Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes

Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop

Theme(s): African Owls, 50 points or more - 50 puntos o más [view contributor(s)]

Date Submitted: 2005-01-12 16:38

Viewed: 2180

Favorites: 1 [view]

Points: 58

[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note

We were on our way from Mata Mata to Nossob, when I stopped to look at the nest of a Sociable Weaver. You can look HERE to see one of the posts on the first mini series on the Kalahari.
Old Eagle Eye next to me was immediately inspecting every inch of the veldt around us, including the tree. She just said UIL – owl, and I lost all interest in the nest. This guy was, needless to say, again on her side of the road, quite high-up in the tree trunk, looking out of his nesting hole.
The next moment I was on her lap, shooting furiously. I got four very nice pictures of this guy, then decided I can try and get into the back of the car and maybe shoot him with Big Bertha. I got everything ready, and also a much larger part of the owl was now visible from the new vantage point. Just as I “had” him in the lens, he jumped out and joined his mate higher up in the tree. Ungrateful bird!
The Barn Owl - Tyto alba needs no introduction, as they are found nearly all over the world, but to see one looking at you like this, wild and free, and this in broad daylight, is an unbelievable sight. This was the first time we were lucky enough to really get an unobstructed view of a barn owl in the wild. They are normally behind so many twigs that you cannot get a decent mug shot.

SHOOTING DETAILS
Venue – KTFP, Nossob Road
Date 7th December 2004
Time 10h17
Camera - Nikon D70
ISO 200 & -0,3 EV.
Sigma 80-400 F4.5- 5.6 APO OS
Filter – Cokin UV
Focal length - 400 mm.
Exposure mode - Aperture Priority – 1/400 @ F9
Flash – Balanced i-TTL off camera and SB800
Support – Handheld
PP – wee bit of cropping; hue/ saturation; S/C; NO USM; reduced to Site size.

extramundi, Luc, Signal-Womb, Fisher, milloup, rlortie, Robbrown, marhowie, Xalkida, carper, Lesley, netfalls, christophe, gerhardt, kazan has marked this note useful
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Discussions
Thread	Thread Starter	Messages	Updated
To AdrianW: WS	Callie	2	01-30 17:59
To Hanssie: Dankie	Callie	1	01-15 07:52
To extramundi: Sky	Callie	2	01-12 17:30
To IanSewell: Big Bertha	Callie	1	01-12 17:14
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Critiques [Translate]

extramundi (12682)
[2005-01-12 16:51]
[+]

Sure they are difficult to shoot, but this one showed its heart to you.
You got a wondeful focus on the face and nice the fill flash effect. Not very convinced about the blue colour at the back, but I will forgive you :DDD
Thanks for posting.

Signal-Womb (10869)
[2005-01-12 16:56]

Wow! Fantastic capture Callie. Owls always fascinates me and this one is a gem. Excellent composition and the blue BG seems strange seeing how Owls are creatures of the night. Great post.

Fisher (8915)
[2005-01-12 17:02]

This is a perfect shot, Callie. the owl peeking around the corner, playing peek a boo.
excelent details and composition.

Mike

IanSewell (239)
[2005-01-12 17:11]
[+]

Great shot - I got a couple of owl shots too, but as you said, completely obscured by twigs. What is "big bertha"?

milloup (1704)
[2005-01-12 17:21]

Now, now, I tend to think that it's *you* are the ungrateful one here, if you call the poor chap names after he let you get this shot ;-))
Tack sharp, great POV and DOF, and for my part I love the bg - why, it's blue, ain't it?? ;-))

rlortie (2058)
[2005-01-12 17:37]

Very nice Callie! I envy you having met this wonderful creature. And your pic is just perfect. As your title The eyes have it, your eye have it too.

AdrianW (708)
[2005-01-12 18:27]
- [workshop] [compare] [+]

Good shot! I've only ever seen these guys at night, so I'm impressed you've captured him so well here. Composition is very nice, as are focus/DOF. It looks fractionally underexposed though, and I think you could increase the image contrast a little more to really make him "pop" - although that would exacerbate the bright sky unless you turn down the Cyan/Blue saturation a bit to compensate. Anyway excellent marksmanship as usual :-D

P.S. I've posted a Workshop which I hope you'll like!

Robbrown (6054)
[2005-01-12 18:33]

Oh very nice Callie a classic owl shot against a superb BG and nicely held in by the tree.
Looks like he's recently eaten too by the state of the beak.

Janice (17179)
[2005-01-12 19:44]

Good story and an even better capture Callie. I love its heart shaped face and those large eyes. Well done.

marhowie (34439)
[2005-01-12 19:51]

Callie, Yes, the eyes have it alright! unique perspective, a little twinkle in the eyes & a clear BG set this one off famously! Excellent!!

Nico (1313)
[2005-01-13 1:31]

Wat het jy gedoen wat hom so nuuskierig maak?
Truly, it is in the eyes. Animal expressions can be found best in the eyes and you captured this well. And I agree with rlortie, your eye have it too.

Xalkida (257)
[2005-01-13 1:48]

Very nice surprised photo of this nice owl! Good details, light and colors.

This bird has an expression like "What do you want?" :)

CaptiveLight (1121)
[2005-01-13 2:37]

This a very nice portrait of the bird. I like the way it seems to be growing out of the wood!

Okan (518)
[2005-01-13 3:24]

It looks like a studio shot may be cause of the flash. Because of the saturation adjustment the blue background becomes much evident. But the clear and sharp vision of the owl is super! Thanks for sharing Callie.

red45 (26257)
[2005-01-13 4:45]

Great story but picture beat it! Superb moment, excellent quality. And what a beautifull bird. I love colours and composition with owl's silhuette on BG with sky.

cafecrem (9242)
[2005-01-13 5:26]

I love it! Just perfect! Wonderful eyes, and pose. It would be a great moment to observe it. I would like to share this monent with you :-)

carper (8208)
[2005-01-13 5:59]

Wat een schatje.
Very quit shot. This is differcult Callie, I mean you just need a look for the photo, You see that look and click you have it, very good capture, good balance shot, good pof and dof, very good job

willie (2083)
[2005-01-13 7:17]

Very good one Callie. The owl looks like an extension of the tree. Very well done

radz (3161)
[2005-01-13 7:30]

What a cute face&perfect eye contact too.Love the b/g too,it blends well with main object.

Lesley (2988)
[2005-01-13 8:26]

Super capture, Callie! Boy...I sure could use your wife to spot a gem like this for me. I think the Barn owl is one of the coolest looking owls and this one has great personality in his expression. Please thank your wife for having spotted this fella so you could share it with us!

netfalls (9268)
[2005-01-13 9:03]

Composition: *****
Sharpness: ***
Color: ****
DOF: ***
POV: ****

Great composition, stunning pose.
Well done.
TFS.

Luc (14711)
[2005-01-13 10:44]

Coucou!
First word that came to my mind when I saw your owl, Callie.
Big Bertha? Is it the 'toy' we see in your intro?
A more than excellent capture with a great note.
Thanks

christophe (1783)
[2005-01-13 14:45]

anything has say, excellent photo, very great shot Callie
In a friendly way Christophe

japie (5187)
[2005-01-14 15:14]

Pieta weet hoe om hulle uit te soek! The composition here is perfect and supporting the owls pose very well. The blue kalahari skies is great and also forms a great BG.

Wonderful job and thanks for posting

gerhardt (11529)
[2005-01-14 17:28]

Daar sit ek hom vir jou in die vyftig. What a shot. These critters are almost impossible to see in daylight yet you master this mugshot. Fantastic pose. lovely BG and sharp details. Callie 10/10, Exceptional post.