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Bengal Eagle Owl


Bengal Eagle Owl
Photo Information
Copyright: Andy Cole (flagman) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 357 W: 43 N: 607] (2396)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-06-18
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon 70-200 f/4L, Hoya Super HMC Pro1 67mm Sky1B
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/3000 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Zoo animals [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-07-14 10:03
Viewed: 1409
Points: 27
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Look at the size of those wings!!

A Bengal Eagle Owl on a flying display at Whipsnade.
It was a very bright yet overcast day, hence the background which is almost completely white.
My exposure compensation in the camera wasn't enough so I've increased the exposure in RAW conversion which has wiped out any shades of grey there was!

General information about the species:
Bengal or Indian Eagle Owl - Bubo bengalensis

Description: Dark and light morphs of this bird occur.
The facial disc is fulvous-brown to buffy, with a prominent blackish rim. The eyebrows are start out whitish at the centre of the face, and change to a blackish line at a point just above the centre of each eye, and then continue up to the dark ear tufts. the Forehead is buffy brown, with small blackish flecks, which become greater in number towards the crown, giving it a dark appearance. Eyes are Orange-yellow to orange-red, and the bill greenish-horn to slate-black. The Chin and throat are white.
Upperparts are tawny brown, mottled and streaked with blackish brown. There is often a whitish bar across the shoulder.
Wing and Tail feathers are tawny-buff, barred with blackish brown.
Lower parts are fulvous, becoming whitish near the centre. The upper breast has small, dark streaks, with the rest of the underparts having fine streaks and faint cross-bars, which become fainter towards the abdomen.
Legs and toes are feathered fulvous, with the outer joints of the toes being bare, and a greenish-slate colour. The claws are dusky black.

Size: Length 50-56 cm (19.7-22")
Wing Length Male 364-390mm (14.3-15.4") Female 375-425mm (14.8-16.7")
Weight 1100g (38.8oz) (weight of one male specimen)

Habits: Generally nocturnal. Flies with slow, deliberate wingbeats interspersed with long bouts of gliding on outstreached wings. Usually flies close to the ground. When defending young, adults often resort to diversionary tactics, such as feigning wing injury.

Voice: Male has a deep, resonant, double hoot bu-whooh, repeated at intervals of several seconds. The female's song is similar, with a slightly higher pitch. At the nest both sexes with may make a clucking noise, or a series of huwoo-huwoo sounds - again, the female is slightly higher in pitch.
gaz, navnith, pilonm, liquidsunshine, aido, Fisher, sAner, joeturner has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To aido: Owl backgroundflagman 1 07-18 05:50
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Critiques [Translate]

Amazing shot!

wonderfull shot;-)

Very well done Andy! Sharp and clear, great catch!

Nice details on the bird. But I don't like white background here, it looks very unnatural.

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1168 W: 261 N: 3035] (13835)
  • [2006-07-14 11:09]

Hi Andy,

A perfect shot,no nits the only thing that I should try to change is the white BG color with PP,

Regards,

Paul

Hi Andy,
An excellent action shot with good sharpness.
TFS
navnith

  • Great 
  • pilonm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 548 W: 90 N: 871] (2919)
  • [2006-07-14 13:11]

Hello Andy,

Wow! look at those wonderful huge wings!!! It is awesome! It's a pity that the bg is so white... But the bird is so well rendered! You got an excellent pov and did a good job! TFS,

Michel

Hi Andy.
The details are nice, clear and sharp.
Good colours captured on the Owl. I never knew about this being flown.
The BG is a problem, but you've handled it very well to come out with this good quality image.

Thanks for posting, have a great weekend.

I'll have to get an hour in at Whipsnade this weekend, if the cheetah is back I'll make it 2 hours :)

  • Great 
  • aido Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 1044 W: 156 N: 1218] (4046)
  • [2006-07-14 15:59]
  • [+]

Hi Andy,
Agree with the others about the BG but it's a fabulous shot of the Owl. I don't know what the original was like but I would have tried selecting the Owl and adjusting that separately. Anyway, back to the Owl. It's superb, your PP has brought out the colours perfectly, and a great balanced exposure, wonderful light under the wings. Great stuff.
Have a good weekend.
Adrian

Very excellent shot Andy.
Well done.

Hi Andy,

Excellent shot and well done on the composition.
This is called highkey lighting, a natural scene in a natural environment without the use of studio lights to create the white background/highkey used in fashion, this brought out the details, excellent work.

Mike

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2006-08-11 13:14]

Hi Andy,

I have waited a while to post my critique on this picture, as I was not 100% sure what to think of it. And I am still not 100% sure. ;) On the one hand I love the effect of the white bg and the sharpness on the details is just great. On the other hand I think this photo looks a little too much unreal because of the white bg I love so much. TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

WOW this works well, no distraction from background in this shot!

Joe

Wow Andy this is beautifull nice stretch of the wings and so detailed love the clean white background. I keep meaning to go up to Whipsnade to get such shots I'm in Watford so just a stones throw away. A full day at Whipsnade should fill a big compact flash card or two! rgds Necip.

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