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Gray Owl hunting


Gray Owl hunting
Photo Information
Copyright: Helene Provencher (chouette) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 0 N: 843] (3000)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-03-20
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel, Canon EF 75-300mm USM III
Exposure: f/11, 1/1600 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-01-17 22:27
Viewed: 2580
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 64
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
When I first saw this photo, I thought: "Hum, it had a special look!" Then I found it very dynamic shot. I was so excited to see my first flying shots of the gray owl! Tell me what you think about.

I hope you like it!
Thanks for viewing and comments.

Great Gray Owl - Strix nebulosa

Description: One of the World's largest Owls, the Great Gray Owl is dark grey overall interspersed with bars and flecks of light grey and white. When perched, they appear very bulky because of their dense, fluffy plumage, long wings extending past the body, a relatively long tail, and a large head. The size of the head, and the prominent facial disk make the yellow eyes appear small. A noticeable white "moustache" strip is under the facial disk, broken by a black "bow-tie". The feet are heavily feathered and remain hidden from view.

Size: Length 61-84cm (24-33")
Wingspan up to 152cm (60") average 140cm (55")
Weight: 790-1454g (28-51oz)

Habitat: Great Gray Owls inhabit a range of forested habitats. In far north America, they frequent stunted coniferous forests along the edge of the Arctic treeline, through spruce and tamarack muskeg forests further south. In the Sierra Nevada Mountains they breed in mixed conifer and red fir forests. Nesting habitat usually includes copses or islands of aspens within pure stands of conifers. Most foraging is done in open areas such as swamps, bogs, and forest clearings where there are scattered trees and shrubs that can be used as perches. During migration they may be found in estuaries, mountain meadows, and along farm fields.

Food and Feeding: The Great Gray Owl's diet consists of almost entirely small rodents. About 90% of their diet consists of pocket gophers and voles. Other small mammals taken by the owl include mice, squirrels, young rabbits, hares, rats, moles, and weasels. Also taken are birds, usually small, although there are records of Sharp-shinned Hawks, ducks, and grouse. Small mammals are usually swallowed whole while larger prey is torn into pieces. The Great Gray can also detect prey under the snow by sound alone and will dive into the snow for hidden prey. Generally they hunt from a perch by listening and watching. Primarily a nocturnal and crepuscular owl but may occasionally hunt by day on dark overcast days during the winter months, and while feeding young.

Speed: 1/1600 f/11
ISO 400
Focal Length: 110mm
Hand held
scottevers7, chiliu, ErEs2, coasties, sAner, Nico, Toni, wallhalla15, marhowie, Luc, radz, AndyB has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To ddg: Proie en vuechouette 1 01-20 20:25
To hibou: Re: Chouettechouette 1 01-20 20:23
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Helene,
I think this is an outstnding shot on the Great Gray Owl. I really like the composition and framing of the shot. Exposure looks very good with nice saturated colors. Detail and clarity are excellent. Very well done!
Scott

Simply outstanding!! Awesome capture of the eyes and angle of flight. Thanks for sharing!

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1494 W: 0 N: 1175] (6494)
  • [2006-01-17 23:14]

Wow! What a great shot, Helene!
Excellent composition and perfect timing,
incredible detail in eyes, great colour.
Very well done!

Nicely framed, great diagonal composition. Great capture of a difficult subject.

  • Great 
  • zeca Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 373 W: 14 N: 538] (2881)
  • [2006-01-17 23:25]

Well done picture, Helene! Congratulations! The DOF is perfect, the sharpness and colours are nice! A great image! TFS!

Hi Helene,

I really like this picture. Very well done. The light was fantastic. The composition works really well, good focus and DOF. TFS.

Jan-Hendrik

Excellent action shot. i like the composition very much. Very good detail and colours

Nicely done

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3062 W: 231 N: 6152] (21016)
  • [2006-01-18 2:13]

Whoa, Helene. A fantastic POV of this owl in flight. Love the way he leans to one side. Very sharp details and great composition.
Well done and TFS. : )

Vous avez déclenché au bon moment !
Il fallait être rapide mais vous n'en avez pas moins oublié la technique, car le photo est excellente, nette là où il faut.
Félicitations.
Emmanuel

  • Great 
  • ErEs2 Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 31 W: 0 N: 15] (582)
  • [2006-01-18 4:21]

Hi
great photo, very good composition and exposure
regards
Rafal

Hi Helene

Wow....I am at a loss for words......... but stunning springs to mind! Congrats

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 855 W: 23 N: 942] (5111)
  • [2006-01-18 6:16]
  • [+]

Helene bonjour, super shot avec cette chouette chassant en plein jour!! Elle a du être derangée! Magnifique de netteté et de couleurs. TFS didier.

Well its a brilliant in-flight shot. A rare bird perfectly captured. Excellent focus, exposure and details. Well done.

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2006-01-18 6:49]

Superb shot. This is just perfect. The fierce look in the eyes and the very strong composition make this picture a joy for the eye. Pose is great. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

  • Great 
  • Nico Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 209 W: 1 N: 332] (1313)
  • [2006-01-18 7:03]

Excellent shot with good detail. Great POV.

  • Great 
  • Toni Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 403 W: 2 N: 316] (2034)
  • [2006-01-18 10:19]

Bonjour Hélène
Incroyable ses ailes si longues ! Tu as bien capturé plein de détails des yeux aux pieds. Très bon cadrage.
Toni

Hi, Helene.
It's a great shot, of course. Composition is just excellent. And good details.

Beautiful capture of this majestic looking owl in flight, very nice coposition and lighting. Well done Helene. :)

Hi Helene,
this is excellent, a wonderful moment you could capture. Sharpness is perfect, thanks you very much for this impressive shot, bye
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Hello Helene
It is a beautiful shoot of a beautiful animal.
Very crisp and clear
Everything is great in this picture.
Congratulations
Regards
JC

Hello Helene,
superb action shot! I like DOF, details and composition very much. Thanks for posting.
br
Heinz

  • Great 
  • Dave Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 525 W: 47 N: 674] (2173)
  • [2006-01-18 16:31]

Excellent aerial shot Helene!
I like that left bank you caught this big guy in...;-)
Very nice!
Thanks,
Dave

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1576 W: 5 N: 2180] (12248)
  • [2006-01-18 19:23]

Félicitations pour cette superbe photo,le vol de l'oiseau est parfait et la netteté est excellente.
Félicitations pour les détails et le regard.

Merci Helene!

joseph

Excellent Helene..but I'm in a bit of a rush...
Well deserved :-)

  • Great 
  • ryyck Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 24 W: 0 N: 176] (994)
  • [2006-01-19 15:18]

Wonderful owl!

  • Great 
  • optic Gold Star Critiquer [C: 322 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2006-01-19 15:30]

Bonjour Hélène,
Superbe photographie en diagonale et bel expression de l'oiseau, netteté parfaite.

Bravo et merci pour la publication.

Christian

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 603 W: 11 N: 616] (3404)
  • [2006-01-21 0:35]

Helene this must be dream shot any bird shooter!!!Love the Diagonal composition,and excellent POV.TFS!

Hi Helene,
it's a great inflight. The composition and POV are very good.
The sharp eyes are amazing.
Very well done.

  • Great 
  • jloup Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 10 W: 0 N: 28] (125)
  • [2006-02-05 14:01]

Bonjour Hélène,

quelle superbe image ! Le moment décisif, la mise au point, le cadrage, tout est parfait. Félicitations.

Jean-Loup

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1381 W: 126 N: 5246] (23469)
  • [2006-02-15 17:54]

Incroyable cliché, Hélène. Tout y est, netteté, bonne composition, exposition parfaite et lumière exceptionnelle. Bravo,

Mario

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1391 W: 32 N: 1350] (3982)
  • [2006-02-21 6:25]

Hello Helene,
A beautiful capture.
Perfect composition and POV,superb detail and those eyes are amazing.
Superb...

TFS

Salut Hélène! :)

Superbe photo! J'aime beaucoup la composition qui laisse beaucoup despace en haut à droite. Les yeux sont d'une netteté parfaite. Je decouvre de beau tresor dans ton portfolio! Tout simplement superbe. Felicitation!

PS: il faut absolument s'organiser une petite excursion ce printemp à quelque part :)
A Bientot!
Jean.

  •      
  • hibou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 216 W: 1 N: 329] (1617)
  • [2006-04-02 20:26]
  • [+]

Bonjour Hélène, Comment ne pas aimer un tel cliché ? Vraiment tout est parfait (comme d'habitude) l'expression de l'oiseau, les yeux fixés vers son objectif, le bec, les ailes et même les pattes tout est clair ... en plus un gros ciel bleu en background et les ailes en diagol ... que demander de plus... Bravo ! Donald L.

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