Low Flying Owl!

[coupekid]

Euarasion Eagle Owl.

Took this today at the Hawk Conservancy.

Hope you like him!

Comments welcome:

[Ian]

Re: Low Flying Owl!

Ben, are these the world's biggest owls and the type that have just started to re-colonise parts of northern England?

This one looks like he/she is hovering, but owls don't do that do they?

Ian

[coupekid]

Re: Low Flying Owl!

Ben, are these the world's biggest owls and the type that have just started to re-colonise parts of northern England?

This one looks like he/she is hovering, but owls don't do that do they?

Ian

They certainly are one of the biggest!
I wasnt aware they were recolonising England though.

He isnt hovering, he was weaving in out of some trees.

[Archangel]

Re: Low Flying Owl!

Ben,

It looks that nothing can pass by without being shot down by you
I like the position you have captured it with the body up and wings down.

George

[ash]

Re: Low Flying Owl!

Thats a gudden, dont think he is hovering though with both his wings near vertical!!

[coupekid]

Re: Low Flying Owl!

Ben,

It looks that nothing can pass by without being shot down by you
I like the position you have captured it with the body up and wings down.

George

Cheers George,

You cant help but (photographically) shoot these majestic birds

[coupekid]

Re: Low Flying Owl!

Thats a gudden, dont think he is hovering though with both his wings near vertical!!

Cheers Ash.

[Pops]

Re: Low Flying Owl!

That is beautiful.
I keep hearing one at night but haven't seen him yet

[Tom]

Re: Low Flying Owl!

Lovely capture Ben and it's great to get to see the full face too. It's not too often we get this when they are in flight.

[Ian]

Re: Low Flying Owl!

I saw a programme about European (not Eurasian) Eagle Owls recently - apparently there is some debate as to whether or not they were truly indigenous to the UK once, but the theory is that some captive examples have escaped and adapted to the wild up in Yorkshire and are now breeding and spreading. They have a six foot wing span and will take lambs and some young deer, as well as cats, dogs and rabbits and, I believe, some other birds. They are also active in the day time.

I like the expression of your one, Ben - but if I am to be really critical, the unnatural 'hovering' appearance is because there is no lateral sense of motion - the background is not laterally blurred. But well caught all the same - if anyone has tried framing a bird in flight like this they will know just how difficult it is!

Ian

[yoshi]

Re: Low Flying Owl!

- if anyone has tried framing a bird in flight like this they will know just how difficult it is!

Ian

Exactly! - I'm one of those who are always amazed by Ben's shots like this.
I bet - well,- he did not use a monopod for this shot?
Am I correct ? or?
yoshi

[coupekid]

Re: Low Flying Owl!

Exactly! - I'm one of those who are always amazed by Ben's shots like this.
I bet - well,- he did not use a monopod for this shot?
Am I correct ? or?
yoshi

Thanks for all the comments.

Cheers Yoshi, I think your spoil me a little with that comment! hehe!
This was handheld. I am going to post a pic later that I used the monopod with though.

Heres the fella flying in the opposite direction!



On a side note, I was there with a pro photographer who had a Canon 1D (mkIIn I think) it had a battery grip and a rather nice 300mm sigma fixed lense on it. My little 350D felt like a toy after using that thing!

I want one! In fact he is selling his, but sadly waaay out of my price range, so I will be popping that on the 'for sale' forum for him shortly.

[Josh Bear]

Re: Low Flying Owl!

Great picture. Nice and sharp which isn't easy to do.

best regards

Josh

[Jocelyn Walker]

Re: Low Flying Owl!

Ben, your eagle owl shots are magnificent! Love the view of its eyes. They are truly amazing birds. They look almost identical to Eagle Owls in Johannesburg, so don't think they only inhabit England. It would be interesting to read up on the similarities & origins or migratory habits!

[coupekid]

Re: Low Flying Owl!

I saw a programme about European (not Eurasian) Eagle Owls recently - apparently there is some debate as to whether or not they were truly indigenous to the UK once, but the theory is that some captive examples have escaped and adapted to the wild up in Yorkshire and are now breeding and spreading. They have a six foot wing span and will take lambs and some young deer, as well as cats, dogs and rabbits and, I believe, some other birds. They are also active in the day time.

I like the expression of your one, Ben - but if I am to be really critical, the unnatural 'hovering' appearance is because there is no lateral sense of motion - the background is not laterally blurred. But well caught all the same - if anyone has tried framing a bird in flight like this they will know just how difficult it is!

Ian

Hi Ian,

I didnt think they were naturally indigenous to this country. They are huge, and generally like smaller mamals, (especially hedgehogs believe it or not!)

I tried to add some motion blur after reading your comment, but it looked too false, so it will have to stay as is.

But I definately know what you mean.

The problem I had is that the bird was flying through trees, and as such, if I slowed the shutter down even slightly, the tree trunks would have obscured the shot, so it was a trade off.

Thanks for being critical though, I wouldnt want anything less!

Cheers,
Ben