Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Barred Owl


I have been photographing a pair of owls for the  three previous years.  They return to the same spot each March and they are very cooperative.  The spot is in heavy evergreen forest area and it is quite dark in there but sun light streams through the trees.  It makes for complex lighting that is hard to photograph.  This year only one of the owls has returned thus far, but I am hoping the other arrives in near future.  I had previously deferred using a flash of any sort on the owls as I was afraid their eyes were sensitive and flash would scare them and maybe effect their eyesight.  Research on that over the past year showed that is a misguided conclusion.  A very good article written on it by Dr Dennis Olivero describes that is quite ok.  Click here for a link to the article. 

So-this time I tried some photographs with and without the better beamer for fill flash.  The better beamer images are evenly lit with no evidence of flash being used.  The shadows are gone and the fine detail of feathers is present. The exposure was set manually with flash turned off an then fill flash with values from -1/3 to +2 were used to get just right blend.

Until next time.

Jim Borden

Click here for more camera critters.

6 comments:

Lindsjö taxar said...

What a beautiful picture!! How exciting for you that they come back every year. Congratulations!!

Ritchie said...

Hi all,

Great blog fantastic photos, Really I appreciate your good work. A Barred Owl can sometimes be seen hunting before dark. Thanks a lot!

Wildlife Photographer

Ruta said...

Stunning! I hear them at night but have yet to see one in the wild.

Willard said...

The better beamer worked well, Jim. It is great that you have gotten to follow these birds over the years.

I have gotten video at SNP, but no good stills.

Noushka said...

Fantastic shot!
One I would have been proud of taking! :)

Unknown said...

Great pictures!! I have seen deer in the spring with just that pose, and the soft fur on their new horns. Great stuff! I live in Toronto, Canada, and this past weekend, my wife, Jean, and I also came upon a Barred Owl out in the forest. What a beautiful bird. If your interested our pictures and video are at: http://frametoframe.ca/photo-essay-barred-owl-sighting-markham-ontario/