At Key Vista Park in Holiday Florida A pair of Great Horned Owls have pirated what was last years Ospreys nest. I found the nest last Sunday (1-22-2012) but was there in harsh early afternoon light. The park is right on the Gulf of Mexico about 45 minutes NW of Tampa and 10 minutes from my home. From what I've heard they are about 17 days old today
I'm trying to document their growth, but since I've never done something like this I can only try my best I can't get there during the week because work gets me home too late. I did plan today out to end up there to try and get some shots in better light. Now if I could just figure out Tim Kuhn's Photoshop processing
Until then - taken handheld with my Canon 40D and 400 5.6 lens using AE mode at ISO 800 and aperture setting at 5.6 and post processed with Canon DPP. Any suggestions on methods I could use to get better results are greatly appreciated.
Their colors have changed (darkened) quite a bit in 6 days
You are doing well; a crop would be nice if possible. Have you considered purchasing a 1.4x TC or even a 2x? I discovered a GHO nest near my home last year and had a blast photographing the chicks. Have you seen mom or dad? They look good in photos as well and if you catch them bringing in a meal all the better.
These all look tack-sharp and I like the fact that you can see the nest and some of the surrounding environment, Tim. As Socrate said, excellent work for the camera rig you have.
Looks like you are doing a fabulous job documenting. Looks like the GHO breed earlier than up here in Canada. I was hoping to see if they return to a nest this spring.
Right on Tim. These are great captures. I may be nitpicking but the images seem a tad over sharpened to me. I would suggest selective sharpening on the owls and not the whole nest.
Ted ellis wrote:
Right on Tim. These are great captures. I may be nitpicking but the images seem a tad over sharpened to me. I would suggest selective sharpening on the owls and not the whole nest.
Ted
Thanks Ted for taking the time to look at my shots. I really DO appreciate the critique as that's how I can become a better photographer and post processor! I definitely have a deficiency with PP work and plan on trying to rectify that
Karl Witt wrote:
Good looking shots Tim! Never easy to get them in the nest. Keep up the great work
Karl
Actually Karl - as long as you know where the nest is they're pretty easy - they just sit there for the most part
What's unique about these is that since they stole an old Osprey nest (that had Osprey babies in it last year) the nest is out in the open and well lit. The GHO's in the park are usually deep in the shade in the Pine trees - and hard to find and expose decently during the day.
