ScottHM wrote:
Always interesting to get the behavioral shots like this...I actually like #4 the best because of the look you're getting through the wings...certainly a unique capture of them all.
I chimped a little on Sunday before getting home and I had a feeling #4 would be my favorite from the day. I took well over 4500 shots of 4 Owls (and other widllife) so I'm still sorting through them all but I think that one is going to get framed and hung on one of my walls (I don't print out many of my images for myself). Thank you for the reply.
Wow Duane these are Dynamite!! I'd love to get a snowy in the water with action like you
have here. Very unique captures. I love everyone of them. They are Stunning.
Wow Duane. Last night I was going through my snowy files from the previous 2 years, 10,000+ of keepers and I don't have a single one bathing. This is so unique. Not only that but you nailed the exposures, these are beautiful. Very well done
Really enjoyed these and how different from the usual snowy shots. The fourth is the Magician shot...I picture him saying "Abracadabra"! and a flash and smoke is seen.
Eric
Thanks again everyone for the comments. It was a memorable day that day and I not only enjoyed photographing the Owls but I also met some great photographers and visitors that day. We talked about anything and everything so the day went by quickly.
Tim Kuhn wrote:
Wow Duane. Last night I was going through my snowy files from the previous 2 years, 10,000+ of keepers and I don't have a single one bathing. This is so unique. Not only that but you nailed the exposures, these are beautiful. Very well done
Tim
I told myself to slow down on the amount of pictures I take especially when they have their eyes closed but I can't help myself knowing I'll probably never see one again...I hope I do but that's how I'm approaching it. I took 4500+ pictures that day. Most of them were just for practice trying to get the DOF right and the exposure seeing how I was photographing them in bright sunshine...always learning.
Michael Rucci wrote:
OH Yea these are just super and your attitude toward the bird is also wonderful.Not many people can just walk away
I've learned to walk away because there's always the cooperative Owl like the one found later that day.
This Owl in the video stayed within a 100' area near a main parking lot since early in the morning. It allowed countless people to take it's photograph and wasn't annoyed one bit. When this video was being taken there were 12-14 photographers within 30' of it taking pcitures...it was a statue and showed no signs of stress...it actually slept in front of us. It eventually left on it's own accord at sunset heading towards the ocean.
3 of the 12 Owls I've been fortunate to photograph acted exactly like the Owl in the video...content. Knowing there are Owls like that make it a bit easier to walk away and for me I know they're just trying to rest when they perch on the beach...no sense in chasing them around.
Great shots Duane, I was one of the folks who enjoyed visiting with you.
Went back up on Thursday 1/16/2014 and no Snowy's, in talking to some of the refuge folks none had been seen since Monday. Did not go out to the point (don't have the pass) but seen a refuge truck coming off the road and talked to them and they hadn't seen any out as far as you can drive.
There were Baldies in the area so they may have moved to another area.
Ron
RonR2 wrote:
Great shots Duane, I was one of the folks who enjoyed visiting with you.
Went back up on Thursday 1/16/2014 and no Snowy's, in talking to some of the refuge folks none had been seen since Monday. Did not go out to the point (don't have the pass) but seen a refuge truck coming off the road and talked to them and they hadn't seen any out as far as you can drive.
There were Baldies in the area so they may have moved to another area.
Ron
A friend returned that Monday and Tuesday and no snowies except out on the causeway leading to Chincoteague. I was there today and none on the beach or around the hook but I spotted one just after the bridge on the right in the marshy area where the hunters are...too far for any pics. This is the routine up there it seems...nothing for 5-6 days then one or two are sighted...hopefully tomorrow is a better day.
Fantastic series, Duane! Wonderful view of the Snowie's behavioral characteristics. I especially like the composition of the last photo - the browns of the snag vs the whites of the Snowy.
