This nest continues to be a very difficult location to shoot with many branches blocking the view. My past photos were taken from the west side of the tree and looking across from a hill. This time I'm to the north of the nest as that's where mom and her chick were. To get a clean shot I had to stand at the edge of a spring and slowly sank into the mud so my hiking shoes are sitting out to dry. The owl and chick were in the shade yet parts of the tree an the background in the sun making for some tricky exposures and processing. As you can see, there camouflage works extremely well. The owls are about 75 feet up and I was about 50 feet back. I got a glimpse of both chicks yet only got to photograph one as the other was deep in the nest.
Comments and suggestions welcome,
Morris
1) Mom
X-H2SXF500mmF5.6 R LM OIS WR lens500mmf/5.61/950s1600 ISO+1.3 EV
2) Chick watching me as mom gases at her chick
X-H2SXF500mmF5.6 R LM OIS WR + 1.4x lens700mmf/32.01/200s6400 ISO-0.3 EV
3) Chick shows affection to mom
X-H2SXF500mmF5.6 R LM OIS WR lens500mmf/20.01/340s6400 ISO0.0 EV
4) Chick and mom make eye contact
X-H2SXF500mmF5.6 R LM OIS WR lens500mmf/20.01/340s6400 ISO0.0 EV
5) I spy with my little eye
X-H2SXF500mmF5.6 R LM OIS WR lens500mmf/22.01/240s6400 ISO0.0 EV
It’s a tough spot to shoot. Re #1 which I like most I’d darken the right side of the tree because it’s very distracting. I would have tried it vertically to get rid of it entirely. Is this Alley Pond Park?
These are great Morris. For me anyway, seems like it's seldom easy. Always obstructed view, to far, poor light, always some issue. Given what you described.... great job.
LostLensCap wrote:
You weren't kidding about the camouflage, they look like part of the tree. Great set, thanks for sharing.
Thank you Tom,
I'm looking forward to the chicks branching so I can get shots where they stand out
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gmccroskery wrote:
Excellent, Morris.
No's 2 & 5 are my picks.
You must live outside with your camera -- you're prolific!
Greg
Thank you Greg,
Yes I'm a very prolific photographer and I take all these photos on about three two hours shoots a week. The places I shoot are chosen either for a great subject or the number of potential subjects and being on the Eastern Flyway it can be incredibly busy here. We just passed the spring lull where the winter birds are gone and the summer birds are still to return. I'm starting to photograph more than I can share.
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TT1000 wrote:
It’s a tough spot to shoot. Re #1 which I like most I’d darken the right side of the tree because it’s very distracting. I would have tried it vertically to get rid of it entirely. Is this Alley Pond Park?
Thank you,
I've already darkened the right side of the first image. I went horizontal to show the interesting old tree. I like the diagonal on the left side which also creates a nice leading line to the subject. Yes the nest is in a less traveled part of Alley Pond Park. If you want to shoot there message me and I'll share the location.
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johnohio wrote:
These are great Morris. For me anyway, seems like it's seldom easy. Always obstructed view, to far, poor light, always some issue. Given what you described.... great job.
John
Thank you John,
I've had some very easy owl nests yet his is one of the hardest I've shot at. It's so well hidden that very few show up there to shoot. This shoot was the first time others were shooting at the same time as me, 6 of us.
