Barn Owl from Geraghty Park, Julatten, North Queensland.
Young Barn Owl at nest hollow
[img] http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4798150423_1534e0b908.jpg [/img]
Not so happy to see me, called Mum (or Dad) down to take him away from the guy with the light…
[img] http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4798150783_3b1ed7ceac.jpg [/img]
Rescued and taken up higher by adult.
[img] http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4798151023_35639b6b23.jpg [/img]
Lovely Ed.... do you use just an on camera flash to take your birds? it is interesting that with the one exception here the eyes do not catch red/green eye like other animals do.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Gorgeous shots ED, these are beautiful creatures! :')
Tweety, Queensland! :)
I can't believe you've just posted 3 different species of owl. Most people are lucky to see one or two in a life time (wild ones). I am also curious about what settings/lighting you used. I feel like rushing out now to look for owls (except it's raining!)
Hi Birdgirl
The settings were manual, around 1/125th sec, f5.6, iso800 and a 430ex speedlite set to about -2/3. Canon 40D with 100-400L.
Ed Townsville NQ
Your owls are amazing and your photos are spot on! Love the last one it is if they are saying do we smile now?
Great night shots,the owls look so natural,if you don't mind me asking how far away were you and did you use a tripod
Beautiful photos Ed, the owls are so photogenic, your photos are so sharp, (but when I see what lens you used I am not surprised - I am envious)
Jeanne
Brisbane QLD
Hi Sparrow, I am not sure if Ed used a tripod or not, but in case your question relates to camera shake, unsharp pictures or the concern about that, then this should answer your query. (sorry Ed) :)
Using flash as main light at night does not necessitate the use of a tripod. The flash exposes much faster than the shutter speed applied in camera (probably up to 1/10,000th of a sec or so) therefore you can easily handhold even at great focal lengths. :) I regularly use between 1/30th and 1/160th at night with a flash (and beamer) and lenses between 100mm and 600mm without any shake or evidence of it.
Hi all, thanks for your kind comments.
Sparrow, no tripod all hand held, I never use a tripod, I guess about 10m for the first couple and around 15m for the last. Windhover has the reason why a flash at night (or in very low light) does not require a tripod.
Birdie, almost all have had red/steely eye dealt with in post production editing
Ed Townsville NQ
i have to as what is windhover ed
By the way, great work with the owls. I love owls :)
oh silly me now i see a windhover , i have a speedlight but have not used it much very unsure of the settings i need to try it, you talk of a beamer is that a head light or car lights sorry for being so ignorant
Hi Joanne
A beamer is a better beamer flash extender. It's a fresnel lens that concentrates the beam from the flash into a small area thus can (should) only be used with lenses 300mm or longer. It improves flash recycling and I have been able to light a Rufous Night Heron about 60m from me at night! So a useful device to have, even during the day to help with fill flash use.
See here:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/better_beamer.shtml
Thanks ed,you did a great job on the eyes that's why i asked how far away you were,They really are a stunning set of photos.
Windhover i also use a flash extender but always during the day as a fill flash for back lit shots or just in poor light.
I don't use a camera at night much and usually hand hold when i do,It's just when i see such great photos i want to find out as much about how they were taken as i can.
Thanks Ed for the extra info, it does help for any of us who haven't got the experience with birds at that level. I don't recall ever hearing of a flash extender but it seems like a fairly simple and logical device.
Last night I walked around my area with a spotlight in the hope of seeing an owl..... no luck though. Just a few squeaky bats hanging around :)
Today was a dismal dull day here and though I glimpsed a few very nice subjects ( rufous fantail, red backed Fairy Wren, many spangled drongos, even a nankeen Kestrel) but they were just out of range and very shy.
Does anyone know if birds tend to stay in hiding on a dull drizzly day more than a sunny one? it just seems that way but I am not sure if it is coincidence.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
thanks ed for that info i have decided i should get my speedlight out and practice using it more , and a great website about the beamer thanks always willing to learn
I usually have the best birds on clear, calm sunny mornings, then on clear, calm (light wind OK) sunny evenings. Then in between it's a bit of a mix.....
Yes I think that is the case with me too. Maybe they just like to get out and be active and get a vitamin D shot at the same time :)
Sunshine Coast Queensland