The Easter Owl (5 images)

[IanD]

Sheldon and I were certain that the Great Greys had left us for their Northern homes. Friday we went out and found one (well, actually Shiny Spot Nikon Guy found him) and he was so far across the field it required a hell of a long hike through snow up to the ying yang or a 1200 prime. Neither sounded or was available. Rats!
This morning I decided to go it alone since my shooting partner had decided that he stood a better chance of seeing a Grey in his living room while prone on the sofa than on Ile Bizard.
WRONG!
I do not know what made these two owls so friendly but they kept on flying over me and perching in close by trees.

Oh jeez Maude, that photographer guy is back!
http://www.pbase.com/giant001/image/41299818/original.jpg

Lets fly over him and try to scare him.
http://www.pbase.com/giant001/image/41299819.jpg

Lets get closer.......
http://www.pbase.com/giant001/image/41299821.jpg

Real close..........
http://www.pbase.com/giant001/image/41299822.jpg

OK, that didn't work. how about we just sit here beside him and stare?
http://www.pbase.com/giant001/image/41299830.jpg

For the first time I actually filled 2 1GB cards. It was the craziest morning of shooting GGO's I've experienced yet. God I hope they stay around for a little while longer.

*edit* First image captured with 70-200 f/2.8 IS. All other images captured with 400 f/5.6. Full frame, uncropped. *edit*

[JZaun]

You are starting to P%$# me off. I haven't seen a owl in the wild in YEARS!!! Wow what fantastic shots. I doubt I could do that well if I had a chance. Keep it up those are great.

JZ

[MarkoPolo]

You are the King of owl shots! Just "owltstanding."

[Belmondo]

Okay, fella. You have now reached the point of diminishing returns with these darned owl pictures. Everyone in the forum now hates you....especially Sheldon. I think you owe everyone an apology and a promise to stop posting these photos that serve no purpose but to make you look good and the rest of us look bad. :evil: :evil: :evil:

Oh, great shots.

[Scottes]

That 3rd shot is simply stunning. Just awesome.

[LazyPhotographer]

These are really wonderful images! You should seriously consider a book or something.

The first is awesome - I love it when the "apron" blows from their body. The last one, well, that's just not fair to the rest of us! ;-)

[IanD]

Okay, fella. You have now reached the point of diminishing returns with these darned owl pictures. Everyone in the forum now hates you....especially Sheldon. I think you owe everyone an apology and a promise to stop posting these photos that serve no purpose but to make you look good and the rest of us look bad. :evil: :evil: :evil:

Oh, great shots.

From the bottom of my heart I apoligize to Couch Potato Sheldon and to all members of this fine forum and their spouses and families for posting the above images. I will not post them again. :(:(:(
However I do have a couple of GB's worth that I haven't posted yet and hell, who knows, there might be a keeper or two in there:):):):):):):):p:p

[Claire]

Wow, these shots are really good! I can only imagine how tough it must be to shoot flying birds. I've never even seen an owl properly in the wild. Only from a very far distance.

[loebas]

Compliments for this outstanding professional photos.
You must have been very patience.
Were you hiding in a shelter ?

[Meg C]

:cool: All I can say is WOW...

[sparker1]

Ian, you haven't lost your touch. Those are fabulous images. I still suspect you walk around with your fly open to attract these poor creatures.

[latigid soe]

"" I do not know what made these two owls so friendly but they kept on flying over me and perching in close by trees. ""

Owls are a strange bird. I was working in the bush years ago and this one spot I was in for 2 weeks had a tree with about ten owls in it every morning when I started my day.And every day 3 or 4 of those owls would follow me along on my trails till about noon when they would leave. Of course I wasn't into photography back then....But I can certainly see how you would fill up your gig cards :)

Nice pics by the way......Thanks for sharing

latigid soe

[ssim]

Nice shots buddy. As much as you think I like you... you are having the same affect on me as Jerry above. http://www.pbase.com/ssim/image/41170231.jpg

Attn all other moderators - Is it possible to ban another moderator? http://www.pbase.com/ssim/image/41170242.jpg

[cmM]

holy smokes Ian... that 3rd shot must be the best in-flight shot I have ever seen. wow

... They didn't attack you did they ? :-P

[Fer]

Beautiful images!

[Maureen Souza]

Ian, your GGO pics get cooler every time you post. We don't have them here so it is always a treat to see your pics.

[IanD]

Thanks for the compliments folks. Very much appreciated.
There were not a lot of people out and about on the island this morning. our new found friend, SSNG, was driving around but today he was wearing a hat to cover the SS. As a mater of fact, so was I.
The first image was from a series captured right along side the main road. There are several owls that have made this area home. The rest of the shots were taken way off the road. I had spied this owl and another a couple of fields back from the road. I walk in and found an old stump to sit on and then the fun began. Both owls flew into the trees surrounding a small field and for the next hour flew, hovered and landed all around me. At one point one of them landed 3 feet away from me. I had only taken the 400 f/5.6 with me and there was no way I was going to get any type of shot that close. It was fun to watch them hunt. All told, in the hour that I was privy to their company, they caught 2 voles each. I was wearing a camo jacket and hat so I blended in to some degree.
If the weather permits, I'm heading out again tomorrow. Maybe Sheldon will decide to get off the sofa and join moi.:):):)
Oh, BTW, Mods can't ban Mods:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p They can only ban members who use goofy emocions:):):):):)

[Alan B]

WOW!

[eric1]

You are starting to P%$# me off. I haven't seen a owl in the wild in YEARS!!! Wow what fantastic shots. I doubt I could do that well if I had a chance. Keep it up those are great.

JZ
i'll second that. :lol: i have an owl that lives by my house. i can hear him, but i can't see him. what a tease!

[TammieO]

Drool! What are we going to do when the GGOs leave? Anyone have a cure for owl withdrawl?

[IanD]

Drool! What are we going to do when the GGOs leave? Anyone have a cure for owl withdrawl?
Tammie,
Up here it is getting close to spring and soon the geese and ducks will be passing through on their way to their summer breeding grounds. The back yard is starting to fill up with Justabirds, there will be fawns romping in the open fields, RWB's will be in the swamps and GBH's will soon arrive too. No idea what I'm going to be shooting:):):):):):):):):)
I tell you what though, I'm really going to miss those owls.:(:(

[JAZZ D.P.G.]

Hey Ian, We work togeather we could probably jam up the topic with owls for a week!!!

Nice shots, I have several in-flights, but nothing like these.

I'll finish some work on them and post some more ;-}

Well, maybe not..................Rather hostile crowd.

Good work.

[IanD]

Well, maybe not..................Rather hostile crowd.

Good work.

You got to look out for the guy with the wacky emocions:):)

[wolverinesr1]

im like everyone else in thinking these are no less than fantastic.
after seeing these i punched ile bizard in my map program only
587 miles. very,very tempting for next year maybe.
i would like to add a sincere thanks for sharing

[RockOne]

All hail the KING of owl photos. Absolutley incredible shots ! :-) :-) :-) :-) !

[HJMinard]

Awesome, Ian ... truly wonderful images of a glorious creature. Your third shot should be published ... somewhere.

[Mills]

The first one is remarkable. Fantastic group of shots again.

[ssim]

I've come back to this thread a number of times and am simply amazed every time. They are just superb, so good that words can hardly express the right feeling.

Yup, I'm kicking my butt for not hot footing it out there today when you called. http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_confused.gif

Simply amazing work buddy.

http://www.pbase.com/ssim/image/41110933.jpghttp://www.pbase.com/ssim/image/41110933.jpg

[stoneylonesome]

HOLY OWLS BATMAN, those are FANTASTIC. I have this strange feeling that the GGO are never going to leave. Before you know it Montreal is going to be the new tourist mecca of the world, Disney World will fall into bankruptcy all because of you and your GGO owl posts. Well I hope your HAPPY. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

[am_pitbull_terrier]

Amazing... Hope to see some of the others too.

[JTF]

The first and third are close to national geographic material except for a little off colour in the blue, although that could be my pc. Great work indeed.

[Jetmech1]

Wonderful pictures. I'd love to be able to do that.

[tommykjensen]

Well what can I say that has not already been said. Fantastic photos. Especially the last one.

[Maz]

Those photos are simply incredible! Once again, Congratulations.

Thanks for showing them.
Maz
http://www.homesteadsforsale.com

[rosco1971]

awesome shots.............i really like them.........keep up the great shooting

[thomascanty]

Outstanding shots! The closest I've ever been to a wild owl was last fall near the Kennedy Mine tailing wheels in Jackson, CA. I went there after dark to experiment with star trail photography. There were several there, but I couldn't see them. Only hear them.

[Photohio]

Your photos certainly do justice to those gorgeous birds. We have many types of owl in Ohio (Great Horned,Screech,Barred,Barn,etc) but I haven't been fortunate enough to get those types of shots. Very nice work! Photos like yours make me appreciate nature all the more!


Canon Digital Rebel
75-300mm
Sigma EF-500 DG Super

[xuxu1]

Great shots Ian!
A few moments ago i had a look at Sheldon´s owl pics. Hard to tell which one´s are better. :rolleyes:

I think both of you deserve a golden medal for your great owl photos! :D

Regards
Ed

[CyberDyneSystems]

Amazing! Just fantastic!