Captured
Great Grey Owl
Great Grey Owl
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Jul, 2013Views
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Awards
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Jaw Dropping
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
Exceptional Contrast
Peer Award
Superior Skill
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken in Ottawa, Canada near Greens Creek.Time
This photo was taken at 4:25 pm in February a couple of hours before sunset.Lighting
I was shooting the owls mostly just before sunset so I had to increase my ISO to 800 with a shutter speed of 1/800 sec. in order to get the light I needed to freeze the Great Grey Owl in flight. If I increased the ISO more than 800 my shot wasn't as sharp.Equipment
I used my Nikon D90 with a 70-300mm Nikkor lens, hand held.Inspiration
I was inspired to take this photo of the Great Grey Owl because I was in aw of its wing span and watching it soar through the sky. I spent many days during the winter months in 2013 hiking in -30 Celsius temperature in hopes that I would capture it in flight. There were several owls nesting in an outcrop of trees for the winter and they graced us with their presence until the creek started melting and they flew back to the north of Quebec. We may not see them back for another 7 years so I took every opportunity to see these majestic birds every chance I could.Editing
I cropped out a tree stump that was a bit distracting and I sharpened it.In my camera bag
I now have a D600 Full Frame Camera that I carry everywhere. The lenses that I normally have in my backpack are the AF-S Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4.5-5.6 G, AF-S Nikkor 16-35mm N 1: 4G, and Micro Nikkor 40mm DX 1:2.8 G. I also carry a Tiffen Circular Polarizer, Tiffen Variable ND filter, 2 fully charged batteries, four 16 GB SD cards and a hahnel Giga T Pro 11 Wireless Timer.Feedback
I tried to keep my shutter speed at 1/800 sec. or more so that I could freeze the owl in flight. The smaller the bird sometimes the faster the shutter speed. I also increased my ISO accordingly and opened my F stop if I needed more light. Also bring along a ton of patience as you wait for that moment he spots it's prey and glides from his perch. Don't forget to dress for the weather because it can get get pretty cold standing around waiting for the right moment and when that moment happens fire away. Searching for the Great Grey Owls can be difficult at first because they tend to blend into their surroundings but once you spot your first owl on your own your eyes become accustomed between the owl and the tree and it gets easier to spot them. Weather you get the shot or not once you lay eyes on these beauties you will be hooked for life, they are magnificent birds.
