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While out taking landscapes, I got to the fence bent down to put a lens in the bag, when a loud "whoosh" startled me. As I raised my head I found myself eye to ...
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While out taking landscapes, I got to the fence bent down to put a lens in the bag, when a loud "whoosh" startled me. As I raised my head I found myself eye to eye with this young eagle owl. To run ...or to try to get an image. ?? With pounding heart and fear in the pit of my stomach, I must have clicked 3 clicks.....(I don't remember that ) He then shot off over my head .At that point I saw the huge talons...A close encounter of the best kind! Looking later I saw ME in his eye on the image. lol A selfie of a strange reflective kind.
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Awards

Superb Composition
fadwagallo mapashoona_9066 staleyja1 joestrode Quiles007 brucesharock EMKardasiewicz +47
Top Choice
LeoInno heatheraustin Li1117 rethabile nakitarenepeterson aimeedudley dawnhynes +43
Absolute Masterpiece
Beerland_ar Rowanbruce_x adaklank freddundassr jrreconalla gman176 onyanita +32
Peer Award
Frank1390 josfrias bellartnella Kaceoo photoABSTRACTION keithviklund toshihiro_shoji +13
Magnificent Capture
chuckmyer Rwozney MickAlicic guillermoturnerstephens julie_cavell nemo61 ChrisBee453 +9
Outstanding Creativity
judyannrnoora artiste9999 pattymcfarland Cheryl_KCS_Photos beckybishop carolynhartmann melodievalencia-plumb +6
Superior Skill
wynvs Finakoch Emcbeard Burkholder lornacrowcroftrose Lewisia_rediviva chriswhittington +5
All Star
kiraballerina Tiekie woelfkewoelfie vickyalmgren Vince542 troutfly
Genius
DreamsGlimmer
Love it
jleosadauskas

Emotions

Impressed
gman176 chuckmyer

Top Ranks

Light Eyes Photo ContestTop 30 rank
Celebrating Earth Day Photo Contest 2019Top 30 rank
Celebrating Earth Day Photo Contest 2019Top 30 rank week 1
Anything Birds Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Eagles Or Owls Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Eagles Or Owls Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Zootography Photo ContestTop 30 rank
Zootography Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 2
Animal Eyes Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Animal Eyes Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Animal Eyes Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Reflective Selfies Photo ContestTop 30 rank
Front And Center Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Front And Center Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Front And Center Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1

Categories


56 Comments |
Kazza60
 
Kazza60 February 20, 2015
wonderful detail Kathleen !!
kathleenweetman
kathleenweetman February 21, 2015
Thanks I am putting it in reflective selfie comp
KenBrakefield Platinum
 
KenBrakefield February 21, 2015
This is a beautiful image. You nailed it. Well done.
kathleenweetman
kathleenweetman February 21, 2015
Thank you Ken
KayBrewer Platinum
 
KayBrewer February 22, 2015
What a story! And to still get a shot with what must have been trembling fingers!
Flosno
 
Flosno February 22, 2015
Superb capture Kathleen
KayBrewer Platinum
 
KayBrewer February 22, 2015
Voted Selfie
kathleenweetman
kathleenweetman February 23, 2015
Thank you
JoanneMarie
 
JoanneMarie February 24, 2015
Beautiful Capture!!!
Forfarlass
 
Forfarlass February 24, 2015
Well done its a cracking photo. xxx
estercastillo08
 
estercastillo08 February 24, 2015
Wonderful photo, voted Reflective Selfies
valeriemurchie-stolpe
 
valeriemurchie-stolpe February 25, 2015
Love that eye.
bearinmybackyard
 
bearinmybackyard February 26, 2015
voted photographer of the month goodl lcuk
1Ernesto
 
1Ernesto February 27, 2015
Wishing you a win in the Photographer Of The Month Contest - VOTED
Vince542
 
Vince542 February 27, 2015
Fantastic capture!!!! well done!!!!
traceprinslooreppin
 
traceprinslooreppin February 27, 2015
...voted Front & Centre...love this :-)
traceprinslooreppin
 
traceprinslooreppin February 27, 2015
...voted POTM :-)
YvonneJeaK
 
YvonneJeaK February 28, 2015
Wonderful. Voted
YvonneJeaK
 
YvonneJeaK February 28, 2015
Voted again
kathleenweetman
kathleenweetman February 28, 2015
Thanks Yvonne
kathymuhle PRO+
 
kathymuhle March 01, 2015
Is that you in the eye? Great shot - voted Photographer of the month
kathleenweetman
kathleenweetman March 02, 2015
Thank you
NatureLoverJJWal
 
NatureLoverJJWal March 01, 2015
You are there in his/her eyes. Voted Photographer of the month!
NatureLoverJJWal
 
NatureLoverJJWal March 01, 2015
Voted again front and Center!
NatureLoverJJWal
 
NatureLoverJJWal March 01, 2015
Voted again reflective selfies!
kathleenweetman
kathleenweetman March 02, 2015
Thank you Jelietta and I appreciate it..
annalisaaa
 
annalisaaa March 03, 2015
so cute! voted
annalisaaa
 
annalisaaa March 03, 2015
voted again :)
bearinmybackyard
 
bearinmybackyard March 03, 2015
love the detail goodluck voted
bearinmybackyard
 
bearinmybackyard March 03, 2015
in the owl's eye great shot voted selfie
robinjohnson
 
robinjohnson March 04, 2015
Moments like this makes one happy to be into photography. V
1Ernesto
 
1Ernesto March 04, 2015
In the Front and Center Photo Contest this entry has my #1 vote. You truly have an eye for great entries.
Pjerry
 
Pjerry March 04, 2015
Still shacking K ?
This can happen: http://youtu.be/37MNE8tOBG4
In The Netherlands we have at this moment a athletes terrorising eagle-owl.
My vote (photographer-of-the-month) for this beautiful capture.
Emlav
 
Emlav March 04, 2015
Beautiful shot :)
Pjerry
 
Pjerry March 04, 2015
Voted Front and center
estercastillo08
 
estercastillo08 March 04, 2015
Voted Photographer of the month Vol 18
estercastillo08
 
estercastillo08 March 04, 2015
Voted Front and Center
KayBrewer Platinum
 
KayBrewer March 05, 2015
voted Front and Center, Photog of Month 18,
bronxie
 
bronxie March 06, 2015
Great shot Kathleen. Voted front and center
Pjerry
 
Pjerry March 06, 2015
Voted animal portraits
emileabbott
 
emileabbott March 07, 2015
outstanding eye contact and details in this close up. Awesome Kathleen.
robertarmstrong_2615
 
robertarmstrong_2615 March 07, 2015
Voted Photographer Of The Month
robertarmstrong_2615
 
robertarmstrong_2615 March 07, 2015
Voted Front And Centre
robertarmstrong_2615
 
robertarmstrong_2615 March 07, 2015
Voted Reflective Selfies
kathleenweetman
kathleenweetman March 08, 2015
Thank you
lizziemellis Platinum
 
lizziemellis March 08, 2015
Beautiful image..voted photographer of the month' Front & Centre and Reflective Selfies :-)
shawnbarber
 
shawnbarber March 08, 2015
What an amazing capture , love the sharpness and color!!!
shawnbarber
 
shawnbarber March 08, 2015
Voted and shared on my Facebook page !!!
kathleenweetman
kathleenweetman March 08, 2015
Thank you
cmorisset PRO+
 
cmorisset March 08, 2015
Voted, amazing capture!
davidbidmead
 
davidbidmead March 08, 2015
Love owl photos, this one is spot on, clarity and detail !
kathymuhle PRO+
 
kathymuhle March 11, 2015
Gorgeous bird - voted Front and center
Wizzard PRO+
 
Wizzard March 16, 2015
Great shot and story!
kathleenweetman
kathleenweetman March 16, 2015
Thank you
anirbansengupta
 
anirbansengupta March 18, 2015
an absolute gem....
ChrisKIELY
 
ChrisKIELY March 21, 2015
Stunning, Kathleen!!
Bluejay45
 
Bluejay45 March 28, 2015
Love it!
1Ernesto
 
1Ernesto March 31, 2015
Voted - All About Eye(s)
gldosa PRO+
 
gldosa April 19, 2015
Remarkable shot. Congratulations - job well done!
estercastillo08
 
estercastillo08 July 16, 2015
Voted Animals Eyes
tmlakshmi PRO
 
tmlakshmi July 23, 2015
voted
NatureLoverJJWal
 
NatureLoverJJWal July 25, 2015
What a lovely eye!. voted animal eye!
estercastillo08
 
estercastillo08 May 12, 2016
Voted Eagles or Owls
kathymuhle PRO+
 
kathymuhle May 19, 2016
The one eye stare - wonderful detail and is that your reflected in the eye? voted eagles or owls
KayBrewer Platinum
 
KayBrewer May 21, 2016
voted Owls
See all

Behind The Lens

Location

I was out taking some landscapes some time ago . I decided to change settings on the camera and do some other shots, when I heard a sound across the yard. When I looked up, this wonderful owl was on the fence of the yard, right next to me. .I was shocked, as it was unexpected, since no one locally knew it was around here. He first looked straight at me. I took a couple of shots, hardly daring to breathe. Then he turned to look around. I managed some more shots. As you can see he was so close. It was as if he did not care .Next moment he was off.

Time

It was around nine a.m. in the morning. It was dry and clear but not bright sunlight. I had been out from dawn trying to shoot mist, but had no success with that.So I hung about to take general landscapes.

Lighting

The morning natural light was all that was needed for the shot. I felt it needed no artificial add on. I did not have a lot of time, so it was a quick adjustment and take the photos.

Equipment

Shot on the Canon 5D.I had used the tripod earlier for the landscapes, but took the camera off to adjust for closer images when this guy shot out of the blue. I knew the owl would not hang about, so I had no time to do anything other than seize the moment and take the photographs. Flash was not used so the light is very natural.

Inspiration

Normally I like to take landscape and portrait images. I went out to do that. But I have found that you take any chance that presents itself when you are working with your camera. I plan well and take the equipment for the shots. But I am not precious about it. Some of the images I take that I love the best, are opportunistic. As long as I remember the rules, even hand held images can work out at times.

Editing

No post processing .

In my camera bag

My Canon camera 5D. Also an old Canon 1100 D. I always have a few filters to cover the lenses. Sometimes I have the 55 to 250mm lens and an 18 to 125 mm one. I set them on the two cameras. I have a good tripod. I always carry spare batteries since I would hate to run out of power . I store images as soon as I can . I carry a card reader and download and back up images right away if I can.

Feedback

When planning to take photos ,I try to check weather in advance so I can use that to advantage.Likewise light. Had I gone out to do a bird shot .. I expect I would have had extension tubes, so the range would be increased. However as this was simply an opportunity that arose.. I made the most of the few seconds I had with this wonderful bird. Instead of me adapting to a bird in the distance...the owl came right to me. So,expect the unexpected. Stay calm. If your camera is no longer on a tripod, then lean it on a steady wall or fence post to keep it still if you have time. And don't fear the huge talons and beak if it comes near. My tip was to "Look him in the eyes!"

See more amazing photos, follow kathleenweetman

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