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Northern Saw Whet Owl



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Awards

Chatter Award
Zenith Award
Legendary Award
Contest Finalist in Beautiful Owls Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Anything Birds Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Only Owls Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Birds On Branches Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Our Natural World Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Celebrating Nature Photo Contest Vol 1
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Runner Up in Eagles Or Owls Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Eagles Or Owls Photo Contest
Runner Up in Birds Of A Feather Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Birds Of A Feather Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Rule Of Thirds Essentials Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Monthly Pro Vol 18 Photo Contest
Staff Winter Selection 2015
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Peer Award
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
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Impressed
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Top Ranks

Anything Animals Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Anything Animals Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Change Of Seasons Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Change Of Seasons Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Wildlife Speed Series Photo ContestTop 10 rank
An Unforgettable Adventure Photo ContestTop 10 rank
The Swag ProjectTop 10 rank
The Swag ProjectTop 10 rank week 1
The Wonders of the World Photo ContestTop 10 rank
The Wonders of the World Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Beautiful Owls Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Beautiful Owls Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Unique Sceneries Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Unique Sceneries Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Anything Birds Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Unique Sceneries Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Everything Nature Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Everything Nature Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
The Talent AwardsTop 10 rank
Only Owls Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Only Owls Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
ViewBug Photography AwardsTop 10 rank
ViewBug Photography AwardsTop 10 rank week 1
Birds On Branches Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Birds On Branches Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
World Photography Day Photo ContestTop 10 rank
World Photography Day Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
World Photography Day Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Wildlife Portraits Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Wildlife Portraits Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
We Love Animals Photo ContestTop 10 rank
We Love Animals Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Our Natural World Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Our Natural World Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Celebrating Nature Photo Contest Vol 1Top 10 rank
Celebrating Nature Photo Contest Vol 1Top 10 rank week 2
Celebrating Nature Photo Contest Vol 1Top 10 rank week 1
The Battle Of Professionals Photo ContestTop 10 rank
The Battle Of Professionals Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 3
The Battle Of Professionals Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
The Battle Of Professionals Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Animal Kingdom Photo Contest Vol 1Top 10 rank
Eagles Or Owls Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Animal Kingdom Photo Contest Vol 1Top 10 rank week 2
Eagles Or Owls Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Birds Of A Feather Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Animal Kingdom Photo Contest Vol 1Top 10 rank week 1
Birds Of A Feather Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Rule Of Thirds Essentials Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Rule Of Thirds Essentials Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Monthly Pro Vol 18 Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Monthly Pro Vol 18 Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Monthly Pro Vol 18 Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1

Categories


30 Comments | Report
onyanita PRO+
 
onyanita October 25, 2015
gorgeous capture
Kathy_Banich
 
Kathy_Banich December 11, 2015
A stunning wildlife scene with incredible detail and flattering natural light. Simply Awesome!
Konstantin-Kor
 
Konstantin-Kor February 03, 2016
WOW! It's fantastic! Wonderful photo!
MatthewMosesPhotography PRO
MatthewMosesPhotography February 07, 2016
Thanks!
adavies PRO+
 
adavies February 03, 2016
Love this! Awesome capture! Nicely done! :)
Jennuinenature
 
Jennuinenature February 05, 2016
Absolutely Amazing!
The photo I strive to find is that of an owl. I have one that sits atop the church behind my house on the steeple at night. Too far away and too dark, but I will get him one day.
BLPhotography Platinum
 
BLPhotography February 05, 2016
Great capture. I believe that is the smallest owl. At least in N. America. I have only seen two. One sat like that and it seemed pretty docile. I didn't get a picture because I had left my camera in the motorhome and it was getting too dark to go back and get it and back to take the picture. I envy you this is an excellent shot. Bob
MatthewMosesPhotography PRO
MatthewMosesPhotography February 07, 2016
Thanks Bob, this was the first I've ever seen. Now if I could ever find the elusive Boreal owl
jennifers
 
jennifers February 05, 2016
Wow, absolutely beautiful.
Cecirene
 
Cecirene February 06, 2016
Absolutely stunning! I'm envious!
JDLifeshots
 
JDLifeshots February 06, 2016
Beautiful capture! Congrats.
kristinekrienerkulish
 
kristinekrienerkulish February 06, 2016
WOW is all I can say. WOW Beautiful.
MatthewMosesPhotography PRO
MatthewMosesPhotography February 07, 2016
Thanks Kristine!
SnowbunnyPhotography Platinum
 
SnowbunnyPhotography February 11, 2016
Love, love, love this image!! We have one at the wildlife center where I work. They are SO cute! You captured her/him perfectly. :-)
dashaherman PRO+
 
dashaherman February 14, 2016
Just perfect!!!!!
Bazz PRO+
 
Bazz February 14, 2016
Fantastic capture!
koosfranken
 
koosfranken February 19, 2016
Awesome find and captured superbly
sydneyosbourne
 
sydneyosbourne March 16, 2016
Kudos!
Gieneke
 
Gieneke March 20, 2016
Wow ,Those eyes.
Lovely setting.
maureenshay
 
maureenshay March 20, 2016
This really speaks to me-great composition combined with muted colors and then the bright eyes effectively holds your perusal in place,Background complements crispness of branches in forground
MatthewMosesPhotography PRO
 
MatthewMosesPhotography March 21, 2016
Thanks everyone for your comments and sharing what you like about this photo. I was definitely appreciative for the short time I got with this little owl.
ndejong
 
ndejong June 09, 2016
nice capture, and congratulations - Saw-whets are awesome!
WendyR
 
WendyR June 14, 2016
Such a beautiful photo
siegart
 
siegart June 14, 2016
sooo lovely and cute.
ScribblersNest
 
ScribblersNest October 05, 2016
SO SWEET!
Mycozyhome
 
Mycozyhome October 25, 2016
So beautiful. Everything about this photo is perfect.
The-fotografizer
 
The-fotografizer December 18, 2016
Adorable.
Witmar
 
Witmar December 31, 2016
wonderful picture
gailtimms
 
gailtimms March 10, 2017
Love this
Alwolfe Platinum
 
Alwolfe September 19, 2017
Stunning capture!
anneryanmiller PRO+
 
anneryanmiller November 14, 2018
This is quite a lovely photograph.
WolfEyesPhotography
 
WolfEyesPhotography November 28, 2018
Fantastic, ethereal photo with engaging subject and soft tones - awesome!
VieruAndreiSilviu
 
VieruAndreiSilviu December 07, 2018
The eyes are just perfect!
See all

Behind The Lens

Location

Sometimes you are lucky. This was actually shot right off the deck of the house I was living at. The neighbors were having their property logged in late winter to clear out all the old dying trees. Woke up in the morning to the dogs barking at the window and found this owl snoozing in the tree.

Time

There was just after 8am on a late February morning in Northern Minnesota. A very cold time of year!

Lighting

Lots of soft winter light reflecting off the snow cover. It was probably 10F out so the air was cool and the sun wasn't too bright yet and it provided the great catch light and side light.

Equipment

This was shot with a Nikon D3 and a 600mm lens on a Wimberely tripod head. For those that are curious was 1/320 at F/6.3 and ISO 400.

Inspiration

Seeing this lifer owl, sitting right outside my window Just had to get as many pictures as I could before if flew off. Turns out it stayed around for a few hours so I got to enjoy it for quite a while.

Editing

In Lightroom I cloned out a few sensor dust spots in the background. Added a small bit of clarity, adjusted the black down and the whites up a little bit. In photoshop applied sharpening via the hi-pass filter applied as an overlay.

In my camera bag

Really depends on the day. These days, a Nikon D800 and my 16-35mm landscape lens. If I am going after birds or wildlife then the 600/F4, sturdy trip-pod, and my Wimberely head. Plenty of fresh batteries and already formatted memory cards.

Feedback

Lots of patience, get that exposure and focus right. Have to move deliberately to take advantage of a scene when it falls in your lap!

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