Barn Owl Beauty
Jan, 2016Views
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Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Superb Composition
Magnificent Capture
Outstanding Creativity
Superior Skill
Genius
All Star
Virtuoso
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at "Bird Day" at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens in Claremont, Calif. It's an annual event where birds one normally can't get close to, like raptors, are available to view and photograph.Time
The picture was taken at about ten in the morning, in open shade.Lighting
It was soft lighting without any harsh shadows or strong contrasts. It turned out to be great lighting for photographing this barn owl.Equipment
Nikon D5200, Nikon 55-200mm kit lens, f/7/1, 1/500th, ISO 500, handheld in available light.Inspiration
The bird was so calm despite the people and noise going on around him/her. The bird was the epitome of serenity sitting perfectly still on its keeper's arm. Also the bird's coloring; the tans and browns contrasting with the white face and dark eyes. Captivating.Editing
The image is cropped to remove a bit of the keeper's shirt sleeve, and brightened a bit using Photoshop Elements 8. That was all the post processing I did to it.In my camera bag
Nikon D5200 body, Tamron 18-270mm zoom lens and an a Nikon 18-55mm kit lens, circular polarizing filter, remote shutter release, Slik monopod 350 and Slik 500DX tripod, Sunpak digiflash 3000.Feedback
Do your best to shoot birds like this one at eye level. That's not always possible, but when you focus on the eyes it brings the picture to life. The eye contact is is almost magical and it gives a feeling of closeness to the bird. Also, take a lot of shots at different settings to improve your chances of getting a really good shot.
