fredlemire
FollowGreat Grey Owl
Gatineau,Quebec Canada
Canon 1DX 500m 1-3200s @f-5 ISO 3200
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16123
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Awards
Action Award
Chatter Award
Zenith Award
Creative Winter Award
Curator's Selection
Top Shot Award 21
Legendary Award
2020 Choice Award
Contest Finalist in The Talent Awards
Contest Finalist in We Love Animals Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Our Natural World Photo Contest
Member Selection Award
Contest Finalist in Freshmen 2016 Photo Contest Vol 2
Contest Finalist in The Battle Of Professionals Photo Contest
Featured
Contest Finalist in Image Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 9
Pro Photographer of the Month
Contest Finalist in Monthly Pro Vol 21 Photo Contest
Spring Selection Award
Editor's Choice
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
Superior Skill
Outstanding Creativity
All Star
Genius
Virtuoso
Top Ranks
Categories
vibgyorphotophobia
April 16, 2016
WOW!!! Look at the eyes just trying to convey something to the lens... Awesome click...
markcowne
April 19, 2016
Absolutely fabulous photograph. There is nothing more that could have been achieved - you got the lot!
bitterer
April 21, 2016
Great capture. I'm sure you had to be patient to get the shot, and that's when the equipment really pays off. :)
Litasbeautifullife
August 28, 2016
Wow like a Spartan warrior in forward force striking awe and fear entwined
Keri
September 09, 2016
Just breathtaking. You're an incredible photographer. Very insipring. Thankyou.
markkrause
January 01, 2017
Simply Stunning! Well, except I don't expect that this capture was anything simple...
susanmcfarland
March 14, 2018
Beautiful! Have you entered this in the Owl Challenges? They are free and you earn points if you win. Let me know if you can't find challenges, as they are not photo contests. :-)
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
I spotted this Great Grey Owl in an open field that was surrounded by a mixed forrest near Gatineau, Quebec,Canada. I got my gear ready and waited until the owl start hunting for prey. After she landed on the snowy ground , I was ready to take the shot, as I knew she would lift off. Just like a fighter jet, she lifted her wings and started flying. I was happy to see the result of the image, with the intense look on the owl’s face and the definition of the muscles of the wings. This is one of my favourite images.Time
I took this photo on a winter morning in January just before the sun came up. It had just snowed so the snow covered the field like a blanket. To get great winter shots, no matter the subject, I will head out early in the morning after a snow fall when the snow is clean, fluffy and free off tracks. This can make the difference between a good shot and a great shot.Lighting
The morning that I captured this image the lighting was perfect. It was overcast which means there was no harsh light or shadows. The light was even which helped me achieve the perfect exposure for this image.Equipment
This was shot on a Canon 1DX 500m 1/3200 @ f/5 ISO 3200 Gitzo carbon-fiber tripod with Jobu Design Jobu Jr. head.Inspiration
I was inspired by the fresh coat of snow the morning that I captured this owl taking off. The white blanket of snow created a perfect runway for my "fighter jet" owl. The snow makes the photo more interesting, the fluffy snow that lifts from the ground when the owl takes off creates an element of action within the shot. The pure white carpet around the owl means there are no distractions in the image which allows the viewer to focus on the intensity in the owl's expression and its movement.Editing
I shoot raw so i used Photoshop, Lightroom and Nik software to fix a bit of white balance, tones but I didn't play too much with this image.In my camera bag
The first thing I pack in my bag is my sat phone and GPS. I live in the Arctic and up here you can have problems if the weather turns on you. I always have my Canon 600mm for wildlife. It's important to have long focal length to a keep a safe and discreet distance so I don't disturb the animals and can capture their behaviours in their natural state. I carry also a 100-400 II and 24-105 for hand held and wider shots. I use Canon 1DX Bodies and always carry extra batteries ,memory cards and a carbon fiber tripod with a Jobu Jr head.Feedback
For birds and moving wildlife, its important to use a fast shutter speed to freeze the movement of the wings and to capture other movements of the animal. Don't be afraid to boost your ISO, especially with higher end cameras, to use a shutter speed of 1/3200s for birds-in-flight photography . A good tripod prevents movement and helps you to stabilize your lens. It also makes you focus on the subject and the timing of your shot instead of struggling with the weight of the lens.