Stumped Screech
Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio)
Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio)
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May, 2020Views
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Awards
Contest Finalist in Nature Addict Project
Contest Finalist in Earth Day Photo Contest 2022
Curator's Selection
Contest Finalist in Mother Nature Photo Contest 2021
Contest Finalist in Capture Mother Nature Photo Contest
Top Shot Award 21
Contest Finalist in Animal Kingdom Photo Contest vol2
Runner Up in Beautiful Animals Photo Contest
Winner in Owls Photo Challenge
Staff Favorite
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Superb Composition
Magnificent Capture
Outstanding Creativity
All Star
Superior Skill
Genius
Virtuoso
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Top 20 rank week 1
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GreenCopperz
October 21, 2020
Thank you! It was so lovely to get this shot, I was ecstatic! Love being outdoors 😊
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ReverenceStills
November 19, 2023
Really gorgeous bird, what kind of owl is it? I’ve not seen one like this previously.
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GreenCopperz
November 19, 2023
It's an Eastern Screech owl, Megascops asio is the scientific name. This one is a grey morph.
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at a nearby lake in the National Capitol Region. I don't want to mention precisely, as these critters get disturbed enough already as it is and they're rearing their babies at the moment :-)Time
This was taken later in the afternoon this spring. This guy is a proud poppa and was perched having some alone time about 16 ft gazing peacefully atop a tall stump that was likely damaged by the tornado two years ago.Lighting
This was totally the ambient light that managed to fall within the tree canopy. I had a circular polarizer on.Equipment
Here I used my 5D mark IV, a Canon EF 300mm F/4 L IS, and a Hoya Fusion Antistatic CIR-PL 77mm circular polarizer. I usually have my BG-20 grip so I can have the extra shooting capacity as far as battery stamina and balance when shooting vertical. This shot was completely hand held.Inspiration
I have a wonderful colleague and fellow viewbugger, MeaganHauteclocque, who is an amazing wildlife photographer. (Sorry Meagan lol) She's been pretty patient with me and from time to time will let me know of some critters out and about. She tries to limit their whereabouts to avoid causing them undue stress. Some birders have been known to bait these beautiful birds to keep them around. I am all about leaving them keep to themselves and not pull those stunts all for the sake of the shot. Patience and repetition is the key to great wildlife shots.Editing
For most wildlife shots, there is processing the raw files with DXO photo 3 and the odd crop, curves adjustments and occasional noise removal. I shoot with a 5DmkIV and an EF 300f/4 L IS, so I I usually get little noise, even at 6400.In my camera bag
Umm, nowadays I have too much, but I generally carry my Canon BG-E20 grip on my 5D mark IV, along with a EF 24-70 f2.8 II L, a EF 70-200 f2.8 IS II L, I have a EF 50 f1.8 III, an EF 85 f1.8 as well as an EF 300 f4 IS L. I have a Canon 600 EX RT II speed light and a Metz 52 flash. I have a whole whack of Yongnuo 622 flash controller thingys too.Feedback
Please be kind to the forest dwellers. We are in their environment and we must not be disruptive just to get "the shot". Be patient, be persistent and respect your distance. NEVER bait wildlife, as this isn't a natural situation and we can't have them get accustomed to expecting food. Always obtain permission when venturing onto someone's land if the owl or animal is on private property and respect their wishes if declined. Leave the location better than you found it, thus don't leave trash and don't remove pesky branches. Hopefully this COVID19 pandemic will allow nature to come back a little better than year's past. We should all respect wildlife and their habitats and at the same time marvel at their beauty respectfully.
