Ugly Hedgehog - Photography Forum
Home Active Topics Newest Pictures Search Login Register ☰
Check out Sports Photography section of our forum.
Sub-Gallery: Birds
Serendipity - it pays to always have your camera lying on the car seat beside you.
Page 1 of 2 next>
Feb 17, 2024 11:33:52   #
Jon Hornsby
 
I went up to Lake Yates, Alabama, late yesterday afternoon (Feb. 16th) and on the way home at dusk, a great horned owl landed in a tree. I got a few hasty handheld shots with my Nikon D7200 out of the driver's side window of the car before the owl decided to fly away. I know these are grainy and not the clearest pictures because of the high ISO and the fairly extreme cropping, but I was thrilled to see this magnificent bird. Not only that, I was amazed how well (in my opinion) the shots turned out using the Nikon SB-500 Speedlight mounted in the camera's flash shoe. I eliminated the "redeye" using Photoshop Elements but I like the effect, so I included both the redeye version and the corrected version.

EXPOSURE DATA: F8, focal length 140 mm (maximum zoom), ISO 3200. Shutter speed and distance for the perched shots: 1/80 (no exposure compensation) at an estimated distance of 35 or 40 feet. For the inflight shot, the shutter speed was 1/60 second (again, no exp. comp.) at maybe 25-30 feet.


(Download)


(Download)


(Download)

Reply
Feb 17, 2024 11:56:35   #
NMGal Loc: NE NM
 
The red eyes certainly added a bright spot. I like the inflight one.

Reply
Feb 17, 2024 12:04:27   #
djsteul
 
Great photos. Lake Yates, I don’t know where that is. I will look it up. Thanks for sharing.

Reply
 
 
Feb 17, 2024 12:10:23   #
Rongnongno Loc: FL
 
It will ultimately land in the bird section... Where it belongs.

Reply
Feb 17, 2024 12:12:31   #
UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT
 
Good catch!

Reply
Feb 17, 2024 12:15:07   #
jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania
 
Jon Hornsby wrote:
I went up to Lake Yates, Alabama, late yesterday afternoon (Feb. 16th) and on the way home at dusk, a great horned owl landed in a tree. I got a few hasty handheld shots with my Nikon D7200 out of the driver's side window of the car before the owl decided to fly away. I know these are grainy and not the clearest pictures because of the high ISO and the fairly extreme cropping, but I was thrilled to see this magnificent bird. Not only that, I was amazed how well (in my opinion) the shots turned out using the Nikon SB-500 Speedlight mounted in the camera's flash shoe. I eliminated the "redeye" using Photoshop Elements but I like the effect, so I included both the redeye version and the corrected version.

EXPOSURE DATA: F8, focal length 140 mm (maximum zoom), ISO 3200. Shutter speed and distance for the perched shots: 1/80 (no exposure compensation) at an estimated distance of 35 or 40 feet. For the inflight shot, the shutter speed was 1/60 second (again, no exp. comp.) at maybe 25-30 feet.
I went up to Lake Yates, Alabama, late yesterday a... (show quote)


-------
Nice shots. They both came out very good especially for a grab and shoot moment.

Reply
Feb 17, 2024 16:06:10   #
Sinewsworn Loc: Port Orchard, WA
 
Jon Hornsby wrote:
I went up to Lake Yates, Alabama, late yesterday afternoon (Feb. 16th) and on the way home at dusk, a great horned owl landed in a tree. I got a few hasty handheld shots with my Nikon D7200 out of the driver's side window of the car before the owl decided to fly away. I know these are grainy and not the clearest pictures because of the high ISO and the fairly extreme cropping, but I was thrilled to see this magnificent bird. Not only that, I was amazed how well (in my opinion) the shots turned out using the Nikon SB-500 Speedlight mounted in the camera's flash shoe. I eliminated the "redeye" using Photoshop Elements but I like the effect, so I included both the redeye version and the corrected version.

EXPOSURE DATA: F8, focal length 140 mm (maximum zoom), ISO 3200. Shutter speed and distance for the perched shots: 1/80 (no exposure compensation) at an estimated distance of 35 or 40 feet. For the inflight shot, the shutter speed was 1/60 second (again, no exp. comp.) at maybe 25-30 feet.
I went up to Lake Yates, Alabama, late yesterday a... (show quote)


Interesting set!

Reply
Check out Smartphone Photography section of our forum.
Feb 17, 2024 16:34:29   #
tcthome Loc: NJ
 
Like that blue pattern/texture in the first one. Lucky catch see this one.

Reply
Feb 17, 2024 19:14:19   #
joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA
 
Jon Hornsby wrote:
I went up to Lake Yates, Alabama, late yesterday afternoon (Feb. 16th) and on the way home at dusk, a great horned owl landed in a tree. I got a few hasty handheld shots with my Nikon D7200 out of the driver's side window of the car before the owl decided to fly away. I know these are grainy and not the clearest pictures because of the high ISO and the fairly extreme cropping, but I was thrilled to see this magnificent bird. Not only that, I was amazed how well (in my opinion) the shots turned out using the Nikon SB-500 Speedlight mounted in the camera's flash shoe. I eliminated the "redeye" using Photoshop Elements but I like the effect, so I included both the redeye version and the corrected version.

EXPOSURE DATA: F8, focal length 140 mm (maximum zoom), ISO 3200. Shutter speed and distance for the perched shots: 1/80 (no exposure compensation) at an estimated distance of 35 or 40 feet. For the inflight shot, the shutter speed was 1/60 second (again, no exp. comp.) at maybe 25-30 feet.
I went up to Lake Yates, Alabama, late yesterday a... (show quote)


The two of you sure had an eventful experience yielding wonderful results

Reply
Feb 18, 2024 07:13:10   #
Delderby Loc: Derby UK
 
Jon Hornsby wrote:
I went up to Lake Yates, Alabama, late yesterday afternoon (Feb. 16th) and on the way home at dusk, a great horned owl landed in a tree. I got a few hasty handheld shots with my Nikon D7200 out of the driver's side window of the car before the owl decided to fly away. I know these are grainy and not the clearest pictures because of the high ISO and the fairly extreme cropping, but I was thrilled to see this magnificent bird. Not only that, I was amazed how well (in my opinion) the shots turned out using the Nikon SB-500 Speedlight mounted in the camera's flash shoe. I eliminated the "redeye" using Photoshop Elements but I like the effect, so I included both the redeye version and the corrected version.

EXPOSURE DATA: F8, focal length 140 mm (maximum zoom), ISO 3200. Shutter speed and distance for the perched shots: 1/80 (no exposure compensation) at an estimated distance of 35 or 40 feet. For the inflight shot, the shutter speed was 1/60 second (again, no exp. comp.) at maybe 25-30 feet.
I went up to Lake Yates, Alabama, late yesterday a... (show quote)


The red-eye shot gives the pic something special it's a hanger and a seller.

Reply
Feb 18, 2024 11:47:02   #
Jon Hornsby
 
I returned to that spot yesterday, but of course, the owl wasn't there. However, I discovered much to my surprise that I was over twice as far away as I thought when I snapped those pictures. I was really IN THE MOMENT - it was a brief but intense encounter. The owl won't remember me, but I will always remember that encounter.

Reply
Check out The Pampered Pets Corner section of our forum.
Feb 18, 2024 23:30:55   #
KolorFotoBug Loc: Massachusetts
 
It is alway great to have a camera handy to capture serendipitous moments. In this case, I have heard from birding experts never to use flash on owls. It leave them blind. I hope that there is no permanent damage but I am not sure if anyone know or not. I am sure that you have experienced the discomfort of bright light after having your eyes dialated for an eye exam.

Reply
Feb 19, 2024 09:40:05   #
Jon Hornsby
 
Thank you, KlorFotoBug. That did not occur to me at the time. If I did the wrong thing, I am truly sorry I can only offer after-the-fact apologies to all birders and to my uninteded victim, the owl. Hopefully, the fact that the owl flew away without smacking into a tree means its sight was not damaged. And yes, you are right -- I have experienced the stab of pain in bright light after an eye exam.

Reply
Feb 19, 2024 19:16:53   #
Bubalola Loc: Big Apple, NY
 
Jon Hornsby wrote:
I went up to Lake Yates, Alabama, late yesterday afternoon (Feb. 16th) and on the way home at dusk, a great horned owl landed in a tree. I got a few hasty handheld shots with my Nikon D7200 out of the driver's side window of the car before the owl decided to fly away. I know these are grainy and not the clearest pictures because of the high ISO and the fairly extreme cropping, but I was thrilled to see this magnificent bird. Not only that, I was amazed how well (in my opinion) the shots turned out using the Nikon SB-500 Speedlight mounted in the camera's flash shoe. I eliminated the "redeye" using Photoshop Elements but I like the effect, so I included both the redeye version and the corrected version.

EXPOSURE DATA: F8, focal length 140 mm (maximum zoom), ISO 3200. Shutter speed and distance for the perched shots: 1/80 (no exposure compensation) at an estimated distance of 35 or 40 feet. For the inflight shot, the shutter speed was 1/60 second (again, no exp. comp.) at maybe 25-30 feet.
I went up to Lake Yates, Alabama, late yesterday a... (show quote)


It always does, Jon

Reply
Feb 21, 2024 16:25:01   #
topcat Loc: Alameda, CA
 
Nice captures

Reply
Page 1 of 2 next>
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.
Check out Film Photography section of our forum.
Sub-Gallery: Birds
Home | Latest Digest | Back to Top | All Sections
Contact us | Privacy policy | Terms of use | DMCA
UglyHedgehog.com - Forum
Copyright 2011-2024 Ugly Hedgehog, Inc.