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Serendipity - it pays to always have your camera lying on the car seat beside you.
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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.


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

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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.

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

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

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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.

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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!

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Feb 17, 2024 16:34:29   #
tcthome Loc: NJ
 
Like that blue pattern/texture in the first one. Lucky catch see this one.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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

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