GReat Gray Owls

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 11:07 am

Was able to get some pictures of this beautiful owl. It's not a regular visitor to my area but they are in there irruptive year which brings them here.

Sorry if they are big, I'm at work.

Tunnelcat · Post by **Tunnelcat** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 3:56 pm

Owls are so neat. Last winter, I actually saw a Great Snowy Owl in my backyard in the evening. That night I heard it again, hooting. It was one of the most beautiful birds I'd seen recently. He took off before I could get my camera and he's never come back. I'd never seen one before, or since, and they're pretty rare to even see in Oregon at all.

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-north ... aranc.html

Flatlander · Post by **Flatlander** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 4:53 pm

Nice pics - I haven't seen many owls down here in Florida, but we have lots of ospreys and hawks.

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 5:20 pm

I have a Snowy Owl about 5 min from me.

Sergeant Thorne · Post by **Sergeant Thorne** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 6:27 pm

Nice shots! Owls are cool. We get "Barred" Owls around here. They have a very unique call: (not my video)

[youtube]fppKGJD3Y6c[/youtube]

woodchip · Post by **woodchip** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 5:16 am

Great pics Merlin, especially the ones of the owl in flight. Care to give a little info on how you got the shots, what camera/lens etc?

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 6:15 am

I have a Canon T2i with a 70-300mm IS lens. I was in a spot on field where I had just left taking pictures of another GGO in the bush. I was waiting around and he suddenly came out of the forest to my left. I then started to snap pictures of him. They don't usually come this far east but it seems to be there Irruptive year. IUt happens every 4-5 yrs or so for us.

dissent · Post by **dissent** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 10:32 pm

Nice shots. The grey owl portrait seems especially sharp. I've just recently considered getting the Nikon version of the 70-300 lens, but I am holding off for now to consider other options that may have better lower light potential. Nevertheless, you are doing well with yours. Send us some more.

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 5:33 am

Dissent, I would love to have a 2.8f version of my lens but sadly I can't afford them. I am sorta hoping to get the 100-400mm L lens from canon and use the 1.4x extender on it to get further reach.

dissent · Post by **dissent** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 7:54 am

Yeah Merlin, I know that feeling. Any longer glass purchase is going to be a longer term save-up-for-it proposition for me as well. In the meantime, I probably will try renting some of the candidate lenses as opportunities to use them arise, to see which one fits in with my shooting style/capabilities.

The important thing is, . . . keep shooting!

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 8:19 am

I shoot almost every weekend. I have tons of places to go around town and some places the birds will feed out of your hands. Go here and see most of my better work.

http://www.redbubble.com/people/unibrain

dissent · Post by **dissent** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 9:38 am

Got some very nice stuff there. Love that Cedar Waxwing shot.

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 10:06 am

Those were taken at my work. The trees are in the cafeteria courtyard.

Sergeant Thorne · Post by **Sergeant Thorne** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 5:44 pm

Is there any money in that sort of photography? I've had thoughts of getting into it for a little bit of supplemental income (or even just to supplement a higher-quality camera for personal and business use), since I've had an interest in and an eye for it in the past.

Like that shot of the pileated woodpecker on the ground.

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 7:43 pm

There is money in it if you have some good gear and want to do weddings, parties portraits etc. But you have to be able to produce quality shots without mistake to sell to the client.

Sergeant Thorne · Post by **Sergeant Thorne** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 9:31 pm

What about just selling unique shots? Wildlife, scenery, etc... That's really what interests me more than hiring out to events. I don't suppose you could make a living entirely from that, unless your subjects were unique enough or in-demand enough. I just noticed that you can buy prints on the website you post your photos to, and I wonder what your experience has been there. Ever sold any?

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 5:54 am

I've been on Redbubble for a couple of years and have never sold a shot. It's not the easiest thing. You can sell your pics to "stock picture" sites but you don't make much money out of it.

Isaac · Post by **Isaac** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 12:53 pm

owl love to see one in the wild

Tunnelcat · Post by **Tunnelcat** » Mon Feb 11, 2013 11:33 am

I saw this on the news yesterday. Those big, yellow, blinking eyes peering out of the truck grill are amazing. I wonder how his big owl body fit through that narrow grill though? Ouch.

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/ ... -wiser-now

Flatlander · Post by **Flatlander** » Mon Feb 11, 2013 5:57 pm

Wow, that's crazy - only in Floriduh

I've lived here all my life and the only owls I've ever seen in the wild were some Florida burrowing owls.

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Mon Feb 11, 2013 6:08 pm

My brother had a Barred Owl hit his pickup mirror. He picked it up and brought to a shelter here. A week later he took it back to where he hit it to release it.

Isaac · Post by **Isaac** » Mon Feb 11, 2013 9:49 pm

tunnelcat wrote: I wonder how his big owl body fit through that narrow grill though?

he was talonted

Tunnelcat · Post by **Tunnelcat** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 6:26 pm

Isaac wrote:he was talonted

Boooooooo! Hissssssssssssss!

woodchip · Post by **woodchip** » Wed Feb 13, 2013 8:48 am

Isaac wrote:
tunnelcat wrote: I wonder how his big owl body fit through that narrow grill though?
he was talonted

He horned his way in.

Alter-Fox · Post by **Alter-Fox** » Wed Feb 13, 2013 11:16 am

There are some owls that occasionally nest on my block, about halfway down from where I live.
You can hear them whenever they're here but it's harder to get a look at them through all the tree branches...

Tunnelcat · Post by **Tunnelcat** » Wed Feb 13, 2013 11:53 am

woodchip wrote:He horned his way in.

Double boooooooooooooo, hiiisssssssssssss!

Maybe owls are as bendable and flexible as cats.

Isaac · Post by **Isaac** » Wed Feb 13, 2013 2:01 pm

woodchip wrote:
Isaac wrote:
tunnelcat wrote: I wonder how his big owl body fit through that narrow grill though?
he was talonted
He horned his way in.

That grill was his owlschwitz

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