Hubby and I headed out to eat several days ago and since it was later in the afternoon, I didn't take my camera, knowing the light would probably be gone before we finished. After eating, we decided to take short drive to take a look at our youngest granddaughter's brand new school that had just been completed and set to open. We stopped by the house to pick up the camera, still knowing the light was fading fast.
While we were in the parking lot and I was taking some shots of the sunset, hubby said he thought he saw a hawk in the opposite direction. I turned around, hoping to see the hawk, knowing full well it was too dark for a shot. I didn't see a hawk. What I did see was a great horned owl, in the top of a dead tree. All I was able to capture was a silhouette and I was so disappointed. I started to delete the photo and decided against it, since I've never seen one in person.
This is how dark it was outside, as the sun was setting in the west.
This was the silhouette of the owl in the tree, at quite a distance away.
This is after lightening it up, which did distort the image. You could tell he was large, even so far away.
If I ever have another opportunity, I hope to get a better shot! Until then, this one will have to do.
While we were in the parking lot and I was taking some shots of the sunset, hubby said he thought he saw a hawk in the opposite direction. I turned around, hoping to see the hawk, knowing full well it was too dark for a shot. I didn't see a hawk. What I did see was a great horned owl, in the top of a dead tree. All I was able to capture was a silhouette and I was so disappointed. I started to delete the photo and decided against it, since I've never seen one in person.
This is how dark it was outside, as the sun was setting in the west.
This was the silhouette of the owl in the tree, at quite a distance away.
This is after lightening it up, which did distort the image. You could tell he was large, even so far away.
If I ever have another opportunity, I hope to get a better shot! Until then, this one will have to do.
38 comments:
oh, glad you saved the shot! i've never seen a gho in person in the wild. good going!!!
Lucky You! And lucky us to see this shot! I was a chid when I saw an owl last time in nature. I hope to see one soon again!
Actually, that is a great shot, very artistic.
Love them all!
That was a fantastic capture, love it!
Lovely photos!
www.rsrue.blogspot.com
That was good timing, and your silhouette shot is great, I like photos like that.
First of all, your sunset shot is spectacular. Your lightened image of the owl looks like he's sitting in a snow storm ... I like it a LOT. (Never seen a Great Horned Owl in person myself. Now that I think of it, I've never seen any sort of owl.)
Wow the first photo looks like fire. I've never seen an owl in real life.
I'm thinking that you and I were taking pics of that gorgeous sky the same evening. :) The owl is so cool! I've never photographed an owl. Hope your week is going great!
you should do a photography book!!!
You lucky lady! GHO! Well, they become active at dusk but considering that gorgeous sunset in the background and the silhouette, I loved it. Moral of story: don't go home for camera, keep it with you in case one asked to be seated at the table next to yours...ya just NEVER KNOW!!! Still love the shot. Also, in future...I used to carry a little beanbag stuffed animal in my car to use as a "tripod" on the car door from inside after rolling down the window. Once you learn your settings, you can set for a longer exposure manually for more light but it means that camera needs to remain absolutely STILL. See if you can manually shoot aperture preferred (for depth of field) or shutter preferred (to stop fast action or take a longer exposure under darker light.) It sounds scary, but not as scary as a little varmint feels with a GHO around: GREAT SHOT, love that took it!!!
I agree with Lynn!
Your photo's are always amazing, MsA! Love these so much! :)
I love all of these photos but the last owl one cleaned up looks amazing, that little dude is adorable haha!
Incredible! I had to call my husband over to share it with him. He loves big birds of prey.
Hey, that's not bad!!! They are a rare sight!! Just a magnificent bird, aren't they? Regal.
good work
I am dumb - that looked like an owl to me. Great shot.
Oh! Nice shots! Everytime I see a picture of an owl, I am reminded of a book I read my class. "Poppy" by Avi is about a little field mouse and her success at evading the owl at night.
I like the first one of the owl. It has a mystic look to it. Also the sunset was beautiful, the type you can only get in the winter.
What an awesome shot. I think it turned out well considering it was already getting dark.
What a catch! Beautiful sunset, too! I'm glad y'all stopped to get your camera!
We are so critical of ourselves -- you did a nice capture and I'm so glad you shared!
Well it works for me. Very nice photos under difficult circumstances. As a matter of fact I did a post today on my difficulties in "owling."....:)
I'm glad you didn't delete this. It's quite good, especially considering the low light. I hope you get another chance in the near future to photograph this majestic owl.
Aren't they magnificent? I used to have 3 along the river at my old house. Miss them. Great captures, keep up the photography!
Cool, the way it looks like a drawing after you lightened it. I like it.
Not bad, definitely worth sharing. Most of us rarely get to see a great horned owl so it's cool to look at this one.
The red sky is awesome!
Gorgeous sky shot! You always get the most beautiful pictures...love the owl!!!
i've never seen an owl in person. glad to see your shots.
your sunset photo is simply great!
big hugs~
This is great, Ms. A! I SO want to get an owl, any kind of owl would make me happy! I'm envious of you!
Oh, well done! Glad you had the camera with you!
That is so cool!
love love your photos! the tree and the owl..wow!
Those are great shots. He IS huge.
xoRobyn
Nice! I've never seen a GHO while I had a camera with me. I did however, once belong to an HMO...
That first photos is BEAUTIFUL! The darkness allowed you to faintly see the interior lights, but they were dwarfed by that magnificent sky. I LOVE that photo!
aren't owls just the coolest looking things? there was one in my stepmom's backyard, in her palm tree.... he stayed ALL day, but I think it was just a baby, but even as a baby, he was still a big one! i LOVE that you captured these!!!
The only live owl I've ever seen was at night with a flashlight. Glad you got your shot!!
Post a Comment