One of the most significant events in my bird photography career.
- For the last few days I’ve been having fun finding and posting older photos. Poor weather for bird photography is keeping me stuck at home and preventing me from getting new photos so that’s been my next best option. Until I looked again at some of these photos I’d almost forgotten how gratifying it was to set a difficult goal and eventually achieve it after many failures.
In early winter of 2007 I was still a wet-behind-the-ears bird photographer. I’d only had my 500 mm lens for a few months and was just beginning to learn how to use it to its potential on perched birds but birds in flight were still way beyond my abilities. I was shooting at an effective 1120 mm and at those focal lengths I simply could not! find a flying bird in my viewfinder and get it in focus in the short time I had before it was gone.
I remember clearly that I had a single sharp shot of a lumbering and slow Great Blue Heron in flight (I actually posted that photo to a bird photography critique forum) but every other time I’d tried I’d failed. So I basically gave up on birds in flight. They were way over my head, both literally and figuratively.
But when the early winter of 2007-08 rolled around there were suddenly many opportunities for Northern Harriers, Bald Eagles and even Barn Owls in flight and that was the kick in the pants I needed to work at developing my flight shot skills again. Eventually I got a few (very few) harriers and eagles in flight but it was the Barn Owls that were the gold standard so I spent endless hours over many days freezing my fingers, toes, ears and ass off as I stood in front of a tripod in the snow waiting for an owl to fly by.
As far as I can tell from reviewing my older photos the Barn Owl below, this very bird and these very photos, was my first success.
1/2000, f/8, ISO 400, Canon 40D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 Extender, not baited, set up or called in
On February 15, 2008 I was at Farmington Bay WMA standing in the snow next to another photographer who was coaching me when this Barn Owl approached at a cross angle from the north. I remember the joy of actually seeing ‘him’ come into focus in my viewfinder just before I pressed the shutter button.
And once I was locked onto the bird I managed to stay locked on for…
1/2000, f/8, ISO 400, Canon 40D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 Extender, not baited, set up or called in
two more…
1/2000, f/8, ISO 400, Canon 40D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 Extender, not baited, set up or called in
shots before I lost him. He was slightly side lit so I didn’t get any light in his eye but because of their deeply set eyes getting a catch light in Barn Owls in flight is unusually difficult so I didn’t much care.
Hot damn, I had three consecutive sharp shots of a Barn Owl in flight with no body parts clipped so I was in my own personal nirvana. In the following days, before the weather warmed up and Barn Owls stopped flying in daytime, I managed to get a fair number of additional flight shots of Barn Owls. I was on a roll and to this day I have this owl to thank for it.
Without this bird and this success I might very well have just given up again. I can only take so much frustration.
Ron
Note:
Looking back on these photos I’m reminded of the advancements in photo technology. The burst rate of my old Canon 40D was only 6.5 frames/sec. Back then if I’d had access to my current 7D Mark II with a burst rate of 10 frames/sec I’d probably have been able to get twice as many shots of this owl before I lost it in my viewfinder. And my 7DII has a slow burst rate compared to many of the newer cameras.
I “get it” about finding a bird in flight with a prime or far reaching zoom. My best bet is locking in on a perched bird and following it. I’ve visited Farmington Bay last summer. Would be nice to be with another shooter. My driver was impatient and I didn’t get any magical shots. My VERY BEST TIME was birding with Bill and Billy Finamore. It crushed me when Bill passed. I was scheduled to go out with him a couple of days after that.
Linda, at least we’ve still got Billy.
Three striking shots of a ghost flying by. The bird itself is a pure beauty and the colors of its mantle are reflected on the elements present in the background. A unique moment and you were ready.
Thanks, Laval.
For some of the first successful images of a bird in flight you did well – patience pays and practise makes perfect.
Best wishes from Down Under for the Festive Season and New Year.
Thank you, Gary. I wish the same for you.
I’m so glad you had this wonderful success. For you and for us.
Thank you, Marty.
Wonderful shots! Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to all!
Thanks, Jean.
Ron they are beautiful photo’s! I think they are the pretties of all the Owls!
Thank you,
I like the sidelight with the highlight on the leading edge of the wing.
As do I.
Like all the others here, I’m grateful that you had this successful encounter with that gorgeous Barn Owl to keep you fully invested in bird photography, because where would we be without the awesome images and stories you share with us every day? Thanks for bringing this one back to your blog.
I’ve had occasional opportunities to hold rescued Barnies for examination, and I am always struck by the beauty of their feathers — like they’re sprinkled with gold dust, just magic!
“I am always struck by the beauty of their feathers — like they’re sprinkled with gold dust”
In the right light that’s it exactly, Chris. Thank you.
I’ve been looking at them for over five minutes playing the “If you could only frame one, which one would it be?” game. It’s a tough choice, but I think number one because I love, love, love the colors in that left wing topside. But they’re all winners!
I think that’s my favorite of the three for the same reason, David.
What glorious images — and what an inspiring story. Learning to deal with frustrations can be so hard; I’m so glad you persevered to offer us both your great photos and some darned good ilfe lessons.
Shoreacres, readers often congratulate me on my patience, a commodity that I’m usually embarrassingly short of. But birds like this owl have taught me to be patient, but only with birds. Too bad I haven’t been able to apply that lesson to other aspects of my life.
Spectacular Series! Thanks for sharing Ron!
Charlotte Norton
Thanks, Charlotte.
I am endlessly grateful to that Barn Owl. It gave you the impetus to continue and us hours and hours of delight and wonder. With a lot of awe thrown in.
And, as you know, I am a huge fan of owls. Too many owls would be barely enough.
Too many owls? I’ve never seen it and never will… 🙂
You could be justifiably proud had the capture of this bird in flight been a one-off, but you have gone on to do it so many times. I have an inkling of what it takes just trying to get a similar image in my scope. Just a blur. Live action viewing can’t compare to what we see vicariously through your lens.
When I was seven or eight years old at day camp someone was showing us a Barn Owl. I don’t remember much about my early childhood but that Owl sure left an impression. Its name was Sebastian.
Lyle, from what you said I think you probably do have a pretty good sense of how challenging birds in flight are. It gets easier with lots of practice but all that practice with little success can be pretty demoralizing.
The thrill of success! What a blessing for all of us 😊
Thanks, Kathleen.
Hi Ron, Lovely image. It’s been some time since I took a look at your blog. I think many of us who chase our feathered friends with a camera have had similar experiences. I think mine was also with an owl, a great-horned, while on the San Juaquin wildlife refuge in California’s Central Valley. I had seen him drop into some cat tails and figured he was gone, but while shooting a black-necked stilt on a pond in front of were the owl landed, he “arose” from the cattails and flew toward me at about a 15-20 degree angle off my right. A quick shift of my 600 to my right and he was in the frame and my 5DIV locked on. A quick burst of 5 to 6 clicks and he was gone. I immediately looked at my screen, and my socks came off. Ah, the joy of that experience, yet to be repeated.
Have a great holiday season Ron. Hope for good weather so you can get out and freeze some finger tips.
We don’t forget those first successful experiences do we Frank. It’s kinda like that first kiss… 🙂
I have to say that I think the world is a better place because you were able to persevere……I and many others of your posse are better able to meet the new day after your reminder, each morning, of the beauty still “out there”. I can
hardly imagine you behind a TRIPOD, trying to “lock on”……I admire your
stubborn determination and am glad it has been richly rewarded !
I appreciate the very kind words, Kris.
These days it’s fairly hard for me to imagine myself behind a tripod too. Now I spend nearly all of my time photographing birds from my pickup.
Beautiful. Makes my heart and mind sing.
Thank You and Happy Holidays,
Kaye
Park City, UT
Same to you, Kaye. Thanks.
Beautiful and oh so grateful you figured it out – help from someone more experienced will often do the trick! 😀 Being able to “find” and lock in IS a challenge with a long lens! Yes, the technology has changed rapidly and still is. All the owls silent flight always amazes and, sometimes, startles me….
Thank you, Judy.
Beautiful photos and great memories Ron. I may have seen barn owls somewhere in the past before I was interested in bird photography, but never since. I share your excitement at being able to photograph birds in flight. I still struggle with it and at almost 83 probably will never master it. I can do eagles fairly well, but my toughest two are the Kestrels and Northern Harriers.
Thanks, Everett. Few if any of us ever “master” photographing birds in flight.
Thank you for sharing your images of this beautiful owl. I have only seen one here in New England when I was doing a Herring count at a fish ladder and it flew by me so close and silently it startled me. And of course no camera in hand !!
Gary, as you probably know, silent flight is a hallmark of Barn Owls. They’re so silent in flight it can be almost spooky.
What a beauty and I HEAR joy joy in catching this beauty for the first time! Thank you for sharing.
Barn owls are so outrageously spectacular. For those of you who have never seen them up close and personal, the intricacy of their plumage colors is beyond spectacular! It will literally take your breath away with their beauty. I was blessed to work with an education barn owl who was a major sweetie except that if you let him, he’d climb up on your shoulder–a residue from the people who’d taken him from the nest as a hatchling, imprinted him and taught him that. I struggled to take my eyes off him to do my duty as an educator! It was NOT unusual to catch myself staring at him. Just stunningly beautiful! He forced me to repeat “How do you DO that?” frequently!
You’re right about the beauty of their plumage, Laura – especially in flattering light. Combined with their unusual facial disc they’re a bird that most folks don’t forget once they’ve seen them up close.
Absolutely beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Mark.
That must have been exhilarating to see that behind the viewfinder let alone nail it in these amazing shots. Those moments are forever etched in your memory. Congrats!
You’re right, Elmer. I won’t forget it.