Damian D.
Barn Owl at Night
This Barn Owl (Tyto alba) picture was an awesome experience and my first commissioned work. Shot at night, lit by a street light near by.
I received an email from a gentleman explaining that this owl emerged almost daily from a barn visible from the windows of his girlfriend's house. His girlfriend loves the owl and he wanted me to take a picture and he would present a print of it as a gift for Christmas.
I was a little apprehensive at first, as Christmas was right around the corner and taking a picture of an owl at night is no easy task. We agreed I would give it my best shot. He would text me if he saw the owl emerge from its roost.
The first night was in the middle of our cold snap, but I thought I would scout the location out as best as possible. The owl emerged from her roost, but didn't stay long. At least not long enough for me to set up.
The second try, a few nights later, I arrived after being texted that the owl was out. I tried setting up and approaching as slowly as possible from very far away, about 200 feet. She seemed undisturbed by a person working in a trailer, just below her, but she didn't like my presence and took off for her nightly hunt. It should be noted that there is no sneaking up on owls. Their sense of hearing can find small mice in a large field. It was all a matter of how comfortable she was with people.
I noted the times she was emerging from her roost and showed up much earlier the next and final night I could attempt a shot. I set up a hide about 80 feet away from the barn under ghillie net. After some time sitting in my hide she emerged and didn't seem to notice me. I used a shutter release, manual focus, silent Live View mode and took 1/2s exposures, with only the streetlight for illumination. I got about 30 exposures in before she heard another owl call out and left to hunt for the night.
The final print was a 16x20. Overall, I'm pretty happy about it. The client was happy and the girlfriend was also very happy.
Barn Owl at Night
This Barn Owl (Tyto alba) picture was an awesome experience and my first commissioned work. Shot at night, lit by a street light near by.
I received an email from a gentleman explaining that this owl emerged almost daily from a barn visible from the windows of his girlfriend's house. His girlfriend loves the owl and he wanted me to take a picture and he would present a print of it as a gift for Christmas.
I was a little apprehensive at first, as Christmas was right around the corner and taking a picture of an owl at night is no easy task. We agreed I would give it my best shot. He would text me if he saw the owl emerge from its roost.
The first night was in the middle of our cold snap, but I thought I would scout the location out as best as possible. The owl emerged from her roost, but didn't stay long. At least not long enough for me to set up.
The second try, a few nights later, I arrived after being texted that the owl was out. I tried setting up and approaching as slowly as possible from very far away, about 200 feet. She seemed undisturbed by a person working in a trailer, just below her, but she didn't like my presence and took off for her nightly hunt. It should be noted that there is no sneaking up on owls. Their sense of hearing can find small mice in a large field. It was all a matter of how comfortable she was with people.
I noted the times she was emerging from her roost and showed up much earlier the next and final night I could attempt a shot. I set up a hide about 80 feet away from the barn under ghillie net. After some time sitting in my hide she emerged and didn't seem to notice me. I used a shutter release, manual focus, silent Live View mode and took 1/2s exposures, with only the streetlight for illumination. I got about 30 exposures in before she heard another owl call out and left to hunt for the night.
The final print was a 16x20. Overall, I'm pretty happy about it. The client was happy and the girlfriend was also very happy.