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The Living Forest (33) : Little Owl by night 
Mark Billiau.
18.02.2009 at 8:00h, License:
Location : Nature reserve ‘Walenhoek’ at Niel (Belgium)
Dutch name : Steenuil
German name : Steinkauz
Latin name : Athene noctua
A big thanks to BRYAN CRUTE for the kindly nomination of this picture.
The making of :
While I was waiting for the best light to capture the Blue Hour shot (see below), I heard some rustle now and then in the shrubbery behind my back.
After a while I could see it was a Little Owl.
When the Blue Hour shot was finished, the owl was still sitting there quietly in the bushes.
It was already pretty dark, but I thought why not give it a try.
So I turned the camera on the tripod around for 180 degrees and pointed my lens at the bird.
It was impossible to shoot the owl without using flash light.
To temper the awful hard light of the flash however, I placed a brownish cellophane in front of the flash and all shots were made with an underexposure of 2 stops.
Next problem was the focusing in this dark light condition.
I had to rely on the help of the red auto focus assistant lamp of the camera and hoping it would function well (it did in 80% of the shots).
The owl was hardly visible in the moonlight, but I started shooting, at random.
A first shot. A second one a bit more to the left. Another one a bit more to the right, then a bit more up and a bit more down.
Sometimes the owl jumped a moment to another bush. So, I had to do it again and again and again……..
And the owl ?
Well, he stayed there all the time and watched the light show.
The shot that I uploaded was the best that came out without disturbing branches in front.
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Comments:
To leave a comment please register firstCharly Roggow, 18.02.2009 at 8:22h
Eine ganz wunderbare Aufnahme, gefällt mir sehr gutLG Charly
Die Mohnblumen, 18.02.2009 at 8:35h
Eine sehr gute Präsentation der Eule, top!!LG K-H
BRYAN CRUTE, 18.02.2009 at 8:48h
Utterly amazing shot !Thank you for the information, it makes the picture all the more remarkable. My sincere compliments
Regards
Bryan
Josef Kainz, 18.02.2009 at 9:23h
Das ist ganz was feines super Portraitlg. josef
Ryszard Basta, 18.02.2009 at 9:39h
ausgezeichnetCees Kuijs, 18.02.2009 at 9:41h
What an exceptional beautiful capture, Mark !! Lucky you, with such a patience fellow !!Pinsharp details, very well lit. Great work for sure !!
Greetings, Cees
s. sabine krause, 18.02.2009 at 9:50h
great shot!! and what a great model!!! the look his face is just great and really made me laugh: he looks so strict but at the same time so very pleased with himself and his performance… a star is born! a born star… : )))) greetings and good luck for the voting, sabine.Gruber Fred, 18.02.2009 at 10:40h
Fantastisch diese Aufnahme mein Pro hast du auf diesem Weg,zur Abstimmung iuns Voting komme ich leider nichtLG Fred
Pe-Sto, 18.02.2009 at 11:10h
Fantastisch, Mark ... das Foto ist wirklich brilliant gemacht ... und dann auch noch unter diesen widrigen Umständen. Respekt!!!Ich drücke dir die Daumen für`s Voting. Ich finde, das Bild sollte durchaus in die Galerie. Also: PRO .. :0)
glg Peggy
Leonid Khodyrev, 18.02.2009 at 11:36h
ProAnca Silvia B., 18.02.2009 at 11:49h
Ach....Great!CsomorLászló, 18.02.2009 at 11:54h
What eyes!!bw
CsL
Ushie Farkas, 18.02.2009 at 12:49h
Nicht zu toppen,Mark,ganz fantastisch! Salut UshieChristine Ge., 18.02.2009 at 13:04h
Eine faszinierende Aufnahme, Mark! Die Mühe hat sich absolut gelohnt. Das Gefieder und vor allem natürlich die Augen der Eule wirken großartig und zauberhaft.Viel Glück beim Voting!
Gruß Tina
JeannyL, 18.02.2009 at 16:02h
wunderschön Mark,ein klasse Foto
LG Jeanny
Bergjäger, 18.02.2009 at 16:43h
Genial!!!SUPER PRO!!!!
LG Bergjäger
Gunther Hasler, 18.02.2009 at 18:53h
Wunderbar erwischt, Mark, ein ganz besonderes wildlife Foto in klasse Qualität, besonders unter den beschriebenen Umständen!Leider kann ich anscheinend in com nicht voten, mein pro wäre dir sicher!
LG Gunther
Marlies W., 18.02.2009 at 23:16h
Super Foto, herrlich diese Schärfe und der Glanz in den Augen! Gefällt mir sehr gut! Hoffe dein Bild schafft es in der Abstimmung, hebe dir ganz fest die Daumen!GLG Marlies :-))
Adele Oliver, 19.02.2009 at 0:45h
You did a fantastic job, especially under those conditions. She is magnificent!greetings, Adele
Rikki und Winni, 19.02.2009 at 11:27h
Was für eine großartige Aufnahme von einem faszinierenden Vogel!! Ein wunderschönes Vogelportrait!LG Rikki
Deryck, 19.02.2009 at 18:56h
Mark I think this is a wonderful story. It is a fantastic shot too. Your story is an insppiration to me. I still want to go and shoot night wild life shots. Good luck in the votingDeryck
Luc Grollie, 19.02.2009 at 19:07h
dedication rewarded !!!!!a real beauty, of which I'm soooooo jealous.......
good luck in voting !!
greetz,
Günter Nau, 19.02.2009 at 20:00h
Hi my friend,this is a phantastic shot, which must go to the gallery. You have my pro.
Regards
Günter
Pozer Katalin, 19.02.2009 at 22:33h
:-) If the owl could laugh, he did at you. It was hard to manage the shot but it was worth to bother with it. Congrats, Mark.Hugs, Kati
Gaby Darsow, 20.02.2009 at 11:12h
Auf jeden Fall pro,leider kann ich nicht mitmachen;.(
Die Aufnahme ist vom Feinsten,Mark!
LG.Gaby
Mauro Stradotto, 20.02.2009 at 19:28h
Wow!!!!!!! E' uno scatto magico, uscito dalle migliori favole!!!Auguri per la votazione, PRO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Buon week-end,
Mauro
Wolfgang Rothenbücher, 21.02.2009 at 12:11h
Hier würde ich sofort pro voten, aber ich kann nicht!Wenn man die Umstände bedenkt, unter denen das Foto
entstanden ist, kann ich Dir nur mein Kompliment ausdrücken!
VG
Wolfgang
Astrid Buschmann, 22.02.2009 at 8:47h
Hallo Mark,dies ist eine fantastische Aufnahme dieses Vogels mit absolutem Seltenheitswert - diese Tiere in freier Wildbahn fotografieren zu können, das gibt es fast nicht. Du bist ein Glückspilz mit viel Geduld, Ausdauer und Improvisationstalent - mein Pro hast Du sicher.
LG Astrid
My Blick, 22.02.2009 at 9:44h
excellntGreetings:-)
Comy, 22.02.2009 at 18:17h
+++Fritz Berger, 22.02.2009 at 21:39h
Kann leider nicht abstimmen - wünsche Dir alles Gute!LG
Fritz
MoniC CHAILLIER, 22.02.2009 at 22:44h
tu as de beaux yeux, tu sais !!;-))
cordialement
Kadriye AYDIN, 25.02.2009 at 20:53h
WONDERFUL...WELL DONE...KADRIYEHalvorsen, 1.03.2009 at 11:30h
Subers shot with stunning details! Never seen a owl like that so close before.... ;-)))Bruchhummel, 1.03.2009 at 15:24h
Faszinierend!Saska S., 3.03.2009 at 16:01h
Wow Mark, this is fantastic!!! Well taken.Regards, Saska
susi schl., 9.03.2009 at 10:07h
Deine Eule ist wirklich klasse, besonders unter so schwierigen Bedingungen.Schade, dass ich erst jetzt von der Abstimmung in der Galerie erfahre. (Ich glaube, es ist schon vorbei.)
Ich hätte auf jeden Fall für dich gestimmt.
lg
Susi
Carolina K., 11.03.2009 at 15:16h
Excellent! Really amazing photo.Carolina.
Voting Center, 18.03.2009 at 23:00h
Inez Correia Marques, 18.03.2009 at 23:22h
Compliments MarkMark Billiau., 19.03.2009 at 8:08h
@ Everybody who voted pro : thank you very much.And of course a special thanks to BRYAN CRUTE for the nomination of this picture.
Mark
Deryck, 19.03.2009 at 18:38h
Congrats my friend. You did well and deserved this star!Deryck
MAURICE CLEGG, 19.03.2009 at 20:00h
well deserved gallery, one of the best owl close-ups i have seen and you certainly put in the effort to capture this adorable image.regards, maurice.
Cary Maures, 19.03.2009 at 20:26h
Hey Mark,Great capture. I like the dark B/G.
Halvorsen, 19.03.2009 at 23:02h
Fantastic picture, Mark!The details is stunning, and the light too.
Very well done, and congratulations! :-))
Best wishes, Vanessa.
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Natalja Dralova, 20.03.2009 at 8:06h
Amazing capture!Norton, 20.03.2009 at 23:13h
Great capture...................Tony.
Christa Regina, 3.08.2009 at 21:32h
Das ist so cool. Am 18.2. hast Du dieses herrliche Foto eingesetzt. Der 18.2. ist mein Geburtstag und mein Mann hat mir immer am Geburtstag ein Geschenk überreicht mit den Worten: "Für Dich kleine Eule". Grins.Sei lieb gegrüsst von Christa
cosmosgirl, 19.10.2009 at 23:10h
My new FAV...it is BEAUTIFUL !!!!!Claudia
. just the model
TeresaM, 3.10.2010 at 22:22h
Impossible de ne pas admirer !!!Bravo pour ce regard et ce portrait fantastique :-)
Amitiés,
Miguel SR flowers, 14.02.2011 at 13:13h
You have amazing photos, I'll be coming over times and times around.Thank for sharing :-)
Thanks for commenting my photo
Gandolfo Giacomarra, 15.02.2011 at 21:29h
A truly wonderful photos ..... wonderful colors ..hrishikesh thakur, 25.03.2011 at 11:15h
A+++nokk, 7.04.2011 at 9:40h
Fantastic capture, Mark! Excellent details and posture, you were so close...All my appreciation!Hugs,
doina
KORNELIUS100, 6.05.2011 at 8:58h
FANTASTIC SHOT !!+++++++++++++++++++Miguel SR flowers, 9.05.2011 at 16:02h
Thanks so much for sharingLovely
Superb photo
froekensnork, 18.05.2011 at 10:42h
Wonderful!qRudi, 25.10.2011 at 22:29h
Een miraculeuze foto.Glenn Capers, 26.06.2012 at 21:38h
cheers the owl rocks..To leave a comment please register firstRelated photos in the fotocommunity
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BRYAN CRUTE, 18.03.2009 at 23:00h
Please read the information Mark has added to how this great wildlife shot was taken.Not a stuck on a pole zoo picture !
This is real pro photography grabbing the moment to get the picture.
PRO for me.