Baby Owl Update #3

I usually check this Great Horned Owl Nest weekly, however weather forecast is cold and rain for all next week. so I thought I would go a little early. Realy hoping to catch some test flights.

No flying yet mostly resting and sleeping.

http://gallery.photographyreview.com...lBaby005sm.jpg

http://gallery.photographyreview.com...lBaby002sm.jpg

http://gallery.photographyreview.com...lBaby004sm.JPG

Sun has set, Mom returns.

http://gallery.photographyreview.com..._babies001.jpg

Love that second shot!

Hi Cara,
Thanks for the comment. It is interesting the one laying down is the largest with more color developed in the feathers. The one on the right is the runt. It had only been 5 days since my last visit but I can see growth.

It really sucks all the action (activity in the nest) starts after dark.

Great captures!

I think the third is the best of the bunch because of the light in the eyes. The sky is a bit bleached in all of them, but that is a lame complaint on my part given the amazing capture. Of course you can PP the sky if you have it raw.

In fact, I would love to PP the raw file on this. You could totally freak out on it...

I have to agree with daq7 on number 3...the capture of the eyes is over the top! Excellent work, Bob.

Hi Dag7,
Thank you for your comments. dag, feel free to fix my sky, please tell me what you did. I am still learning and enjoy PP.
I have a post/question in the PP forum on adding clouds, if you have some time please check that out, would enjoy any suggestions you could offer.
I do shoot RAW original file is Nikon NEF 19mb 14-bit lossless compression. Don't know if I can email such a large file.

I see you are local. Got a big lens? Always enjoy company on a shoot. Let me know?

Hi Ken,
Yeah, the eye's are very cool.
It sucks that most of the activity in the nest starts about 15 minutes before sundown.

They mostly set there with their eyes closed during the day which is good for about 1 shot.
It does gets very active after dark. Mom is flying low across the field hunting, the owlings are walking around the edge of the nest flapping their wings.
Very fun to watch with 25x 80mm binoculars.

However, even at ISO 3200, f4, and 1/125th SS on a tripod I can't catch it.
I feel lucky they do anything at all when the light is good.

thanks for sharing