My weekend

The weekend thread asked what we would be doing. I said I was hoping to take pictures of owls. Here is a summary of my weekend.



Treecreeper by Blythman1960, on Flickr



Kingfisher by Blythman1960, on Flickr



Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker by Blythman1960, on Flickr



Juvenile Chaffinch by Blythman1960, on Flickr

And so to the owls. Light was fantastic and I was looking forward to taking advantage of it. Wildlife being what it is, the owls didn't play ball. They came out later than they have been doing, when the light was rapidly dimming.



Short Eared Owl - pale bird, limbering up by Blythman1960, on Flickr



Short Eared Owl - a darker bird than the previous one by Blythman1960, on Flickr

Had someone taking the mick as I was shooting over ISO 1,600, which is obviously a no go. The above being at ISO 2,500

So, I thought I'd push the boundaries a bit as it got ever darker. The next two, which are obviously a compromise of quality v getting the shot were at ISO 12,800 and 8,000 respectively


Short Eared Owl in low light by Blythman1960, on Flickr



Short Eared Owl in low light 2 by Blythman1960, on Flickr

All pictures taken with the Sigma 150-500 on the K5

Got to be the last one for me.
The others are cracking shots, but there's something about catcing a bird of prey in flight!

Don't know where the GSW went. Be handy if you could add to an original thread. Here it is again anyway



Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker by Blythman1960, on Flickr

And thanks for the feedback Ted

Tis no probs

One teansie bit of C&C...I'd clone out that fence line above the "Short Eared Owl in low light". It's a tad distracting

Thanks Ted. You're spot on. Unfortunately, although I'm not too bad with Lightroom (which is great for cloning out small areas), I am next to useless at Photoshop. Something I should work on over the winter

Really like the last two, I don't think you've lost too much IQ, and so worth it for the shot of a bird in flight especially.

crikey nice variety of birds Alan , Tree creepers are difficult i can't get a decent one , never seen a short eared owl what a beautiful bird they are nice shots

A nice varied set. Very impressed with the last one. Never attempted a shot with the ISO that high but it works very well and is certainly worth it.

They are all excellent, although some look a tad over-exposed on my laptop screen. This may be entirely the fault of the screen.

The background colours in the penultimate one are lovely.

G

Some do look a bit bright. The owls are good, but for me the trouble with owls is that you are competing with easy to take pictures at owl sanctuaries. For me therefore the standout picture by a country mile is the treecreeper, which is beautiful.

Thanks for all the feedback - much appreciated. I have to agree, looking again that the chaffinch and woodpecker in particular are too bright. Something to be mindful of in future.

As to the owls Dr. O, I have some nice captive shots on my flickr photostream so I know what you mean. I am however, hooked. Its a privilege just to go and watch them, so my photostream is slowly filling up with them while the opportunity is there (some good, some not so good)

The treecreeper is an amazing little bird, that seems to be able to climb down trees as fast as it can climb up them. The photo opportunity was completely by chance, and only the second I've been able to photograph. Well chuffed with it

haven't you shot these in RAW? If not, why not? Would be easy to calm down there....

Bret

Yes, I have Bret, and you are right, it is something I can easily correct, and I will

That,s a cracking tree creeper Alan looks like your weekend was better than mine, spent it installing a shower and cubicle in MY OWN HOUSE!!.Thought about putting up a couple of pics of it but when i saw your shots i did not bother Short Eared Owl beats a Triton any day

Get yourself along Geordie. Prestwick Carr (for the owls that is). Thanks for comments too. Would love to see your TRITON .. lol