March 2003

LONG-EARED OWL - B015

(Asio otus)

Lake Erie Metropark, Michigan, USA - February

4.0/500mm + 1.4x – Sensia 100

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Even at -14 °C (6.8 °F) there are some great nature photography opportunities outdoors! 

It was a windy and icy day and I decided to go to Lake Erie to see the ducks and swans swimming in the area where the warm water from a power plant keeps the shore free from ice. Unfortunately the waterbirds were much too far to take any good picture during that day, so I had a walk in the near woods. 

Few meters from the trail I noticed tree owls, which were almost invisible due to their perfectly camouflaging plumage.

The first look through the viewer was unsatisfying because of all the intricate branches between me and the birds.

Luckily, I could change my position and eventually I found a good spot from which I could point my 500mm lens with the 1.4x converter.

I set the exposure by spot metering on the bark of the branch and corrected by -1/3 stop, the Image Stabilizer at 1/90 completed the job...