WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY: BARN OWLS: (Part Two)
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- čas přidán 14. 04. 2019
- Photographing a stunning wild Barn Owl on a perfect but frosty early morning in south east England.
The second of my two videos where, despite a few hours of frustration, I have a magical encounter on each morning with the same returning male Barn Owl.
** Please stick with the video because all the magic happens literally as I was packing up to go towards the end !!
Please SUBSCRIBE to this channel if you'd like to and I always appreciate constructive comments and questions as it really helps to know people are watching !! (Click the "bell" to get notification of new stuff as I make it)
This is the result of my many years watching and studying local Barn Owls and to illustrate that the few magical moments you can sometimes get make all the hard work worth it.
If you missed PART ONE, here is the link :
• WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY: ...
I will be doing a further video where I discuss my techniques for photographing Owls (birds in general) in flight but I felt to add to this one would a) slightly take away from the magic of the morning and b) make the video a bit lengthy !
I just want to stress that I always do my best to ensure the wild animal I am filming is never disturbed or changes his behaviour because of my actions. Sadly a small percentage of wildlife photographers don't do this and I believe should always be called out on it. If, for example, a Barn Owl is frightened off it's hunting ground , it really could be the difference between life and death for a near-starvation Owl. This simple fact seems forgotten by a few and I think it's important it's reiterated by the vast majority of photographers who accept that NO photo is worth any distress to the subject.
For us and future generations to enjoy our amazing wildlife we all have a duty of care. (rant over !! :-) . )
I support the Barn Owl Trust in Devon who do great work to help my favourite British animal and their website is an amazing source of useful information if you want to know more.
www.barnowltrust.org.uk
You can follow me on my Instagram account as I put my latest images up on there: / nigelpmorley
My website: www.nigelmorley.co.uk
CAMERA SETTINGS: Individual image settings are shown at the end of the video against each image. But in addition I used Auto-ISO as maintaining a minimum shutter speed of c1/1000th was vital. As you can see though, the light was amazingly good for late winter.
FILMING: I have used footage both from my DSLR's and my Canon G7Xii but I'm sure you'll appreciate it's a very different proposition vlogging wildlife than landscapes with the randomness of the subject but I hope you'll forgive it not being up to "Planet Earth" standard but my aim was to get across the atmosphere of the day with all the associated roller coaster of emotions.
EQUIPMENT USED IN THIS VIDEO:
Nikon D4 and D810
Nikon 500mm f/4 VR II telephoto
Gitzo 3541XL Tripod
Wimberley Gimbal head
FOR THE VLOGGING:
Canon G7x Mark II on a cheap but very effective K & F tripod
Separate audio via Zoom H1 Audio recorder and a Rode lav mic.
MUSIC: All supplied by Epidemic Sound
ABOUT ME: A long time passionate wildlife/landscape photographer and conservationist, I have always shot different genres of photography but now my subjects are largely driven by love of countryside and wildlife/landscapes especially in the UK. I have a long term conservation project ongoing involving restoring land that was previously arable farmland back to wildlife friendly set aside with wildflower meadows and zero spraying etc
Looks like each day your patience paid off as the barn owl showed up latter than you thought. Great shots.
Many thanks Kenneth
Such a joy to see, so glad you stayed long enough-just- as you’ve ended up with some wonderful images!
Beautiful Barn Owl, and photo's i can only dream off ...:)
Thank you Nigel for showing us your world I can honestly say watching you you and the barn owls is priceless and I'm glad I stumbled across you and thank you again from Ian
Excellent video, really enjoyed it, great photography and advise, brill!
Thanks for commenting and watching Richard
Thank you. Your videos are helping with my photography and love for wildlife.
Thanks Joy...much appreciated
What a great set of images and all pin sharp well done glad I found your channel.
Love it!!! Just the best!!!
Cheers Johnny..much appreciated
Beautiful Film, very inspiring. Big Thank You From Norfolk.
Amazing images Nigel! Just subscribed and looking forward to keeping up with your channel. 👍
Beautiful images, what a stunning bird.......patience paid off, great results 👏👏👏👏
Thanks for watching and commenting Mark, they are amazing birds
Stunning images once again. All down to your hard work and dedication.
Thanks Tommy
Great video well done
Patience always pays off - tremendous job Nigel, awesome pics. Those moments are really worth the wait. :)
Thank you my friend.
Fabulous shots of the barn owl. Never managed to see one but I live in hope. Another enjoyable video.
Thanks Jeff. The populations are quite localised and sadly not that many left these days. Best chance is North Norfolk if you are ever over that way but the key is when driving or walking the countryside look for good habitat and as I mentioned in the video, the Barn Owl Trust website shows you what that looks like, what barn Owls need etc so may be a good place to start if you want to go on a quest to see one. Thanks for watching and commenting
Beautiful photos and video - a real treat to see the barn owl in such excellent light too :)
Thanks Geoff...yes as I mentioned in the video I was amazing to get such light and surprised to see the Owl out so late after sunrise and sadly haven't seen this owl in same location since that week. Hopefully he has moved on to a different more productive territory which often happens in spring as they need an area that can produce enough food for the female and chicks and suspect this area has lost too much good land recently due to farmers changing usage of several large fields . Thanks for commenting
Truly amazing. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Ian..glad you enjoyed it
Another awesome video Nigel, I was deflated last night after my attempt but you have brought the smiles back :) beautiful images.
Nice photos - 💕Barnaby! Great video, Nigel. Yes we are watching. 😇
Many thanks...christened Barnaby by a friend's niece who loves Owls !!
Fantastic video Nigel. As I said before I find it really interesting to watch videos about other geners and these two about barn owls was fascinating. What a treat to be able to photograph these birds. Plus you get to wear all that ninja gear!
Yeah the Mrs stopped me wearing it around the house so only in the hide these days !! Thanks Julian, obviously in wildlife the variables are pretty big but this was a unique moment for me in 20 years watching Barn Owls with the combination of a beautiful morning, perfect light and an Owl that kept around until the good light AND I had both cameras and (pretty basic) vlogging gear...I've not seen this Owl in this or neighbouring fields since sadly.
Nice Video Nigel! Barn owls are so beautiful birds. Hope to photograph them one day.
Many thanks Trond..good luck with your quest !!
Such an inspirational video, certainly gives me a gaol to aim for thank you
Thanks for watching and your comment Mark
what a dream of pictures and experience!
Thanks Michael. I doubt I'll get a better experience in such amazingly good light for a long time. But it comes after many hundreds of hours walking, waiting, studying my local Barn Owls so it was nice for it to pay off and I'm very pleased I managed to get enough vlogging minutes to make a record of the encounter.
The work that you put into capturing these gorgeous shots is remarkable. Much respect to you.
Thanks for watching and commenting
Awesome video and great shots with great patience! Owls are so cool!
Thanks Max,,,they are cool indeed !
Lovely video Nigel, been shooting my local ones but struggled with over-exposure. Looking forward to trying again using exposure compensation that you explained in a previous video.
Great video. Barn Owls make such a stunning subject.
Cheers, much appreciated
Great image Nigel.... well done for being patient.
Thanks John
Great followup video to the first one!
Thanks Peter. Very rare to get two/three consecutive mornings like that and even rarer that I thought "Yes I really should take the vlogging gear along" and the two coincide !
Really enjoyed this video, thank you! (I had my first proper sightings, last winter, of a barn owl and a short eared owl, too, in the same area. Didn't stop grinning for days! )
Thanks for watching....once you've seen either owl at close quarters it's when you realise how amazing they are...
Superbly done.
Thanks for watching
Just found you, Thank you for such an enjoyable and informative video. I have subscribed and hit the bell. Look forward to some more from you. Very well done.
Many thanks for your kind comments Steve
Fantastic, I just found your Chanel and subscribed ...... Barn Owls are my favourite we have them here along with Tawnys the perks of living on a rural property..... looking forward to watching more on your Chanel great work 😊
Thanks Leigh-Ann...Barn Owls have been my main conservation project for the last 15 years or so and I never tire of seeing one. Trying to get Tawnies this year to use the box I put up 18 months ago for them so fingers crossed ! Thanks for watching and commenting
Nigel Morley fingers crossed you get some luck! We put 2 boxes up about 18 months ago to and although the Tawnys regularly visit one no takers as of yet but I am forever hopeful..... I just love the owls and I’m trying to do my bit to help them out so thrilled to come upon your Chanel hoping to pick up some tips many thanks from up here in Aberdeenshire 👍
nigel so inspiring !!!! its ok seeing those fantastic shots but to me it is watching the effort and journey to get them and with a bit of humour too !! brilliant got some lovely shots of a barn owl hunting the other day hand held though cant seem to get that sharpness i want ! but videos like this keep me challenged , well done
Thanks Michael..Barn Owls make it tough as usually when they hunt the light is either falling, poor or just plain appalling ! Good luck with it,
Just found your channel and I'm hooked, brilliant stuff.
Cheers Dave
Thanks for the tip of the hut!
No worries
great video, shoot what you got!
nice work really ..
Thanks, much appreciated
Excellent work. We don’t have barn owls around us so these images are much appreciated. I guess you have’t figured it out yet but Barney’s not on daylight saving time and is enjoying his sleep ins and hoping you do as well!🤣🤣 oops, he doesn’t know you there🤔
Haha thanks Bob..All makes sense now !
Great video part 1 and 2. I’m new to photography so thanks for the tips. I’m off out to see (hopefully) a barn owl a sunrise today having seen him/her yesterday evening so fingers crossed.
Thanks for commenting Matt and good luck with the Owls. It's a very tough time of year for them especially with the recent snow/rain/wind. If you see one hunting in daylight hours it'll be because they are starving so be careful not to disturb them as every calorie spent is critical
@@nigelmorley8092 I was lucky enough to see one but from about 150yrds away which i managed with my binoculars,I was more than happy with that and watched it for about an hour. Ill hopefully come the summer think of setting up a hide maybe.
It was such a joy to hear the songbirds in the background. Here in my part of Australia we don’t get a soft dawn chorus, only the screech of cockatoos. The are like the Spice Girls, pretty to look at but can’t sing.
Haha..thx Martin...it's easy to take somethings for granted (the songbirds I mean rather than Geri in her hotpants)
Excellent video Nigel,I've just started using the Z6 for the silent shooting..will be interesting to see how I get on. One more subscriber to add to your list. Thank you .
Thanks Ted..I'm probably 60% on my way to mirrorless and they certainly seem the way forward..I just want Nikon to bring out a Sony A9 beater with 20fps/120fps slow-mo/good battery life and I'm sold !!
I've had exactly the same thing happen several times... wait around for hours and then just as you're packing up to leave the owl shows up! I'm also working on a video about photographing barn owls though my shots are not on the same level...
Good luck with the project Rob..amazing birds that need all our protection and support
Hey Nigel great video. How do you find the land to put your hide?
Nigel do you use spot metering ? on your barn owns with - compensation and what type of AF ? Great vids keep em up
Thanks Brent,,I hardly ever use spot metering (only in a very stable situation with a tricky subject lighting wise) ...AF-C continuous 99% of the time...I did a separate video on Wildlife Photography Exposure and Focusing settings where I discuss what I like to use that you may be interested in.and that got a lot of positive feedback ..
Just found your channel. Great shots.they inspire me to build on my efforts that all seem to be at distance flying away. Is the hide you are using available to rent?
Thanks for watching/commenting Max....the site is all on private land so it's not accessible but you can buy small pop up hides or even just scrim netting which when thrown over the top of you can make a big difference. Wildlife Watching Supplies in Devon run by Kevin Keatley supply all sorts of gear like that and I've used them many times
Hi I have barn owls where I live but one day they left cause the jackdaws were mobbing
Them do you think they will come back.by the way great photography
Thanks. If your habitat is right then they should return but crows are a real problem sometimes and Barn Owls do try and avoid them as much as possible. In mid summer a lot of young crows gather together in big flocks when they have hatched and that will definitely put Owls off but if it's just a few Jackdaws it shouldn't be a problem.
How many focus points do you tend to use ?
What lens are u using for that owl
Thank you for replying - on behalf of my son!
No problem..it's easy to miss comments !
thanks Nigel - i'm new to birding and you had lots of good advice. I shoot on manual anyway, but lose pics to high noise/high iso, will try Aperture priority. i'm off to hunt puffins on Skomer next week , so finding your video came just in time! instagram: robin_moon_photography. cheers.
Thanks Robbie...enjoy Skomer as its a brilliant place I've visited and stayed on several times. Lots of opportunities there so you get lots of second/third chances ! If you're liking manual and feel confident with it then it is a great way to keep control and it's something I recommend to people when they feel confident so you're obviously very capable but I still find Aperture Priority (with auto iso especially) can be a great go to setting as a starting point with only thing to change for spec situations (ie the ev dial)....re the Puffins remember (especially in sunlight) they have very bright white chests so dial in maybe -1 ev or more so they don't get overexposed OR get an exposure off the Puffins brightest parts and set that in manual and fire away (for choice if I was sitting at The Wick on Skomer , as it is a steady situation , I'd probably go the manual route but be careful of course is the sun is going in and out then you have to change it each time)......Re the noise, not much you can do about that in tough lighting conditions except use as wide an aperture/slow a shutter speed as you can to reduce the noise and without camera shake..always that compromise of course !! ...hope that helps a little bit and have a great trip