Great Horned Owl juvenile in early morning light
Glacier County, Montana
D200, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 250, 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited
Normally I prefer natural settings when I photograph birds but there are times when I believe that man made structures or features can add to an image rather than detract. Weather worn fence posts, rusty barbed wire, wood with an aged patina or rustic building structures can add interesting textures and visual appeal.
I especially like the combination of old wood and owls, in this photo a juvenile Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) is perched on an external structural beam of an old granary in Montana in warm, early morning light. My camera and lens were mounted on a tripod and the owlet was static so I was able to use a relatively low ISO and shutter speed. My reason for doing that is because the lower ISO produces more fine detail than if I had gone to ISO 500. I wanted to capture the details in the downy feathers of the young owl plus the details and character of the old wood.
Juvenile Great Horned Owl yawning
Glacier County, Montana
D200, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1/350, ISO 250, 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited
A rule that bird photographers often follow is to have eye contact with the bird but I believe that rules can be broken and still produce appealing images. There may be some people who would not like the photo above because it does not have eye contact from the bird, personally I think the image is interesting because of the wide open yawn of the immature owl and that with the bird’s eyes closed it appears to have long, dark eye lashes.
So; while some viewers may not like this image, for me this photo has great appeal even though I have broken a rule. Rebel that I am. 
Immature Great Horned Owl in a granary window
Glacier County, Montana
D200, tripod mounted, f6.3, 1/500, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited
This image was taken in evening light that wasn’t quite as warm as the two owl photos above that were taken in early morning light so the wood does not appear to be as golden. The strong winds of the Montana plains have taken a toll on these old structures, the granaries lean away from the normal direction of the wind and nothing appears to be level any more.
I like how the owl stands out from the very dark interior of the granary through the window, the pose of the bird and the knotty, cracked appearance of the wood. Even though I do not have direct eye contact from the young owl one of the things I like is how it appears to be gazing off in the distance and doesn’t show the least bit of concern for my presence.
A pair of Great Horned Owls have raised a brood each year in these old granaries on the farm in Montana, I hope that next year I’ll be able to photograph them again.
Mia
Great Horned Owl female in a granary window – Nikon D200, tripod mounted, f6.3, 1/250, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited
