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Meet "Gizmo"


Meet
Photo Information
Copyright: Scott Evers (scottevers7) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2432 W: 3 N: 3894] (12309)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-03-19
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 20D, Canon 70-200 f2.8 L IS + EF 1.4X II, B+W UV MRC
Exposure: f/8, 1/100 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2006-03-22 18:43
Viewed: 5533
Favorites: 3 [view]
Points: 88
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Another raptor shot from the World Bird Sanctuary. This very little guys name was "Gizmo", and he was a shade over 6 inches tall. He was being held by a handler outside when this photo was taken. This is one I shot without any fill flash. Even at f8, the DOF is shallow due to being so close to fill the frame. The weather was very cloudy and overcast.

The cuteness factor of this little guy was off the chart for me.

Northern Pygmy Owl - Glaucidium californicum

Description: The Northern Pygmy Owl is a tiny, woodland, diurnal Owl that is most active between dawn and dusk. They have greyish or brownish or reddish (3 morphs) upperparts and light belly that is boldly streaked with brown. The head and nape are liberally sprinkled with whitish dots (more cinnamon or buff on red morph). On the nape are 2 distinctive, vertical black patches that resemble an extra pair of eyes. The relatively long tail is distinctly barred with 6 to 7 light stripes. Eyes are yellow, bill is yellowish-horn, and the toes are greyish-yellow.
Juveniles are similar to adults but with unspotted and greyer heads, and fluffy plumage.

Size: Average Length Female: 18.5 cm (7.3"), male: 16.5 cm (6.5")
Average Wingspan 38 cm (15")
Average Weight Female 73 g (2.6 oz), Male 62 g (2.2 oz).

Despite their small size, Northern Pygmy Owls are quite fierce, and will attack prey or drive off intruders several times their own size. When one of these owls is threatened, it will puff up its feathers and spread its tail to make itself look larger. When hiding, it tries to look thin, faces the danger, and closes its eyes into slits.

Hunting & Food: Northern Pygmy Owls are "sit and wait" predators, that hunt mainly by vision, diving down onto prey on the ground and driving the talons into the prey's throat. they will also attack birds in shrubs, crashing into the hapless victims. Most prey is carried off in the feet to feeding sites. Birds are usually plucked before being consumed. They often eat only the brains of birds and the soft abdomen of insects! One of these little owls can carry prey weighing up to 3 times its own weight.
The Northern Pygmy Owl feeds on a wide range of small prey including small mammals, birds, and reptiles and amphibians. Voles make up the bulk of their diet, with birds comprising most of the rest (mainly songbirds, but as large as a California Quail). Other small mammals include shrews, mice, chipmunks, bats, moles, young rabbits, and weasels. Insects may be very important when they are most abundant. Other prey taken are toads, frogs and small lizards and snakes.

Source - www.owlpages,com
marhowie, Gudule, loot, ScottHale, radz, goutham_ramesh, Janice, Dave, petrudamsa, Hoos, AndyB, PDP, SunToucher, red45, dew77, Dando, coasties, wallhalla15, CTP, saguzar, cecilia, livios, sAner, ellis49, Athila, ddg, Luc, firelord has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Gudule Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 248 W: 11 N: 288] (1204)
  • [2006-03-22 19:28]

WOW! Scott, very, very good capture. Lighting, détails, light in the eyes, everything is just superb. Colors are so real. TFS.
Congratulations.

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5524 W: 722 N: 4163] (11276)
  • [2006-03-22 19:35]
  • [2]

Great Scott, wonderful shot.
This is an excellent photo with stunning details. The composition/cropping is done well, colours are brilliant, DOF & BG is good, and exposure & lighting was expertly handled.
Very well done and TFS.
Regards
Loot

Hi Scott
I must agree with you about the cuteness factor - wonder if the name was inspired by the movie "Gremlins". Even with the shallow DOF, the shot is tack sharp on the eyes and neck plumage. It's a first rate portrait.

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
  • [2006-03-22 20:28]

His big yellow eyes are so clear. The details on his face are just fantastic. Great POV with great DOF and composition. TFS. Scott. : )

Scott,
Holy crap. This is amazing!
I am truely in awe of your post here. I thought my shot of Gizmo was good but yours is 20 times better. I'll probably trash mine now! I'm glad I didn't take a leap and post mine, especially on TN. I love the focus, catchlight and shallow DOF. great pose and perfect composition.
Very well done my friend, I couldn't imagine better results than this. I'm looking for the 50 points button here!
Scott

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 598 W: 11 N: 72] (436)
  • [2006-03-22 23:08]

Wow what a eyes!Excellent portrait&nice details.

Hi Scott,

Great potrait of this fella. I like the eyes.
Superb shot, well composed , excellent exposure

TFS
Goutham R

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2006-03-22 23:27]

Woooo! Wooo! I don't think you could get his eyes any sharper Scott! Beautiful fellow, excellent capture, and his expression is awesome! Perfectly shown,
Janice

hi scott
houas!!!!!
FABULEUX,EXTRA.
laurent

Hi Scott,
and Hi Gizmo!

Great quality and hypnotic eyes. Lovely little hunter that you caught in an excellent pose.

Regards, Petru

  • Great 
  • Hoos Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 19 W: 0 N: 20] (111)
  • [2006-03-23 0:50]

Nice portrait Scott!! you really make a exc shot the owl looks great, keep taking that kind of interesting photos.

Hi scott,

Excellent sharp and detailed picture of this Owl,like the vision in his clear eyes,
posted a workshop to see what would be the result of some extra cropping,hope you dont mind,

Paul

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1366 W: 32 N: 1351] (3982)
  • [2006-03-23 2:16]

Hello Scott,
A very nice capture.
Excellent eye detail and a great pose.
A nice clear background and good framing.
Excellent work!

TFS

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2006-03-23 2:51]

Hello Scott, lovely portrait. He looks a bit startled. I think it could be a little sharper, especially around the eyes and beak. Nice composition. Well done.

Hi Scott,
What a great photo and so sharp. The colors and detail are excellent the shallow DOF works great with this tight crop. The b/g is perfect, not distracting any attention away from Gizmo.
TFS,
Niek

Excellet capture Scott

Sharp detail and vivid colours. Just look at those eyes.

Great work and TFS

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
  • [2006-03-23 4:11]

Hi Scott! Hi Gizmo!
Ultrasharp and detailed portrait of this beautifull bird. I like different kinds of feathers and its big eyes. Very good post my friend!

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4432 W: 248 N: 4028] (13270)
  • [2006-03-23 4:25]

Hello Scott!
Excellent portrait.POV,clear eyes and details,sharpness,simple BG,framing,expression on face and composition are wonderful.TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • Dando Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 637 W: 32 N: 792] (3084)
  • [2006-03-23 5:10]

Hi Scott, excellent shot with excellent detail. I love the expression and the eyes. TFS.
Dean.

A masterpiece again, Scott. Everything is so perfect here.
Thanks for sharing.

Good portrait with lots of nice sharp detail and those yellow glassy eyes. Cute.

Hi Scott,
Excellent details with the eyes sharp and clear..Very good color & exposure with a great POV. Very nicely done.

Hi Scott,
Excellent photo, Great colors, BG, DOF, Great details, Every thing, Just perfect. TFS Kyle

Hi Scott

.....and hello Gizmo. You are a pretty wee chap with beautiful big clear eyes. My fiend has a cat named Gizmo, but I don't think you should meet, there inter action might be harmful!

Really nice closeup Scott. No nits here! :-)

Hello Scott,
this is a very nice portrait shot. Great sharpness, excellent DOF, well captured too. Excellent eye details and a very nice bg. This is a excellent compositon. Thank you for posting.
Gr.
Heinz

A bit of a late one. So just a quick visit.
Well worth a big smiley.
Thanks for posting, have a great weekend Scott.

Well no wonder they called him 'Gizmo', he looks like a thing-a-ma-jig. Fantastic capture Scott, the portrait is very nice. :)

  • Great 
  • CTP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 644 W: 6 N: 946] (2726)
  • [2006-03-24 1:43]

Hi Scott,
Excellent Owl portrait my friend.
Details are awesome especially his eyes:)
Great pov,colors,sharpness,focus and note.TFS
Chris

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2234 W: 188 N: 1912] (8073)
  • [2006-03-24 8:12]

Hi Scott,
a beautigful animal. the eyes and details in the plumage are just amazing. Excellent sharpness and wonderful colors. A great shot.
TFS...Sky

  • Great 
  • TPAKT Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 97 W: 21 N: 20] (89)
  • [2006-03-24 10:39]

Privet Scott.
At you, probably, the whole collection of these beauties. A remarkable portrait!!

Hi Scott,
very good portrait, details, colors and BG. I love Gizmo look as well. i think it lacks of depht (maybe a f/11 works well), feathers in front are out of focus, but don´t affect much the photo.
Regards
Hernán

Absolutely brilliant shot - very sharp and colourful...

Nice detail and exposure, good eye contact!

Greg

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1393 W: 119 N: 5267] (23955)
  • [2006-03-25 13:38]

Superb shot Scott, so full of details. Well exposed and composed. You have a really great material ! ;-)

Thanks.

Mario

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2150 W: 319 N: 4263] (16942)
  • [2006-03-25 14:39]

Scott, this is really very nice; I do enjoy owls, and this is a great image.

Excellent sharpness, pose and composition. I like saturation too.

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1455 W: 74 N: 1426] (4750)
  • [2006-03-25 14:43]

Hello Scott. Lovely portrait of a lovely little owl. Good details and good POV. DOF could have been a little wider I think (or is there a little motion blur in the neck?). Still this is an excellent capture. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

Hi Greg,
a beautiful portrait of the owl. You have manage to get the look in the eyes very nice.
The details and exposure are spot on. I like the POV and the shallow DOF, it helps to bring out the bird nicely from the BG.
Great work, my friend.

  • Great 
  • nofer Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1190 W: 366 N: 811] (2307)
  • [2006-03-27 21:48]

Grande... excelente nitidez! O fundo ficou ótimo.
Muito boa composição! Vai para os favoritos!!!
TFS
Reynaldo

Big... excellent clearness! The bottom was great.
Very good composition! She is going to the favorite ones!!!

´

He is so beautiful. You are so lucky to find such beautiful birds all the time. You do an excellent job capturing them!

Hi Scott,
Fantastic shot!
Very sharp and clarity, incredible detail in the eyes,
great natural colour, nice clean background.
Very well done!

Hi Scott!

I should tell you the same about your images too. As this one, clear sharp focus, perfect exposure. All together it translate in beautifull details all over. Great compostion and shallow DOF (I need one of those 2.8 zoom lens ;o) )

Great shot Scott, and TFS.

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 867 W: 24 N: 1008] (5507)
  • [2006-05-06 9:35]

Hello Scott, amazing portrait!!Great details and colors. I like beautiful eyes!! very well done, bests regards, Didier.

Crisp clear and great expression.
Colors and composition are brilliant.
No nits
TFS.

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 438 W: 11 N: 534] (2540)
  • [2009-02-06 7:24]

great portrait!
nice big eyes!

tfs

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