<<< o >>>feathered friends 12 comments + add yours
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I rarely take documentary-style photographs, but I couldn't resist this one. It was taken when I was away last week. I was on my way to a meeting and watched as this man and his owl and bird (does anyone know what sort of bird that is?) crossed the road in front of me, and if my camera hadn't been around my neck I would almost have certainly missed this opportunity.

camera
capture date
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
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cropped?
Canon G5
3.29pm on 30/6/04
f3.2
1/640
aperture priority
+0.0
evaluative
50
23.0mm
RAW
auto
yes
 
4x3 + people
comment by Tudy at 01:56 AM (GMT) on 6 July, 2004

It almost looks like an barn owl and a crow? Or a chicken? lol Nice shot. I like the guys expression behind the bird man.. hes looking at you.

comment by Joseph Holmes at 02:56 AM (GMT) on 6 July, 2004

Dave -- you should take more street shots like this. I'm serious. There's something really appealing about your style combined with the documentary feel of good street photography.

comment by myla at 04:17 AM (GMT) on 6 July, 2004

I took a shot of an owl today too, but mine was taken at the zoo =) -- what an absolutely fantastic shot, Dave, definitely one of your best.

comment by Daniel [objective-view] at 08:37 AM (GMT) on 6 July, 2004

This is a very funny shot. A perfect translation of rules on photography I read some time ago: §2 Be quick!
Another question: I am very shy on shooting people (I don't know). Don't you think there might be a risk of getting sued?

comment by pixeldiva at 08:54 AM (GMT) on 6 July, 2004

Wow. Talk about from the sublime to the ridiculous?!

It looks to me like a Barn Owl and a Pigeon.

What a bizarre combination of feathered friends :)

Reminds me of the one and only time I've ever approached a stranger and asked to take their picture. I was on the tube and as I was coming up the escalator, ahead of me was an old guy who had a parakeet on one shoulder and a cockatiel on the other.

Needless to say I was very nervous and the photos were rubbish, despite the old guy gamely posing for me, and persuading the birds to do their various tricks, like take sunflower seeds from his lips.

If rule #1 is be quick, rule #2 should be "know your camera so you don't lose the shot" :)

comment by btezra at 01:02 PM (GMT) on 6 July, 2004

~that's nothing, I usually walk around town with a cow on one shoulder and a goat on the other (lol), two birds, whew, that's nothing! nice catch here, interesting subject~

comment by djn1 at 01:11 PM (GMT) on 6 July, 2004

Daniel: as I understand it it's perfectly legal to photograph strangers without their permission providing that you aren't infringing their civil liberties or otherwise invading their privacy; so I think that people in public places are fair game. In light of which I don't think they would have any grounds to sue you. I think the situation is different if you intend to use the shot commercially, but for everyday blog-type stuff I don't think you need worry.

I also think that it's morally defensible providing you don't portray them in a negative light; e.g. ridicule them in some way.

pixeldiva: when I'm wandering around I have my camera set to either program mode or, more usually, aperture priority (with a fairly wide aperture); that way I can just point and shoot.

comment by bsag at 03:25 PM (GMT) on 6 July, 2004

Hehe, great shot! If it was me, I would be standing there wishing I had my camera with me. It is indeed a barn owl and a - rather sick looking - young pigeon. The cere (the fleshy bit over the beak) is usually bright white in adult pigeons, but is more 'flesh coloured' in juveniles. Having been in close proximity to both birds in my time, I would much rather have the owl on my shoulder! I love the reaction of the other passers-by.

comment by James at 09:05 PM (GMT) on 6 July, 2004

One of my pet hates photography-wise is when the subject looks at the camera, (so well done on that score), but I love it when people in the background give you funny looks - the man in the Fred Perry looks real confused!

comment by jamie at 10:10 PM (GMT) on 6 July, 2004

Daniel - in Canada (most likely the same or similar to the US and UK), you would only be in trouble if you are using the photograph for commercial reasons AND the person is central to the image.

comment by djn1 at 11:58 PM (GMT) on 6 July, 2004

Thanks all.

And bsag: thanks for the identification. I thought you might know ;-)

comment by shafina at 07:50 AM (GMT) on 7 July, 2004

hi - i really like this type of image, you should do more ;-) especially love the expressions of the people at the back.