A super-quick Snacks update because I got my first photo of him with his eyes open.
And now here comes a long story about how even though I got my new $500 lens adapter for the sole purpose of getting a good photo of Snacks and it does take a better photo, it doesn't take quite as good a photo as needed to satisfy my craving for MORE Snacks.
In other words. I'm going to spend more money.
But you have to spend money to make money to spend money to make money.
I'm hoping to train him to pull skywriting banners behind him for micro-local businesses at a price that's yet to be determined.
Would you like to save this stuff?
We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.
We'll probably target Avon ladies, Girl Guide cookie entrepreneurs ... that sort of clientele.
I *might* just need a new tripod head that will better accommodate my lens adapter. This will help get me a sharper image. If that fails ... I'm going to have to train him to deliver pizzas.
I think people would pay good money for a wood oven pizza delivered by owl between the hours of dusk and 15 minutes after dusk.
Edward Eastman
I a photographer. What make and model of camera do you have. If it’s a Fuji, I have a 70-300mm lens you could borrow that I’m not using. I live in Waterdown.
Karen
Hi Edward! That's a generous offer. I'm using a Fuji X-T3. I'm not sure how much your Fuji lens would help though. Right now I'm using a Fringer adapter and using my Nikon 70-300 lens which is the equivalent of the Fuji. BUT the Fuji wins out a little bit because it's a 4-5.6 while the Nikon is 4.5-5.6. There's a $1,000 Tamron lens I'm looking into that's an 18-300 3.5f. Any advice from an actual photographer is appreciated though so feel free to talk me out of it! ~ karen!
Edward Eastman
Hi Karen. I teach Digital Photography and Digital Image Processing at the DVSA. But, I'm still an amateur photographer even though I study photography decades ago in the film days. I use a Fuji xT4, so I'm familiar with your xT3. It's a full-frame sensor E-mount camera body.
My thought was borrowing my Fuji lens would let you start taking photos of your two - OMG & WTF - little darlings right away. If later, you decide to buy a telephoto lens then I can pick up my loaner.
I've included links to a review of the Tamron lens and the Fuji lens.
Tamron lens. https://petapixel.com/2021/10/22/tamron-18-300mm-f-3-5-6-3-review-this-cant-possibly-be-good-can-it/
Fuji lens. https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/field-review-fujifilm-xf-70-300-f4-5-6-r-lm-ois-wr
In my humble opinion, I always stay away from third party lenses, i.e., Tamron - unless I find a great review on either of the links I added above.
I'm not sure if you're shooting JPEG or Raw image file format and doing any image post processing. I hear most bloggers don't want to spend the time post processing and so shoot JPEG so they can up load images asap. And I get that.
Let me know what you decide if you want to borrow my lens.
Hettie
If you can train Snacks to deliver pizza to eastern Ontario I'll pay whatever delivery fee you ask and I won't complain if the pizza is cold when I get it. :D Love the eyes-wide-open photo! He looks cuddly despite the long talons.
Karen
It takes a special kind of creature to look cuddly with talons doesn't it? ~ karen!
Karen
Keep snacks coming! Love Snacks!
Karen
There has been a development! More on that this week. ~ karen!
Kathryn
I'm loving the Snacks story. Owls are so beautiful and mysterious too. I think the last shot is pretty good. But there is a whole rabbit hole to go down with camera accessaries. Watch your wallet!
Karen
I'm already looking into renting lenses! ~ karen!
Mary W
Eyes and claws - WOW - great shot.
Kelli Norris
There’s a lady in my town that has two owls in a tree on her property. She has a nest and a camera set up to record them. The short videos she shares are quite interesting to watch, especially when they have babies.
Deb from Maryland
It's a great picture! Well done. From what I've learned conversing here with you, once you have an idea to make a project better, there is no "thinking" about it. So I expect you'll be explaining the new equipment in an upcoming post. ;)
Iris
He's gorgeous-and great potos-so exciting-thanks for all your Snacks news!
Nina
Good shot; fun puzzle! Snacks is quite handsome.
Randy P
Nice pic - and another fun puzzle. Was this one also shot through your closed kitchen window? It has wonderful clarity.
Karen
No sir, this one was shot outside at about 7:15 at night so it was almost dark out. It still isn't a sharp image, but as sharp as I could get with this lens and that degree of darkness. Betty thinks it'd be cheaper to pay someone to come take his portrait. ~ karen
Mike Flegle
Gorgeous. Snacks’ eye looks more human than I expected. A wise look, perhaps. Love seeing the talons, too. Thanks for sharing!
Paula
*Loving* the snacks updates!