Butch Mazzuca, BPSA
July 2026 - Delivering Dinner
About the Image(s)
Two Screech Owls had built their nest in an old storage shed, providing an opportunity to photograph the pair shortly after their chicks hatched. Screech Owls make their nests in cavities, deep tree hollows, cliffs, barns, dense vegetation, and other enclosed spaces where the chicks are deliberately hidden from predators and photographers.
I set up my tripod about 25 feet from their nest and pre-focused on an imaginary point roughly 18 inches in front of it. I used my friend’s laser trigger linked to four flashes so whenever an owl crossed the laser beam the flashes fired. I used the R5’s intervalometer set as indicated and set the flashes at 1/64 power (1/20,000th second duration.)
Shutter speed wasn’t important because the flashes froze the action & illuminated the subject. The post-processing was straightforward. I clipped too much of the shed in my composition, so I added canvas in PS and used Generative AI to put a bit more of the shed into the frame and was amazed at how close it came replicating the actual shed - magic!
The owl’s prey was red Wind Scorpion, so I slightly saturated the scorpion to make it more visible in the frame
7 comments posted
Eight way this is a fine shot. Posted: 07/07/2026 19:46:39
I love to look at some of the snowy owls with a mouse flying at the camera with a snow background. But I fear many of those are staged.
I do love your percentage of "keepers" in your attempt to capture this.:-) Doesn't matter---you got the shot you wanted.
Are you ready to try to photograph the diving falcon? Posted: 07/07/2026 23:10:03
I'm really impressed with your set up and of course the results! The owl is tack sharp with its wings extended. I like that you improved the saturation on the scorpion. The canvas expansion worked out great for you. Love to learn more about your flash set up. Posted: 07/08/2026 14:06:06
I like that the target of it's approach is in the frame. The old weathered shed worked out well.
One presentation suggestion- a very thin border would help to separate the image from the black background of the site's page (or a projection screen..)
And a minor clean up on the top right where the canvas was added above the shed I can see a distinct black line, presumably the original frame edge. A little soft healing brush would eliminate that.
Overall though an extremely impactful, compelling image. Love it. Posted: 07/10/2026 21:44:50