This barred owl was the last cool bird we saw as Katie and I left the refuge last week. It swooped across the trail and perched, so I eased the JEEP up and leaned against it for a tripod.
Later, when I reviewed these pics, I could not help anthro...anthrop ... anthr ... assigning human emotions to the owl's expression and body language.
Sadly, most of the looks reminded me of my highschool days and ... girls. The first pic is so, "If I ignore him, maybe he'll just go away." I remember receiving that one a few times.
The middle pic of utter disdain was very familiar to the teenage FC. It's the classic, " I DO NOT believe you are talking to me, much less asking me out. You've got to be kidding. "
Of course, every once in a while, a pair of big brown eyes would stare intently into mine and hope would spring anew.
And that is the purpose of metaphor. Well done!
ReplyDeleteAwesome...dare I say amazing? Your field trip sounds like so much fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking us along via your camera and Pure Florida.
Very 'anthro' - very sweet.
ReplyDelete"anthro...anthrop ... anthr ... "
ReplyDeleteMany pet owners would agree that animals experience and express a wide range of emotions.
As "humancentric" and "theologic" beings, we tend to over-estimate ourselves, at the same time under-estimating all other creatures. At least, that's my take on anthro...anthrop ... anthr ...
By the way, this series of photos is quite impressive. Thanks for sharing them.
What a great series of shots. With wild critters, they don't usually want to cooperative with me like they seem to in your shots.
ReplyDeleteThese are absolutely gorgeous photos, FC. I think you did a great job interpreting this owl's inner feelngs.
ReplyDeleteYou get such great photos of birds! I can get really good shots of rocks; things that don't move! I also agree fully with Hal.
ReplyDeleteNice! I recently got very lucky with barred owls and came upon two fledglings in a tree. There truly is something about those faces that make you feel they are gracing you by acknowledging your presence! Great series of photos you got!
ReplyDeleteThat last photo looks as if he is saying "well, if you're going to persist in this nonsense, make it a good one!"
ReplyDeleteand you did.. beautiful shots!!
o wow THAT is an amazingly beautiful bird :: even as owls go ...
ReplyDeleteI like the bottom picture especially. He looks real worried... in an owlish kinda way.
ReplyDeleteThose pixx so good I put a link to them on today's post on my blog.
This is a great site you've got here. You've been in my "best blogs" links for ages but I've somehow omitted to visit lately. Keep up the great work!!
Wow, more utterly amazing bird pictures. And FC, you're a HOOT! :)
ReplyDeletePablo,
ReplyDeletePraise from the master! Thank you sir.
ThreeCollie,
I like amazing ... a lot! You can come along any time.
Cathy,
Thanks, owls bring out the anthro whatever in me.
Hal,
Very well said. I have often thought the same about our kin.
RCW,
You should see the photos I don't get.
Actually Peggy seems to get all of those. Her bird shots are a better by a power of ten.
Robin,
Thanks. I suppose they could be interpreted differently ... except the middle one. That's haughty disdain in any language.
Edifice Rex,
I like rock pictures! We don't have real rocks here in FL.
Peggy,
I went and looked and as usual your photos are superb! They leap off the screen.
Everybody else, stop what you are doing and go to Peggy's site. Do it now, I'll wait.
Laura,
Thanks, this bird was about 40 feet away in the shady canopy. I'm just lucky I had some afternoon light angling through the limbs.
Gledwood,
Welcome to Pure Florida! Thanks for the kind words and the link. I need to visit your site when I finish this.
Deb,
I'm a hoot! wacka wacka! My favorite NPS boss used to say that all the time. She's probably retired by now.
Wow. Those photos are simply amazing.
ReplyDeleteNice ones! I especially like the snooty disdain photo in the middle.
ReplyDeletePaintsmh,
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Thingfish,
Seen that one before, eh?
thingfish points out that there seems to be an epidemic of owl spottings in fla:
ReplyDeletehttp://centralfloridagarden.blogspot.com/2007/04/barred-owl.html
i tried to grab my camera, but i'd taken the memory card out of it. imagine my frustration as i drew the sights on the owl only to see the red led 'no card' flashing.
Your owl pictures are fantastic!
ReplyDeleteCould you give me the name of the camera you used to take these wonderful pictures with? Were these pictures taken with your new digital camera?