Barn owls are popular and photogenic birds; however they are a protected species. Oscar Dewhurst explains how and when to capture them with minimal disturbance
Barn owls are popular and photogenic birds; however they are a protected species. Oscar Dewhurst explains how and when to capture them with minimal disturbance
Instantly recognisable with their heart-shaped face, buff upper parts and white under parts, barn owls are very popular birds, whether you’re a wildlife lover or not. They are widely distributed across the UK, where they inhabit many areas of open countryside. Listed on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, during the breeding season it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb them at an active nest site or to disturb dependent young. It is important to bear this in mind if trying to photograph them during the breeding season. Don’t be tempted to go too close to the nest site. If your presence puts the adults off from bringing food back to the chicks, that would classify as disturbance. The best way to photograph them without causing disturbance is to find where they hunt so you can get into position early and minimise your impact on them.
Barn owls are primarily nocturnal, although at this time of the year when they may have chicks to feed, they can be seen out in the early mornings and late afternoons/evenings. With the long daylight hours we have in the UK during summer, you will need to be out either extremely early or fairly late in the day to maximise your chances. Favoured hunting areas include field edges, riverbanks, roadside verges and rough grassland. Spend some early mornings and evenings scouting for them with just a pair of binoculars from a distance so you can work out which areas they tend to use, and where you might be able to position yourself to avoid disturbing them.
Shooting advice
Camera settings
Being largely white, barn owls’ plumage can confuse automatic exposure modes on your camera, so I tend to use manual exposure. I take an exposure reading off a neutral area, like grass, then dial this in. Take a few test shots first and check the shots as you go; it is sickening to get home and find all your images over- or under-exposed! Although barn owls often fly fairly slowly as they quarter across the ground, I still keep my frame rate at its highest, and will almost always be using single-spot AF, to get the focus point as close to the eye as possible.
Time of day
As you will probably need to be out early or late in the day to photograph barn owls, the sun will be low in the sky, giving you nice soft light and reducing the risk of losing detail in shadows and highlights that come with shooting in harsh light in the middle of the day. When the sun is at its lowest you can experiment with different light angles. Images can look gorgeous when shooting into the sun when it’s low, with light coming through the bird’s wings and a rim-lighting effect. If the sky has some colour, you can also try silhouettes.