Burrowing Owl

[Michael Pancier]

Part of Marco Islands 2008 Burrowing Owl population. Many nests along the island.

Took this under slightly overcast skies late afternoon. full frame

40d + 500 4.0L
f/6.3
1/500
ISO 400
handheld

i'm leaning towards cropping from the right. suggestions?

[Maxis Gamez]

Hi Michael,

Love the look. I have mix feelings about the composition. The BG and colors are very nice!

[Maxis Gamez]

I have mix feelings about the composition.

After a second look, I think the composition works very well because my eyes is traveling all over the frame.

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Neat pose Michael and I love the intense look of these little owls. Good exposure and excellent detail as well as a very nice BG.. Thanks for sharing.

[Dieter Schaefer]

Like the intense look - am wondering why you choose the horizontal format - feel the owl is kind of cramped in the frame - a vertical format might have been a better choice.

[James Salywoda]

Nice pose and comp. Michael outstanding detail I love the stare.

[Leroy Laverman]

Nice image and I don't mind the comp. There appears to be a strong magenta cast to this one. Check out Charles Glatzer's method for removing color casts here http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php?t=7752 . I tried it with this shot with the color correcting layer set to 8-10% it removes the cast quite nicely.

[Gus Cobos]

Michael,
Love your composition, colors, background and the eye...:D

[John Cooper]

The cropped image has brought the stare of the owl up close and personal - no doubt this was your aim and works for me. Very nice capture!! Magenta cast also noted on my monitor.