Peek-a-Boo Great Horned Owlet - Nature's Best

This is my favorite image of 2012 and was actually somewhat of an accident. I had no idea that the owlet was peering out of its mother's belly. I couldn't understand why my friend was tripping his shutter for a sleepy adult. When I asked him, his response was "Shut up and shoot!" So I obeyed while having no idea what I was photographing. :bg3:

This image earned me my first Highly Honored image in Nature's Best. It also made Top 10 in NANPA and Top 100 in the Nat'l Audubon contest. My only wish is that it hadn't been such a large crop...I am guessing at least 50%...so it can't be printed too large.

This faithful Great Horned Owl pair nested again this year in the same tree, and I was blessed with a few more special images. This year they had 2 owlets! :eek3:

Canon 1D3, Canon 500L F4 IS & 1.4 TC
F8, 1/125sec, ISO 640, manual mode
Feisol tripod, Jobu head

Thank you in advance for your comments and critiques.

First of all congratualations for the awards that you well deserved, Marina.
The image is striking and I don't see anything that could be improved.

Glad you listerned, stunning shot, love the composition, perch and the eye's. I can imagine how happy you must have been to see the owlet peering from the mothers belly, excellent Marina.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vivaldo Damilano

you must have been to see the owlet peering from the mothers belly

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That's just it. I never saw the owlet until after I looked at my images. The nest was far away and it was under the canopy and quite overcast. It only remained in that position for a few seconds.

Congrats Marina, awesome find & perfectly executed !

Congrats Marina on both your awards and on an awesome photo. It took me several careful looks at the photo before I understood why it was so special.

Hi Marina, congrats on your awards, and I can see why its done so well. This is very special.

Why did you take so long to post it. :w3

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Doug Brown

It took me several careful looks at the photo before I understood why it was so special.

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You have no idea how many people told me and others that they didn't get it at first...but neither did I...at first.

woohoo.....110% classic photography.... this is so very good Marina, can certainly understand any awards given for this one.

Congratulations Marina! This is one of the most unique parent-chick images I have ever seen. Excellent quality for the large crop.

Really superb! Kinda creepy in a way, reminds of the monster in the thing movie that had faces growing out of it's body.

Jim

Congrats Marina, thats an amazing shot. I saw the two this year, but nothing quite like that.

Marina, Congratulations on your awards especially the Nature's Best. When I first looked at the image, I said that was nice, the BG was nice, until I saw the owlet and I said "Wow!". Yes, shut up and shoot was right. Loi

Congrats on the accolades Marina, well deserved. What makes this shot so special isnt that the chick is sitting in front of mom, but that it is tucked in in a way that makes it look like its part of the adults plumage. Almost looks fake or photo shopped. Very cool!!

Well done, original and made me trying to capture the similar image this year. :)

As a contest entry, my concern would have been that the judges missed the baby!

Dead tack sharp and well exposed.

Of course the uniqueness, cuteness factor is what sets this image apart as a contest winner.

As a matter of fact, it is such a strong subject I would consider cropping a bit off the top.

Congratulations on a well deserved win.

this is an excellent image, the owlet is hidden so well it almost looks like a clone job!

well deserved and well done, I saw this in NANPA publication too but did not notice the owlet !

Congrats - well deserved for this outstanding image. I like this one a lot.

Sweet shot with the owlet peeking out, congrats on the awards Marina.

amazing image. I hope you bought your friend a drink or two or three ;)

Marina:

Big congrats, really a fun image.

I am with James, I would consider a modest crop from the top, unless you are at the ragged edge of IQ.

Wonderful capture.

Cheers

Randy

An incredible and unique capture.

One of my favorite images of yours, Marina! I love the comment, "shut up and shoot!" Classic! Congrats on Nature's Best, well deserved. Congrats also on your STKI image from this weekend at the photofest too!

This is such a great image and so well deserving the spot in Natures Best. The surprise element is what makes the shot and great techs as well

The adult winking is just the icing on an already very sweet cake!!

Incredible Image!!!!! Very much deserved and we'll captured Marina.

Simply amazing!!! I, too, missed the chick on first glance. Glad the judges didn't. Congrats on a fine image and well-deserved awards.

Incredible Marina! Congratulations on all the recognition of this deserving image.

This is the most amazing image!! If I didn't know better I would have taken it for a PS job.

Congrats on the well-deserved awards!