Burrowing Owl

[Rich Reich]

The attached image is a Burrowing Owl with a vertical crop. It was taken in Marco Island, FL near Tigertail Beach on 3/24/13. If you compare it to a previous post of mine on 4/7/13 you'll see a different image with a more intense gaze, sharper detail and with an improved crop.

1/125 sec, f/6.7, ISO 1600 taken at 7:29AM
Lens: original Nikon 80-400mm at 260mm
Fill flash
Tripod

Comments are appreciated.

[Alan Murphy]

Nice and sharp. Removing the pinpoint catch light from the flash would improve the image for me.

[Jeannean Ryman]

Nice owl photo. I've yet to see one of these. Agree with Alan about the pin points in the eye from the flash. Nice overall image.

[Loi Nguyen]

Nice and sharp. I like the reflection and curvature of the eyes. Agreed with Alan regarding the catch light from flash. Well done.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Good point about the pin-point catchlights from the flash. I love the dilated pupils, such impact! If possible I wish you had moved to your left more...this would have hidden the long grass blade behind the subject rather than have it skimming along the wing.