Burrowing Owl Looking For Pey

[Loi Nguyen]

This is the male BO that I spent 2 1/2 days last May with. On this day, I got to the nest site before sun rise and caught him sleeping on the job here just above the nest entrance. I parked the car at a respectfull distance and waited for sunrise. Shortly after he woke up and started scanning the sky for prey. Original horizontal, cropped for vertical.

1DX
500f4 II + 2X III
1/2500
f10
ISO-1600

I was hoping for a takeoff shot, thus the high SS; F10 becaused I find stopping down a little bit helps with the 2X

Levels, curves, added some Hue/Sat to the Green BG.

Thank you for your comments.

Loi

[David Salem]

The owl looks great against that green BG and I like the foot up pose with the upward gaze. The detail and exposure look nice and the colors complement each other well. I am a white wash rock lover but this one looks a bit heavy, especially on the right. Glad you had a good shot out there. Well done

[Marina Scarr]

You have a super perch and BG, and I like the looking up pose. I would have liked to see this image taken from a lower angle, had it been possible.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Loi, like the side profile, and by the looks of it, it's his favourite spot too! Looks a little 'crunchy' on the head, perhaps a tad too much Contrast and or Clarity? Difficult to frame with only one centre spot, but I think you did well. Are you currently going there or is this all from earlier this year, might have an idea for you? Like the backdrop, but I personally would loose the angled straw on the LHS, easy to do.

TFS
Steve

[Bill Dix]

Great eye, and love the bg. Good comments from Marina.

[Carl Walker]

A super shot Loi. Gret 2 toned BG too. Just find the single grass stem a little distracting. Nice details and pose.

[Loi Nguyen]

Thank you everyone for your kind comments.

Steve & Carl, I removed the stray grass here in the RP. It looks better for sure, but I didn't think it was a deal breaker, so either way is Ok by me.

David, I cropped a little tighter to lose most of the whitewash. Thank you.

Steve, this picture is from this past May. Time to go there again now that it is a little bit cooler. It was over 100oF (40oC) when we were there in May. Please shoot me a PM on what you have in mind! Want to join me?

Marina, I was shooting from a car and the "perch" was low, so to get a level view I would need to get out of the car and was afraid that I would spook the owl. I will check if that is possible next time.

Loi

[Steve Kaluski]

Steve & Carl, I removed the stray grass here in the RP. It looks better for sure, but I didn't think it was a deal breaker, so either way is Ok by me.

Certainly looks better, but your call, as you say, no deal breaker. Love to join you Loi, LOL.

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Awesome Image Loi. Love that BG, the owl is nice and sharp! Well done with the 2X.

[Sandy Witvoet]

Sweet, Loi! The stray grass didn't bother me... but I like the RP better without it... gives the grasses just a nice, slightly diagonal line behind the owl and keeps attention on the bird. Well done!

[Shawn Zierman]

Cool image Loi. I enjoy the indirect eye contact as it makes me wonder what the owl is pondering. Also, the side profile looks great. For my taste the details on the owl look borderline oversharpened, but it's a matter of taste only at this point...What are your thoughts regarding placing a perch at that location since the owl is obviously using the area heavily anyway? All kinds of possibilities for perches for this small species...