Enjoying the Evening Sun

[Steve Large]

Hi Friends,
Due to some interferance in their normal habitat, the short-eared owls haven't been too plentiful this season up here in Nanaimo B.C. Here is an image I made from last year when they were coming closer and made it easier to create good portraits.

Stats: EOS-1D Mark4, 500mm, ISO400, F/5.6, 1/1000sec

Thanks for your comments,

Steve

[Ian Cassell]

Steve, this is a beautiful bird that I would love to see in the wild. The background blur sets him off well and I like the perch with the lichen.

[keith mitchell]

Hello Steve.
Here in my part of England these birds are not appearing in the numbers they where last year ,Your image is very nice just showing enough of the attractive ear tufts, perch looks natural and your BG is superb.
Keith.

[adrian dancy]

Superb background and perch. The owl looks superb in this composition.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Steve this is a gorgeous owl, not only is the light beautiful but the whole image. I really hope they can return soon to your area.

[Iain Barker]

These are beautiful birds and this is probably the number one bird I would like to photograph.
I can't really find any fault with your image and it is nice to see it on a natural perch most I have seen tend to be on fence posts.

I wonder if a slight crop on the left would make the composition stronger?

TFS
Iain

[Steve Large]

Hello Everyone,
Thanks for your wonderful comments. This picture is even more detailed at its native size. Cropped about 20% with some distracting elements removed. They tend to become more docile towards the end of the winter as mating season approches. This particular owl was less than fifty feet away and quite content to stay there while I snapped pictures from different angles for over half an hour.

Take care,

Steve

[Dvir Barkay]

Very nice good perch and head pose, also nice and sharp. I tried this year seeing them, but like you they have been hard to come by here.

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Gorgeous bird, pose, bg and perch. An all around excellent image Steve. I could see a bit cropped from the left, but comp is always a matter of personal preference.

[gail bisson]

Absolutely wonderful shot.
The light is so beautiful and that BG and perch are amazing.
Not often we get to see such a clean shot of an owl. Love it!
Gail

[Karl Egressy]

Beautiful shot of a handsome owl, Steve. Love the perch and the complimenting background. You couldn't ask for any better.

[Bret Goddard]

Everything is excellent, especially the eye, face, an almost menacing look, Grand job!

[Daniel Cadieux]

Beautiful sighting, great light and awesome perch. I don't often like owls pictured with only one eye showing but it works well here. The only thing I would have preferred is for the perch to extend beyond the frame. Still nice as presented!

[Holger Leyrer]

Wonderful shot of this owl. The color palette works fine. Love the pose and details. Great image.

[John Robinson]

As mentioned good to one one a natural perch.Excellent light. One of the nicest SEO,s I,ve seen and there,s been a few !
Great stuff!
John

[Danny Laredo]

Wonderful image.