Pearl Spotted Owlet

[Stu Bowie]

This is a lifer for me - pretty happy to see and capture my first Owl in the wild. We were leaving the Kruger Park late afternoon to return to our lodge for the night when I spotted this little guy perched alongside the road. I quickly took a few shots with my 300mm to ensure I had it in the bag, and later added my 2X TC to bring him in closer. This is one of the few where he gave me direct eye contact, and I quite liked the small in the frame here perched against the african grasslands in late afternoon light.

Canon 1D Mark IV
Canon 300mm F/2.8
1/1600
F/6.3
ISO 800

Hand held from the car.

[Ian Wilson]

Small in the frame and your composition works well here Stuart. Nice light and I love the background. All looks good to me. Regards, Ian.

[Bill Dix]

Congrats on the lifer, Stuart. Nice light and great direct stare. Good BG. Small in the frame works for me, but I could also imagine taking a bit off right and top if the IQ held up.

[Richard Flack]

Hi Stu, awesome that you got your first owl in the wild. Well done! Lovely light, nice textured perch and cool alertness on the owl front. If it were mine I would however consider a vertical crop and a little less space allround. Have an awesome evening!

[Joseph Przybyla]

Love it Stuart, a real beauty. Beautiful bird, wonderful light. Perfect perch for the little owl. I might be inclined to move the owl off center a tad, maybe to the right to diminish the dark area of foliage. I like negative space to allow the eye of the viewer to wander always coming back to the subject.

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Stu , great image in terms of color/tone , very nice PP work . And that stare of the little owl , priceless.
Only the center placement is bothering me a bit , i would suggest off center placement .

TFS Andreas

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks a stack everybody. I will experiment with the placement. Kinda want to keep the grasses on the RHS, so maybe move him to the right a touch.

[Binu John]

Love this frame, especially the light! Excellent exposure, colors and perch! +1 for moving the subject off center! Congrats on the lifer, Stuart!

[David Salem]

Beautiful frame Stuart. Love the light and the colors in this one and the direct stare and lit eyes look great.
This one looks good as is, but I feel that it looks better as a vertical with the subject in the upper right.
Good job getting this lifer, I know how much you like owls.

[gail bisson]

Your story is very similar to my experience in Botswana when I was the one to spot a pearl spotted owl! At first, the driver told me I was wrong, that I was seeing a twig!! But I insisted we turn back and sure enough I had spotted my very first owl in the wild.
I love the light and the direct gaze.
I would place the owl off center but if you have enough pixels I would definitely make this a vertical. If you were so inclined you could move the owl and stump fairly easily via the move tool to the right,
gail

[John Robinson]

Love it. Agree would move it over a tad.
John

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks a stack again. I did infact take quite a few vertical shots using the 2X TC, so I did have it mind at the time of capture. Will post another frame on a later date.

[keith mitchell]

Stuart it certainly" rocks my boat" ,once went with a guide in the Gambia that could call these little guys out of the trees, placement bit well covered but I would be very pleased to have this myself as posted.

Cheers Keith.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Lovely shot Stu and a wise decision to go for a fast shutter speed on this lifer, the image is pin sharp and I like the light on the subject.