Off to investigate...

[Steve Kaluski]

Amazing that within a few weeks the grass and wild plants all take over and envelop anything in it's path, two weeks later it was then all cut back. Offering a perch (now surrounded by the tall grasses) seems to be most welcome, as they are quite happy to use it as a vantage point and if sounds are heard, they are very quick to investigate, as in this instance it appears .

Often we strive for clear lines of sight, but in this instance I feel the grasses play an integral part in the overall scene/environment/habitat. Shot on a rather dull & overcast afternoon.

Thanks to those who viewed or posted a comment on the previous thread.

Steve

Subject: Little owlet (Athene noctua) in stride, on rusty milk churn within tall grasses
Location: UK
Camera: Canon 1DX
Lens: 200-400f/4 Gitzo tripod/Uniqball head
Exposure: 1/1600s at f/5.6 ISO1600
Original format: Portrait, cropped for presentation
Processed: LRCC 2015 & PSCC 2015

Note: The subject is fully wild and completely unconstrained. Besides the potential impact of my presence, nothing has been done to intentionally alter or affect the ongoing behavior of the subject and, of course, there has been no use of any form of bait or other form of wildlife attractants (including vocalisations) in the capture of this image.

[keith mitchell]

Owl on a hot tin roof Steve, pity about the grass stalk but that is been picky, I am sure you could remove it if you felt like it, these birds on the milk churns work very well for me, like this a lot.

Keith.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Love the little bugger and the raised foot. Your light is so different that here in Florida, softer. I like the vegetation, it screams natural not a setup. Maybe next year I will rent a house near the owls in Florida and spend more time with them. Thank you for sharing, Steve.

[Steve Kaluski]

pity about the grass stalk but that is been picky, I am sure you could remove it if you felt like it,

Often we strive for clear lines of sight, but in this instance I feel the grasses play an integral part in the overall scene/environment/habitat.

As I said in my intro Keith .

Your light is so different that here in Florida, softer.

Joseph, I would love to trade a week of your light with ours, ever shot ISO6400-10,000k , challenging at times to say the least.

Thanks gents.

[Loi Nguyen]

Hi Steve, Good composition and the 'perch" placement works well here. I don't mind the stalk of grass, but I wish for a slightly better head angle. The light was a challenge, perhaps you could try to brighten up the eye a tad. Loi

[William Dickson]

Hi Steve, I like how the owl is surrounded by natural growth of the grasses. The BG is lovely with the different shades of green. Love the foot lifted. Nice details on the bird. Very natural looking image even with a man made object.

Will

[Steve Kaluski]

I wish for a slightly better head angle.

Loi, not sure apart from looking direct to camera, how it would improve????

Cheers Will.