Pearly!

[Richard Flack]

Pearl-spotted Owlet

I love owls and these little, pearl-spotted guys are one of my favourites. This image was captured very early one morning outside our chalet at Kololo Game Reserve in Vaalwater, South Africa.
I look forward to your comments...

Location: Kololo Game Reserve, Vaalwater
Date taken:

Canon 7d Mkii | 400mm f2.8 | ISO 800 | f5.6 | 1/320ec | Exp +0.3 | Sharpened, shadows, brightened, vibrancy.

[Richard Flack]

I tried to delete the first owlet photograph but seem to have failed... given there are two, which one if your favourite and why? Thanks in advance

[keith mitchell]

Richard I go for the top one but would be happy with either,these are super little owls would have been better for you with a kinder bg but we take what we can get,well caught.
Had a Guide in the Gambia that could call these Owls out of the trees.

Keith.

[Daniel Cadieux]

The top image is the stronger of the two IMO, not sure why that is the one you wanted to delete! The many branches could have been a distraction but I am OK with most of them - with only the ones intersecting the head being unfortunate. Good light, great stare.

[John Robinson]

I reckon the top one Richard.. To my mind "busy" backgrounds do sometimes work Thats my personal view. I like these two, but prefer the first.
Cheers
JohnR