Short Eared Owl In Flight

[Jim Fenton]

Sunny to the northeast (direction of my subject), filtered sun with a snow storm approaching from the southwest. A west / southwest wind at about 15 MPH was perfect for this suituation as it created lift over the dunes.

Image created as the bird hunted toward me over the dunes with the ocean immediately behind it.

Nikon D300, 500 VR, TC14EII, ISO 800, F8, 1/2000, CW metering, +1.3 EV compensation

[Kris Mortensen]

Wow! What a shot! Incredible!

[Jeff Nadler]

Jim, This is certainly among the best ever I've seen of a flight shot for this species. Congrats!

FYI, good thing I did not come out yesterday morn for the now missing gull.

[Jim Fenton]

I'm glad you chickened out (kidding)

I was feeling bad all day that you might have driven out and not found it!

[Tony House]

The best one so far Jim, love the eyes....

Tony

[Arthur Morris]

PMP = pretty much perfect. Love the eyes, the light, the wings up, the BKGR and everthing else about this wonderful image. Did you squeak at it or was it just curious?

[Art Kornienko]

Love the eye contact and wing position.

[Doug Hitchcox]

Awesome picture, I like the wing position and the eye contact is great but the eyes look a little over sharpened to me.

[Jim Fenton]

Course...once in a while my hearing aids squeal a bit, but I don't think that was it :)

Simple observation of what the subject was doing as it hunted and how it was relating to the wind, along with proper positioning relative to the light.

I've always found short eared owls in these dune locations to be rather inquisitive...much more so than if they are hunting open fields or salt marsh.

Could just be that it's a matter of positioning yourself so that they naturally come to you and they kinda have to look at you as they move toward you in order to check you out.

[Jon Thornton]

Love the eye contact.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great wing position, stare, details and exposure control. I might crop a bit off the bottom.

[Bob Malbon]

All of the above! Super!! Bob

[Jim Fenton]

Axel...

I did try cropping a bit from the bottom as you suggested....however, it placed the center of interest...the birds eyes....way to low in the frame IMHO and left the presentation rather unbalanced.

[Ramon M. Casares]

Outstanding wing position, terrific eye contact, superb light, stunning details and great comp. Juust one perfect shot! Congratulations!

[Jon Thornton]

I love the eye contact and wing position. Well done.

[allanrube]

Great shot Jim. Besides what the others have said I like the separation of the brown wing feathers on the outer part of the owl's left wing.
Shots like this is why you hang around on a cold morning. It certainly is rewarding when it works out this well.

[Doug Brown]

Super image Jim!