Long-eared Owl

[Doug Herr]

At Mercey Hot Springs California:


technical details:

Camera: Leica R8 with DMR digital back @ISO 400
Lens: Leitz 560mm f/6.8
Support: Tripod
Light: Open shade with sunlight through the trees
Exposure: 1/60 sec @ f/6.8
Exposure measurement: Camera's spot meter, manual mode, verified with histogram

Those who know their trees will spot the non-native (hand of man) Tamarix. Cropped from horizontal. All comments welcome.

[Grace Scalzo]

Beautiful image, I am drawn in by the gaze of the owl and his slight lean forward. It keeps the image from feeling static. The greenery in the right side of the frame (as viewed) looks washed out to me and my eye wants to drift toward its brightness and away from the subject.

[Juan Aragonés]

I agree with Grace about the green area in the right being a bit distracting. I like the "inmersion" of the bird in its habitat and the pose of the owl

[Daniel Cadieux]

I would crop some at top and left, and sharpen the face more for web presentation. Beautiful setting, and the stare is nice. I'd prefer the lower branch not merge with the tail, but heck I'd take this any time!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great find and I like the attentive look. Another vote for more sharpening of the bird. Maybe you will get a chance to photograph the owl in a cleaner setting sometime.

[Morkel Erasmus]

lovely exposure and pose! ditto busy surroundings but that's where you'll probably find them.

[Aidan Briggs]

I was considering going to Mercey Hot Springs for the Long-eared owls. IS it possible to get them in cleaner settings, or in flight?

Thanks