Burrowing Owl - One More Time

[Michael Pancier]

having these little guys across the street from me is quite convenient so I tend to visit them and keep trying to land a flight shot.

This is my most recent attempt where I did manage to get a better head position (and a sharp image most importantly)

1d Mark II
Canon 500 4.0L on tripod
1/3200
ƒ/5.0
ISO 400
Manual Metering + 1 off blue sky

I added some canvas below and cropped to 8x10 dimension. I still have more room to play with on the bottom, but if I add more below, I will lose the dark grad on the top. Torn as to which was to go (i.e., less on top more bottom or as is)....

[Steve Kaluski]

Like this a lot Michael.

Might be tempted to crop above just where it starts to band and add a little below. Is the BG artificial?

TFS
Steve ;)

[Michael Pancier]

Like this a lot Michael.

Might be tempted to crop above just where it starts to band and add a little below. Is the BG artificial?

TFS
Steve ;)

The background is real. Pic was taken in park. so the black is the dark green trees in background which at this exposure turn to black. The green is grass, and the gray is the street.

[Randy Stout]

Michael:
I love to see these guys flying! So uncommon compared to their usual hole side perching pose.

In a perfect world, I would prefer the bird to be up in the green area, without the gray/street cutting through the body. Since this isn't a perfect world, I think you need to crop down from the top to balance out the comp.

Cheers

Randy

[zethar zethar]

Wonderful capture Mike! Nice and sharp where it needs to be and great background.

I would crop the black off the top and add a wee bit of canvas on the left and below.

[Juan Aragonés]

I agree that it is a very tight in the frame but action is just very good and I like the BG a lot :)

[Deborah Hanson]

So that's what their feet look like:D

Wonderfully caught. I think I agree with the suggestion of a tighter crop at the top. But like the eye (stare) and position of the bird.

Deb

[Haim Ziv]

Beautiful!! not easy, very great challenge.

[Danny Laredo]

Sweet flight pose. I would too consider croping a bit off the top.