Pearl-spotted Owlet - Tarangire National Park, Tanzania

[Vivek Khanzode]

Pearl-spotted Owlet - Tarangire National Park, Tanzania

TZ lifer # 78

We were actually watching a pair of lions mate in the distance when this fella moved in my peripheral vision. After the driver stopped the car, I saw this guy standing right close to the road looking away. He almost looked like an extension of the branch on which he was sitting - super still, in rain! Patience paid off, he moved his head and I got this shot. Eventually, the owlet did not seem to mind my taking his photos.

Tech details: Av mode, 1/2500s @ f/8 with +1.66 EV; ISO 1600; 1D4+500L on a beanbag support on a stopped Safari Landcruiser. No flash, ambient light. Shot in intermittent rain, the Owlet obviously looks wet ;-)

Background is the distant sky, the Owl was almost eye level from me.

A few more views here: http://flic.kr/p/aEsipc.

[Alan Murphy]

Such a great perch for this little guy. Wish you had lowered the lens a bit. A more vertical crop would be more pleasing IMO.

[Bill Dix]

Great look, great perch, nice exposure. Agree a bit more vertical crop would help, and maybe a thin pencil line border?

[Brendan Dozier]

Great looking Owlet, Vivek, and nicely captured and composed. Gotta love those eyes. Wish you could post it larger.

[arash_hazeghi]

cute little fellow, vert is way to go here

[Vivek Khanzode]

Thanks for all the comments folks. I agree, I wanted to process this vertical, but was too tired last night. I had gotten only a few hours of sleep and when I came to this shot, I was pretty much shot for the day .. Here it is processed as a vertical. Hope you like this better.

Thanks again,

-- Vivek

[Vivek Khanzode]

Also, here it is with green b/g in rain:

[arash_hazeghi]

repost is an improvement, I'd move the bird to the left and crop tighter, a bit too much empty space now. you can post 800 pixels tall to show the details