Short eared Owl

[Jonathan Ashton]

Canon 7D Canon 500mm f4 L IS handheld, ISO 640 1/800 sec f5.6
Ideally the subject would have been a little larger in the frame but due to tricky lighting conditions I found the AF wasn't working to well with the TC.
All C & C welcome.

[Ofer Levy]

I agree with your self critique but still a lot to like in this excellent habitat image.

[Wynand van Wyk]

I agree with the above. I like the environmental feeling a lot and it works for me. Superbly done here!

[Sidharth Kodikal]

This works very well for me too. Very interesting light, pose and gorgeous habitat depicted. The intense stare, the light filtering through the wings, and the layering of grasses all make this image a winner for me.

[Mike Landwehr]

While I would like to see the owl larger in the image, this is somewhat overcome by the beauty of the back-lit feathers, and the piercing yellow eyes. I like the left wing position, and the intense look on the owl's face. A nice environmental shot.

[john jackson]

A larger in the frame owl would be a very different picture. I like this one for the light passing through the wing feathers and the layers of grasses/reeds in the habitat and among which the owl is placed perfectly.

[Bill Dix]

Perfectly captures the feeling of these guys coursing over the grasses. Love the light through the wing, the vivid eye. I'm most envious - I went out last night hoping to find one in the spot where they appeared last winter, but came home empty-handed.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Thanks for the comments and feedback. I intend to get some more shots as son as the weather picks up.
I should have expressed myself little more clearly, when I said I wanted the bird larger in the frame, I was really referring to the original, this post is approx 40%-50% crop.

[dankearl]

I too, like it a lot. The DOF is really nice. A bigger crop would have lost IQ, not worth the trade-off.

[christopher galeski]

nice image Jonathan,owl nice and sharp,nice habitat shot,lighting here in the northwest at the moment is rubbish,welldone.