Burrowing Owl

Gallery: AvianPosted December 15, 2009380 views23 comments

I've been debating for a long time now whether or not I should ever post this shot. Despite it's numerous imperfections (clutter galore, feet not visible, OOf vegetation in front of the bird and less than perfect lighting) I still like the image so just decided to go for it and see what you think. Please be brutally honest.

This is one of four juvies that spent most of their time behind an incline so that only their heads were visible through all the vegetation. They did however have a little "tunnel" through the weeds that came to the top of the hill and would sometimes peer at us through the opening to the tunnel, as this bird is doing. I know the owlet looks fierce but in reality this is only a yawn. I think we bored the little fella.

I had to do more processing here than I like to do - including several exposure adjustments in RAW and I used the healing brush on two small bright areas.

40D, 1/640, f/8, ISO 400, 500 f/4 (no tc this time), shot from pickup window on 7-27-2009, cropped to 56% of original image, not baited

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

23 comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on December 15, 2009 at 7:32 PM

Ron, you're your own worst enemy when it comes to what you should or should-not post. This one is great.
Everything else can be ignored when you have a subject that is doing that for the camera

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on December 15, 2009 at 7:45 PM

The facial expression made it very worthy of posting. I love it

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 15, 2009 at 7:49 PM

I agree with Nick on this one Ron. The thing I love the most about this image is the different sized pupils in the eyes due to one being in the light and one being in the shade. Makes for just an out of this world look. Super image IMO.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on December 15, 2009 at 8:17 PM

A charming image and definitely worth posting. Great work behind the scenes to make this look so good.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Raymond Klassen on December 15, 2009 at 8:21 PM

I agree with the rest of the comments. Really cool!

Registered on November 30, 2008, 114 Posts, 790 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on December 15, 2009 at 8:21 PM

Not sure why you think that the "clutter" and not seeing the feet are negatives. It's a burrowing owl, they live underground, so to get them out and on land is an accomplishment in and of itself! The thing I love most about this species is their eyes which are so incredibly clear - and this is one of the best shots I've seen displaying that.

- Luke

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on December 15, 2009 at 10:05 PM

This would certainly be a keeper for me! Love the expression!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on December 15, 2009 at 10:34 PM

The wonderful expression far outweighs any technical imperfections there may be, my eyes went straight to those eyes and the open beak and I smiled broadly. I actually like the soft dried grasses that surround the subject. These guys seem like such characters based on the photos I have seen, haven't seen one in the flesh yet.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on December 15, 2009 at 10:38 PM

It's a good thing this species isn't human-They'd dominate the comic circuit with their crazy poses. This is another great one, Ron. There may be some minor technical imperfections, but for my taste it's the character of the bird that separates a great shot from a ho hum one. Some species are very difficult, because they just don't seem to exude any (as my wife would say: "You look in their eye and there's no one home.") This comes across as if someone is most definitely home and a very interesting someone. It may all be optical illusion, but it's how we (or at least I) interact with images.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by David Williams on December 15, 2009 at 11:13 PM

No imperfections for me, Ron.........its a great shot! Lots of things to like about this one...expression, colors, angle of shot....etc. Love it.

Registered on March 8, 2005, 315 Posts, 2291 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on December 16, 2009 at 12:06 AM

Dang that's good! Looks like a female to me.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on December 16, 2009 at 7:46 AM

Ron, I love it. The facial expression is really comical and expressive. The vegetation does not bother me at all. You did a great job getting the most important parts unobstructed and so the rest does not detract for me. Looks like you handled the difficult light well too. Glad you posted this.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on December 16, 2009 at 8:00 AM

Ron,

I love the expression this owlet has, the little tunnel of vegetation it is in shows the habitat this species prefers very well. I like the sharpness of the rictal bristles around the bill, the great look at the eyes and the wonderful attitude these youngsters showed us is very much evident in this image.

A very appealing and interesting image as posted. Your extra work in PS paid off nicely.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Douglas Graham on December 16, 2009 at 12:38 PM

Your eye goes straight to the birds eyes. The clutter for me just frames him up and makes for a really great habitat shot.

Registered on May 14, 2009, 123 Posts, 522 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on December 16, 2009 at 12:45 PM

Great eyes, wonderful lively expression completely outweighs the technical imperfections you mentioned.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Mason on December 16, 2009 at 4:39 PM

Absolutely delightful! I smile even looking at the thumbnail. I don't "see" any imperfections because I'm am so drawn to that face. Just exquisite!

Registered on December 14, 2005, 399 Posts, 2305 Comments

Comment posted by Avi Hirschfield on December 16, 2009 at 4:42 PM

RON U are to hard on yourself.
This shot is fantastic, as I allways say thats what its like in nature that is where they live SO show it like it is.
NICK said it all

Registered on November 1, 2003, 518 Posts, 2114 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on December 16, 2009 at 8:38 PM

Ron:
I'm tuning in late. I agree with all the positive comments. I was struck by the unequal pupil size too. If the neural circuitry of the visual system and motor control of the pupil and eyes of the owl were the same as humans (they are not), you would need to rush this bird to the vet. In normal humans, both pupils constrict equally with light shone into either eye alone. And according to Wikipedia, an abnormal pupillary reflex can be caused by optic nerve damage, oculomotor nerve damage, brain stem death and depressant drugs, such as barbiturates.
That explains why you are able to get so close to these birds and why they have such peculiar expressions - you've been giving them drugs!

I'm glad you decided to post the image.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on December 16, 2009 at 11:02 PM

What a unique shot Ron , well worth posting

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Joe James on December 18, 2009 at 4:29 PM

Definitely worth posting! Great shot and I agree with Luke...the ground clutter is part of their environment so getting one (especially a juvenile) in the clear almost doesn't look natural to me. This shot looks as natural as they come and the expression on the owlet's face and those big, yellow eyes are perfectly framed by the vegetation. Well done!

Registered on November 20, 2009, 89 Posts, 808 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Davies on December 20, 2009 at 11:51 AM

The expression just holds the viewers attention so strongly one just ignores the ''imperfections'' , a super shot.

Registered on February 3, 2009, 21 Posts, 327 Comments

Comment posted by mark cillo on December 20, 2009 at 2:30 PM

Very funny inage, love the expression!

Registered on July 27, 2008, 143 Posts, 1483 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmie Fata on December 28, 2009 at 6:02 PM

Ron, I love this image and reading your self criticisms is instructive for a newbie like myself. Thanks for the advice on my first picture posted. I reposted the image taking into account your suggestions - but now my image has oof vegetation in front of the bird (this isnt easy is it?)

Registered on December 27, 2009, 14 Posts, 55 Comments