Barred owl

Well, this certainly shows the underside plumage to advantage. Nice fit into the frame!

Wonderful shot Paul!!

I love everything about this shot, the framing, the action, the black background. The only thing I might consider doing - and this is an ethical question for you - is to add an eye sparkle to the left eye (the owl's right). There is one in the right eye already and the left eye looks lifeless without one - just clone it over.

Actually if this were my image, I would make a copy of the right eye, flip it horizontally and drop it over the left eye. Why?? Well, the left eyelid is drooping a bit and it makes the eyes look asymmetrical and the owl half asleep. Mirroring the two eyes to look like the right eye would make the owl appear to be wide awake and staring into the camera. Both eyes would sparkle and the eyes are the most important part of this image. Again, this is a question of ethics - how far is too far??? The image is fantastic as it is, having both eyes bright and alive would just give it that extra 'edge'

Comment posted by Darwin Wiggett on 12/09/04 at 9:43 pm EST

I love everything about this shot, the framing, the action, the black background. The only thing I might consider doing - and this is an ethical question for you - is to add an eye sparkle to the left eye (the owl's right). There is one in the right eye already and the left eye looks lifeless without one - just clone it over.

Darwin - thanks for your comment. Actually the left eye has a catchlight in it, but it was diminished from reducing the file size for posting.

- Paul

What can I say? Owls are among my favorite creatures and I would just love to have this in my portfolio! It's a real "catch".
Dusty V

Lovely shot Paul!

Beautiful shot captured at just the right moment.

Wonderful, wonderful shot, Paul! But I have to ask you, how do you get an owl to go for a dead mouse ? I have tried with live ones, and that works like magic, - but whenever I have tried with dead mice, birds etc. owl and hawks seems too completely loose interest.

Hey Paul,
Good old Elvis! We can only hope for a return visit .
Nice catch.

Fantastic image Paul!! Great timing and light.

WOW!

The last thing a mouse sees.

Great shot Paul !!!

Nicely captured.

You guys sure lucked on this guy! Nice one!

Really a cool shot!

very nice action!!,, btw , how did you focus,, preset?

Comment posted by Helge Sørensen on 12/10/04 at 03:17 am EST

But I have to ask you, how do you get an owl to go for a dead mouse ? I have tried with live ones, and that works like magic, - but whenever I have tried with dead mice, birds etc. owl and hawks seems too completely loose interest.

Comment posted by Cindy Mead on 12/10/04 at 12:51 am EST

amazing shot Paul! My most favorite owl. curious, do they eat the dead mice? I've never seen one go after anything that wasn't alive.


It all started when we put out a road-killed rabbit. Elvis (his name because he was so cool) took interest and we watched him come down to it from a distance. He tried to carry it off but it was too big for him to get off the ground. We left him alone and the following morning the rabbit carcass was partially eaten.
After that we tried dead mice and he gradually got used to coming to a perch to get a mouse. Maybe because it was winter and it was so cold with snow cover, but Elvis would take and eat the mice. It all lasted just a few weeks and then all of a sudden he was gone. maybe he'll show up again this year.

- Paul

Paul, this is outstanding! Elvis is in prime form!

It's all been said above, WOW!!!

Ken Archer

Great Action !!!!!

You can be really proud of this fantastic image!
Cogratulations

Fantastic

I am just speechless here!

Awesome shot, Paul!
Love watching these owls. We used to have a family of Barred Owls hanging around our house and they never seemed to mind the fact that we were right there, watching them.

Wow! What great timing you had, and the moment is perfect.