Avian - 1st HM

Gallery: EPA 2016Posted July 10, 20162,266 views21 comments

Burrowing Owl Landing

I managed to nab this burrowing owl coming in for a landing on a mullein perch. I am going back and forth about a title. He is so incredibly focused ont he perch. It feels almost like he is bowing to some high king. My first thought was "All Hail the King". If you have any suggestions on the title, would love to hear them. Please view larger image for critique.

1DX, 500mm f/4, 1.4 TC, 1/5000 at f/8, ISO 1600, taken from hide, no baiting or calls used.

Comments

21 comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on July 10, 2016 at 4:12 PM

One of your best Kurt. Those wings are spectacular. The symmentry is very nice. Not sure about a title, but the image is amazing. Well done.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by David Bogener on July 10, 2016 at 4:13 PM

No help on a title, but this is an awesome image captured in great light. Love your timing to capture this symmetrical landing pose. I like the layered OOF background.

Registered on October 30, 2013, 417 Posts, 1255 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on July 10, 2016 at 9:25 PM

Oh..... my...... This is really nice! Perfect timing with the talons out but not quite to the perch. Those wings are perfect.

Here's a thought for a title "I wish this was in MY portfolio" cool

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Williams on July 11, 2016 at 12:04 PM

Kurt, in view of the summer olympics coming up, this makes me think "Stuck the Landing" in gymnastics. Love it, the spread of the wings, the fantastic detail and the lovely BG hitting on all cylinders here.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on July 11, 2016 at 6:14 PM

Great timing. Well done.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on July 11, 2016 at 11:16 PM

Wonderful timing to get this, the wing spread really makes the image for me and you have a nice complimentary background to add to the overall image. I might clone/crop a little of the bottom to stop the small second mullein from coming into the image and you have a small dust spot in the same area but really minor items for such a great shot. The larger image was a pleasure to view. Title suggestion: Perfect Landing.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on July 12, 2016 at 11:10 AM

Looks like an Owl totem. No real nits. I would have liked a lower position to get more of the eyes, but I understand you are pretty limited to the shooting position the hide allows you. But if you hadn't been in a hide, you probably might not have gotten the shot. A good compromise IMO. Top notch shot!

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on July 12, 2016 at 12:30 PM

Terrific wingspread and pose, Kurt. Lighting and perch are also excellent. The position of the bird in the frame is perfect. devil

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on July 12, 2016 at 2:35 PM

Kurt, if I think about it, there are lots of titles, but this perfectly timed angelic wing spread is worthy of any title. Wonderful colorful light and detail. Agree that I'd clone that tip at the bottom.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Thompson on July 12, 2016 at 2:38 PM

An exceptional landing image for sure Kurt. Layered background is fantastic. I do wish for more of it's eyes visible but I understand it probably wasn't going to happen. I've been trying to come up with a title but can't seem to find a better one than your "All Hail the King". I would remove the small bit of perch from the bottom, if you haven't already. Outstanding! devil

Registered on August 7, 2014, 125 Posts, 2319 Comments

Comment posted by David Schoen on July 12, 2016 at 5:27 PM

My title would be: "let there be grain". Beautiful image with a beautiful background. The colors work very well.

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on July 12, 2016 at 8:36 PM

Wow, incredible - one of your very best ever, and that says a lot. Perfect wing position, perfect feet, great perch, sweet BG.
Might wish for a better view of the eyes, but he needs to see where he is going!

A++++++++
devil

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on July 13, 2016 at 3:57 PM

An amazing photograph Kurt!!! Your mastery with the camera and knowledge of wildlife behavior shines through here.

The large version is pleasure to view!

devil

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Hrishi Nulkar on July 13, 2016 at 7:06 PM

Incredible image Kurt. The symmetry in the image makes it really stand out. You have captured that specific landing moment perfectly, especially with the claws out vs. being on the perch.

Registered on July 12, 2016, 10 Posts, 17 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on July 14, 2016 at 9:10 PM

Beautiful shot Kurt, love the symmetrical wings, the lighting and the perch. devil

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on July 16, 2016 at 5:01 PM

WOW! Wing out wide make this image. Great skill on catching this at the right moment! Exposure and all look great. Wonder what it would look like if the owls head was just a bit more up. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Jeremy Bangs on July 18, 2016 at 12:46 AM

Wow. Everything is great, but the feet put the action part of this over the top. Really nice capture.

Registered on June 11, 2005, 13 Posts, 51 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 18, 2016 at 7:38 PM

Way cool, Kurt. Looks like he's taking a bow.

devil

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

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on July 25, 2016 at 9:41 AM

Outstanding . . .

Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on January 15, 2017 at 10:59 AM

Hi Kurt!

Congrats! Great going!

Jagdeep Rajput devil

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on January 21, 2017 at 2:45 PM

Hi Kurt

All you work is so wonderfull to view. , especially the mood, detail and color in this excellent capture. Congrats on the 1st place win for 2016 devil

Albert Darmo

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments