I spent 2 hours with this burrowing owl (sitting) slowly changing my position he was watching over multiple nests. They were completely not bothered as they were used to a lot of activity in the adjacent church playground area. I was waiting for the diminishing light to catch his head spinning on a long exposure. A large thunderstorm developed directly over head and when the torrential rains let loose I retreated to my car. Only this owl remained on watch and I shot him for about 20 minutes from the car with this forlorn look - frequently as our eyes met he seemed to be saying "Yeah I know its raining".
One more comment before the crop police issue me an incorrect crop citation. Cropping this vertical works but it misses the real story which is the pounding rain all around.
1/200
Aperture priority
f 5
ISO 400
Lens 70 -200 MM 2.8
No flash
EOS MK 3
Nice capture in the rain, I agree with Chad, though I would have cropped vertically to display more of the owl and less of the bg. I think you could still show some rain in a vertical crop.
Herb
Hello Doug, This is one of the best wild expressions I have seen in a long while. His eyes tell the whole story. He has that same long, sad, take me home please face, as a puppy at the pound. I would be proud to hang this on my wall. Great work.
This is a fine capture. The look on the owl's face tells the whole story.
It looks like as if he's telling you that " life is tough". I think cropping the image
to move it off the center a bit will work. Nonetheless, this is a rare capture that you normally wouldn't expect.
This is a stunning capture, how ever I don't like the pipe, and I am not sure you would want to crop it out and lose the feet.
The face on the owl tells it all. WOW
Love it! I do a lot of burrowing owl surveys here in South Florida and I always enjoy taking pics of them; however, I really think this is one of my favorites. Nice job!
Hi Doug, that is one wet owl that should have been burrowing Aside from the crop police, my feeling is with the owl larger the dominance of the wetness and size of the cascading rain drops may allow you a 'better' crop to your likings Either way your owl is way cool, I just don't like the perch
Karl
Oct 24, 2008 at 09:40 PM
anthony whitmo Offline • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
I really like the shot. The face expression of the Owl tells the whole story. However I have a different opinion about cropping. Even with a vertical crop you still would see the rain drops and they woudn't be so intrusive to the point that they become a distraction from the real subject. But I know that is just a matter of personal taste and by no means it is intended as a criticism to your work.
Socrate
Very funny too.. 
