Out of uncounted thousands of Burrowing Owl photos I’ve taken over the years and many hundreds I haven’t deleted this image is one of my 3 favorites.
- Normally I don’t like to publicly declare “favorites” because I have deep affection for and attachment to many of my photos.. Each one is individual and has its own strengths and weaknesses. Typically, depending on my mood, purpose and a variety of other factors, I may think of a particular image as a favorite one day and completely change my mind the next so choosing favorites is usually an exercise in futility. For me picking favorite images is about like trying to choose a favorite child – it just isn’t fair and it’s often meaningless. That said, when it comes to my Burrowing Owl photos 3 of them always seem to rise to the top in a variety of situations so if pressed I’d have to admit that they’re probably my reliable favorites.
Two of the 3 are photos that regular viewers have seen several times before – a juvenile performing parallax so it’s head is almost upside down as it looks at me and a pair of juvenile siblings cuddled up next to each other with one of them also parallaxing me with its head tilted at an extreme angle.
The image below is my third favorite Burrowing Owl photo and I haven’t posted it in almost 6 years so I’m sure most current readers have never seen it, at least at full size. All three of the photos are featured in the rotating banner of tiny images at the top of my blog so if you think you recognize it that’s probably why.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
This very young juvenile was one of at least 7 siblings that were practicing their landing skills on July 12, 2012 on Antelope Island. Here it’s about to land on top of the sagebrush in the foreground and just before it touched down it glanced up at me which gave me intense and direct eye contact.
So why do I like the image as much as I do? The reasons include:
- the eye contact in flight from those big, innocent yellow eyes, of course
- the symmetry of the image
- the feathers lifted up by the backwash of air flow on the tops of both wings
- the deployed alulae (“bastard wings” homologous with the thumb)
- the lowered legs and feet (although I do wish parts of both feet weren’t hidden behind the sagebrush)
- the colors of both bird and setting in the warm, early morning light (the lower background is the beach and the upper background is the Great Salt Lake itself)
But I have many photos taken of the siblings and adults that morning so why does this one stand out? It’s probably a personal reason related to my still developing skills as a photographer that many years ago. Normally back then I’d have lost focus on this bird as it approached because my focus points would have grabbed on to the sagebrush in the foreground instead of the owl. But this time I was able to maintain sharp focus on the bird for 5 shots as the owl was coming in and boy, was I ever proud of myself!
1/1600, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
Three frames later I caught the owl just as it was about to touch down. I love that reaching and open right foot, especially given its placement between the two sprigs of sagebrush.
So yes, playing favorites with my images isn’t always a wise thing for me to do but sometimes I just can’t help myself.
Ron
Finally saw our neighborhood Mallards in their usual “lawn ornament” pose as I came home from the shelter tonight. (They hang out and nest in my neighbor’s front yard.) Now, she has herself an extra boyfriend — I like those odds! 😉
I had Mallards nesting under my bedroom window for 2 years. Cats kept bothering them at night. Believe me, a pissed off momma Mallard can make a lot of racket, especially in the middle of the night!
Oy! That face! So gorgeous! I’d add those curved primaries to the list of “why this is a favorite.” 😄
Point taken, Marty.
I love the intensity of the owl’s eyes. It looks very determined to do “something”.
Both are beautiful photos but I favor the 1st one because of the beautiful tail feathers that look so perfect.
Thank you, Ron
You’re right, Alice. The flared tail, that we can’t see much of in the second shot, makes a big positive difference in the first one.
Hard-hearted hannah here has just had a change of state. The Burrowing Owls ALWAYS melt my heart. Thank you.
Thanks, HHH… 🙂
Ah, The Vamp of Savannah G.A. 😉
Who is it that wrote a book that says you have to spend 10,000 hours at something before you get good at it? Wonderful pictures. John
John, I don’t know if I was “good at it” back then but that time it did work out.
Both are superb, but i’ll vote for the first. There’s just something about BOTH eyes in the photo.
The first one gets my vote too, Elmer – but I like both of them for different reasons.
Fantastic Ron – it’s hard to pick just one or two when the subject and the photographer are top shelf.
Nice of you to say so, Zaph. Thanks.
Love, love, LOVE them both!!! Feet, wings, beautiful background, intensity of focus….again, so very glad not to be a vole….orca grasshopper!!
Thanks very much, Patty.
Ah the idea of favorites! When I’m talking about Mariah, she’s my favorite. Then, seconds later, I’m talking about Jack and he moves to the top of the list. Same thing happens with my dogs. I’ve comes to realize that “favorite” is really a moveable and rotating concept, fluid and flexible, dependent on what’s happening in the present. It just doesn’t have the permanence and overall stick-to-itiveness that most folks would expect of it.
And what ROCKIN’ images of one of my favorite raptors!! You just gotta love burrowing owls for a zillion different reasons, but mostly because they’re just outrageously cool!
Oh and still unable to follow your posts for follow-up comments/posts. I don’t get the option in a separate email anymore. And yes, both boxes are checked (“Notify me of follow-up comments by email” and “Notify me of new posts by email.”
Thanks, Laura. I keep suggesting to you that you try EC’s suggestion to solve your problem but I don’t think you’re seeing my replies to your comments.
I didn’t see EC’s comments. Yesterday, I figured out that if I kept the page up and refreshed it, that would be at least a quick fix for the problem. So, EC, what was your suggestion?
Here’s what she said on my recent Barn Swallow post:
“Laura I had a similar problem last year. I went to WordPress’s subscription management page and fiddled. It came good.”
Adding to my suggestion. If someone comments on an early post (where you could subscribe) or you kept any of the comments right down the bottom there is a little link which is along the lines of ‘manage my subscriptions’. Good luck.
OK, thanks. I’ll try that. Maybe I can fiddle dee dee and fix it 😉
Thank you for re-sharing these images. They are both beautiful. I especially like the intensity of focus on landing and the feet ready to grab a perch.
Those feet in that shot really get my attention too, Susan.
Gorgeous
🙂
Wonderful photo! Just perfect!
Thank you, Joanne.
Marvelous!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
A magnificent image Anyone who has attempted to catch a burrowing owl in flight like this knows how hard it is. That would be me speaking from experience! All I can say is WOW.
Thanks, Keith. If anyone knows the difficulty of Burrowing Owl photos in flight, it’s you!
Wonderful photos Ron. Most often your flying bird opportunities are with them flying away from you. These are beautiful. Love those big eyes that don’t miss anything.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
“Most often your flying bird opportunities are with them flying away from you”
Boy, isn’t that the truth!
Got a little chill when you said this is a ‘favorite’! What am I going scroll down and see. It’s now my new favorite also. Sorry Kingfisher from last week! Such a perfect shot
Beautiful way to start my day😃
I’m glad you weren’t disappointed, Diana!
Spectacular image, Ron! Thank you for all your efforts in sharing your images and narratives with us.
Thank you, Ron.
Gorgeous! 🙂 Almost looks like it’s just “hanging there” in the first photo… 2nd photo you can see the concentration on grasping the brush. Yes, a “favorite” does vary from day to day and, as Ken noted, often has as much to do with the memories of capturing the photo as the photo itself – at least for me.
It WAS almost “just hanging there”, Judy. There was a bit of a head wind (just a breeze, really) that slowed the approach of the owl a little.
Some of my favorite “images” are those from my childhood, burned into my brain way before I ever started carrying a camera. The context of the encounter adds so much to the image. Maybe it was good that I did not have my Brownie with black and white film when I saw my first redpoll or the pair of courting Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. A twig might have been in the way, or movement caused them to blur– and they would have looks almost like specks against the foliage. It is pretty much the same way now, as my “favorite” photo often has more to do with the memory of the encounter.
Interesting observation, Ken. I think you must have a better memory than I do!
I can easily see why it is a favorite…everything about it is most appealing. I find the ‘under’ pattern and coloring of the feathers especially pleasing; love that look of old fashioned gingham.
“love that look of old fashioned gingham”
Me too, Kathy. At my age I like most things that are old fashioned… 🙂