Mark McKinney
July 2024 - Untitled
About the Image(s)
These are burrowing owls. As the name suggests they make burrows and lived there. They are
out and about a good while. They love they love the input area of an irrigated field. They also
like an old cemetery. Taken mid day with a Pentax K3 and a Pentax 150 to 450 zoom. The K3
has a APC sensor so the actual focal length was 675. I just got a 1.4 teleconverter for that lens.
ISO 100. F 7.1, 1/500th second. The background is pleasantly blurred despite the f stop.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
8 comments posted
Nice shot. Interesting bird and story. I am curious what they are looking at. It almost looks like they are about to speak. Focus is also good. I did make some adjustments for your perusal. I think the adjustments are apparent. Posted: 07/15/2024 21:43:23
Thank you Harley. I good correction. These owls are constantly checking their surroundings. They could be a meal for a Harris Hawk. Posted: 07/16/2024 00:17:28
Hi Mark,
This terrific image is begging for a humorous title. Whoooo are you looking at! The blurred background is good. Otherwise, I think the owls would blend into the background. They seem well adapted to their area and hopefully, difficult for a Harris Hawk to spot. Nice job! Posted: 07/16/2024 17:25:55
This terrific image is begging for a humorous title. Whoooo are you looking at! The blurred background is good. Otherwise, I think the owls would blend into the background. They seem well adapted to their area and hopefully, difficult for a Harris Hawk to spot. Nice job! Posted: 07/16/2024 17:25:55
Thank you! Sometimes they turn their heads 90 degrees. Posted: 07/16/2024 17:44:30
Good catch! The two owls have interesting interactions. I wonder whether they are brothers or sisters or lovers! Posted: 07/17/2024 05:05:57
Good catch Mark, I love these little guys. They are lots of fun to photograph when active. Your image really shows their daily activity. Standing near their nest and looking around for trouble--aka the hawk. Normally I would want to see two eyes on the bird, but in this case I think what you captured is perfect. It is a bit of a humorous look at them. You have good light and detail on the birds and the background is nice and blurry, but I would suggest to darken it as I feel it takes my eye from the subject to the bright background.
Good work here.
Posted: 07/18/2024 15:11:26
Good work here.
Posted: 07/18/2024 15:11:26
I love the burrowing owls! We took a trip as part of the PSA SoCal Round Up earlier this year and we stopped to see them. You did a great job capturing this pair. Their personalities really come through in their postures and expressions. The blurred background helps them stand out and you nailed the exposure on their bodies. There is great detail from the feathers to their eyes. Great work! Posted: 07/26/2024 15:24:40
Wonderful detail in the birds, you have captured them well. I find the background a bit distracting and my only suggestion would be to tone it down and blur it some more. Other than that, in my mind, you have a great image. Posted: 07/27/2024 14:58:22