Don't make eye contact
Florida Burrowing Owls
Florida Burrowing Owls
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Oct, 2013Views
474
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Awards
Great Shot
Top Choice
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
All Star
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Top 10 rank week 1
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doughilson
January 31, 2016
Magnificent shot, got my vote for"Looking into Camera" etc. And, your entire portfolio is modt enjoyable.
PRO
robsy1965
September 30, 2018
I've heard that Sanibel Island is a great place to see these owls! We live in Colorado and have lots of them here in the Pawnee Grasslands! Such a wonderful shot and so crisp and clear!
PRO
danmontesi
September 30, 2018
Thanks so much, these burrowing owls are actually from Ft. Lauderdale, FL. I'm going to return to the spot again next spring. They have great character!
PRO
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
I went to a cousin's fourth birthday party in Fort Lauderdale, Florida park and I brought my camera along to document the occasion. Once in the park, these burrowing owls greeted us, seemingly unafraid. I rolled up on them in my car very slowly, and they didn't even flinch. Since their burrow was directly next to the parking lot, I assume they were quite immune to cars. You can see the parking lot behind them. I slowly rolled down the window and took dozens of photographs. They were quite aloof. I only stayed a couple of minutes because I didn't want to disturb them too much. I love owls and their endless expressions.Time
This was taken in late morning around 10:00 and the day was slightly overcast. By noon however, the clouds had burned off and i twas a typically hot Florida day in the late spring.Lighting
The overcast from the morning provided perfect lighting for the encounter.Equipment
I believe this was my Nikon Coolpix. I wasn't planning on this encounter.Inspiration
Owls are the best birds to photograph. They have endless expressions, they are quite bold, and they are very hard to find (usually). I never pass up a picture of an owl. Owls are my absolute favorite birds, no matter where I go, I keep a sharp eye out for them.Editing
I cropped a little bit out of the picture, trying to eliminate as much of the parking lot as I could. It really wasn't the most glamorous place to build a home, so I cropped enough out to make it look like it was better real estate.In my camera bag
Now I have a Nikon D 7100 that I use when I'm serious, and I always drag along my Nikon D900 wherever I go, because you just never know what you may encounter!Feedback
As simple as it sounds, keep a camera at your side always. I totally wan't expecting the see these little guys at the park, and lo and behold, there they were. I have developed an eye for wildlife over the years. I see little movements in the woods, that have brought me to wonderful wildlife discoveries. Once I caught a glimpse of movement along the side of a road in the Everglades, and I had an inkling I should stop. I pulled over and kept an eye on my rear view mirror where I saw movement. I waited patiently and I was rewarded to see a Florida Panther and a kitten dart across the road. I tried to get my camera out to capture the moment, but I was a few seconds too slow. It was a magical moment despite my lack of photographic proof - and well worth the time I spend in nature.
