Great Gray Owl at Nest Platform

This is the same owl I posted in Avian last week. The Forest Service provides these nest platforms for them. When they initially moved into the area they used abandoned Goshawk nests, but they fell apart, so artificial platforms were provided. They’re quite some distance up the trees, but this one was on a slope so I was able to get somewhat higher, though still well below the box.The crop was deliberate to make it appear more on the viewer’s level. The light area under the beak is just feather color, but the pattern gives this bird a very sad look to my anthropomorphic eyes.

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Anything.

Technical Details

Sony A1, FE 200-600 + 1.4 TC @ 840 mm, Tripod with ball head and Wimberley Sidekick mount, f/9, 1/1000, iso 2500, manual exposure. Processed in LR & PS CC. Cropped to 3583 x 4674. Taken June 1st at 2:13 PM under overcast skies.

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I really like the reflective pose on this one. Colors, exposure and DOF are outstanding. I might darken the upper left sky as it pulls my eye.