I See You, by Ice Bear (Chris Johnson)

Chris has just completed "I See You", another excellent work in his wildlife series.
Chris has captured this Great Horned Owl, as it appears poised to strike.

But there is more. Chris capitalizes on the big, round eyes and the intense stare of a owl, and he builds this into the title for the picture.

Note too, that he pulls the bird's body in from the back to draw its tail feathers down...to increase its wind resistance to control its landing. This bend, pulls the body into a striking posture, and he accentuates the bird's speed of flight with his long strokes.

I like the way its one wing is extended. This suggests that the owl is using it an aerial rudder to control any last minute, sudden change in direction or to give it balance as it hits its prey.

The picture's background is a basic night time sky. There is the owl, and the branch it flies past. Anything else would be visually distracting. Your sight is as fixed on the owl just as its sight is as fixed on its prey.

Nice touch Chris!

You are welcome to check out Cliff's wildlife series, by clicking here. Then proceed from there to his to wildlife category.