"Having a very peaceful nature, I often wonder why I find myself attracted to birds of prey and predators in general. In the case of birds of prey, perhaps it is because of their beautiful eyes - especially the intelligent look of the owls. When threatened, the long-eared owl can change from a very thin silhouette to a voluminous, impressive bird. This surprising behavior often protects him from his enemies, as most would not dare challenge such a large bird. Seeing the owl in this menacing position with his bright yellow eyes, wide open was very impressive and I wanted to capture it in my painting. With his wings spread, the beautiful design of his feathers can also be seen." - Carl Brenders