Great Horned Owl

Photo: Krista Loop

“My family and I spend a lot of time outdoors, and I usually have my camera in tow,” Krista Loop says. “I enjoy walking the trails in the Lake Minnetonka area, often in search of birds and other wildlife to photograph.”

One evening, Loop didn’t need to go far to take this photograph—a surprise guest was visiting her yard. “Luckily, I was able to get a few photos from a respectful distance. The owl later flew off at dusk,” she says. “My favorite parts of the photo are the owl’s intense yellow eyes and beautiful feather variations.”