Barn Owl - Another one for the nearly folder?

[John Harper]

Hi There

Shot taken today at my usual hang out of the "Hawk Conservancy" of a Barn Owl having just been given some food and about to land on a tree stump to eat it.

Does it work as a shot with the wing clipped?, alas i don't have anymore of it as i shot it portrait orientation, i was fortunate to get the focus on the money and i like the extended other wing, but not sure if its a bin or a keep.

Comments & Critiques welcome

Tech Data-

EOS 1DMKIIN EF500mm 5.6L ISO 400 1/2500 @ 5.6


John

 

[Asher Kelman]

Well here it is!

Not perfect, but a try!

Asher

 

[Paul Bestwick]

really nice shot & wow Asher.............nice retouch. I would not even know where to start with something like that.

Cheers,

PB

 

[Don Cohen]

Excellent Photoshop work, Asher - I'm impressed!

John - I think it's important to define a context in which to evaluate images. If this one brings you joy, or a smile to your face, then it's successful, regardless of any other considerations. Whether or not it is sellable, publishable, etc., is a very different matter, and in that sense has no bearing on whether it should be deleted or not.

Personally, I find it visually appealing, with the positive elements outweighing the negative. I would likely keep the image for my own enjoyment, even if I didn't post it on my website.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Hi There

Shot taken today at my usual hang out of the "Hawk Conservancy" of a Barn Owl having just been given some food and about to land on a tree stump to eat it.

Does it work as a shot with the wing clipped?, alas i don't have anymore of it as i shot it portrait orientation, i was fortunate to get the focus on the money and i like the extended other wing, but not sure if its a bin or a keep.

Comments & Critiques welcome

Tech Data-

EOS 1DMKIIN EF500mm 5.6L ISO 400 1/2500 @ 5.6


John

John,

Now that I'm back from listening to music, I am looking at your picture again. It is interesting that the owl has caught it's food and the owl itself is "caught" in that it is owned by the conservatory, as evidenced by the ring on its leg.

I spent the time to correct what probably can stand on its own! Your picture is a fresh way of looking at the bird. After all, if the bird flies past window, that's all one would see.

Further, removing part of the bird, is no issue for us, since we know what the rest will look like immediately and we can focus on the birds face, which is what's important.

So thanks for making me think about this more!

Asher

 

[Ray West]

Hi John,

You've travelled thousand's of miles, for many weeks, hiking to a remote area to get a photo of this very rare bird. You got this one result. What are you going to do with it? You can't go back next week to get a better shot - a sort of long term spray and pray technique. This is it.

Now, what is the reason for the image? If it is something to hang on a wall, then it is fine. Personally I would crop off half the cropped wing - make it a deliberate 'tall portrait image', and ps out the blue ring, maybe. see how it prints, at say 30 by 16 inches. Its a question of turning an error into a feature.

Best wishes,

Ray.

Ps nice picture of a mouse, pretty the bird got in the way ;-)

(it's not a 'country' mouse, but you could make it to be one)

 

[Asher Kelman]

Ray,

A great improvement in composition! That's a jump that makes the image seem complete. I like it.

Was that your first impiulse or it came to you later?

Asher

 

[Ray West]

Hi Asher,

It was my first thought. Most of my comments on most of the images I see in opf are concerned with composition or cropping. In this case, it was a question of getting the head more into the 'magic third corner', and it gives more bird, less background.

I suppose it's like taking my photo of the scene I see in the image, I am not restricted to any of the original photographer's preconceived ideas, knowing the background, the 'only ifs', and so on. Its a question of getting to the point.

I think John has got a great sharp image, well worth spending a lot of time on. I see nothing wrong in post processing, removing or adding stuff, it's all part of the creative process.

Best wishes,

Ray

 

[nicolas claris]

I totally agree with Asher's and Ray's posts, however, as usual, a little sharpening may enhance some details and power of the image...

 

[John Harper]

Hi John,

You've travelled thousand's of miles, for many weeks, hiking to a remote area to get a photo of this very rare bird. You got this one result. What are you going to do with it? You can't go back next week to get a better shot - a sort of long term spray and pray technique. This is it.

Now, what is the reason for the image? If it is something to hang on a wall, then it is fine. Personally I would crop off half the cropped wing - make it a deliberate 'tall portrait image', and ps out the blue ring, maybe. see how it prints, at say 30 by 16 inches. Its a question of turning an error into a feature.

Best wishes,

Ray.

Ps nice picture of a mouse, pretty the bird got in the way ;-)

(it's not a 'country' mouse, but you could make it to be one)

Hi Ray

Thanks for the advice did you mean something like this

John

 

[Ray West]

Hi John,

Something like, but my original thought was not so much, just half as much. But whatever you think works for you. I sit here, squinting at it, trying to get the shapes sort of balanced, maybe a bit more wing works, maybe not.

Best wishes,
Ray