Barn owl

[Jonathan Ashton]

Tripod Canon 7D Canon 500mm f4 L IS & 1.4TC ISO 640 1/800 sec f5.6.
Another shot of the local barn owl, a ring can be just about seen on the right leg. I increased the contrast and gave a little selective colour to enhance the bird, this was taken as the light was beginning to fail, previously I had been on ISO 400 and less than 1/1000 sec at f8. Having seen the image as posted I am wondering if I should have perhaps done something about the large pale area above the bird, you comments will be eagerly awaited!

[christopher galeski]

very nice Jonathan,sharp with nice detail,does not bother me,the pale area,as my eyes are drawn to the bird,if mine,would take a bit off the right,and add some to the left.well done.

[Karl Egressy]

Godd sharpnes and details, Jonathan.

[Bill Dix]

Very nice capture. Good detail. I agree that positioning the bird further to the right in the frame might help. I think you're right about the pale area too. While not a killer, it might be improved by toning it down -- maybe by brushing in some of the green color with a soft, low opacity brush, or some other intervention?

[Randy Stout]

Jon:

Good comments from the crew! I would crop a smidge from the right, a modest amount from the top, and use the clone stamp to very lightly tone down the lightest areas above the bird, as others mentioned.

Cheers

Randy

[Jonathan Ashton]

Thanks for the comments everyone, as ever I really take them on board.

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Excellent pose, exposure and sharp details, Jon. Bit off the right and top would be an improvement as already stated. Bg is nice and the paler areas hardly bug me.

[Don Nelson]

Outstanding image with just the tiny bit of head turn captured. Like the detail on the back. I agree with other posters about cropping the right a bit - would improve the image IMHO.

[Frank Schauf]

Nice flight pose, good capture.

[vishaljadhav]

Wonderful image, the owl is so nicely placed, lovely details and you got a catchlight in this birds eye wonderful, love the way the claws show
nice image