Western Screech Owl

[Doug Brown]

Caught this owl peering out of a hollowed out tree trunk. I liked the eye contact. Crop is a little tight, but frankly, there wasn't much else worth including in the image.

http://birdwhisperer.smugmug.com/photos/246396272-X3.jpg

Canon 30D, 500mm f/4 + 1.4x, f/5.6, 1/500, ISO 500, flash, monopod

[Axel Hildebrandt]

The eyes really make this image. My local screech-owl can't be bothered and only glimpses through more or less closed eyes. :)

I think the plumage could need some more sharpening.

[Caroline Darmo]

Awww, so sweet. The amount of flash looks just right. What I really like is how eye level this looks, the angle isn't steep at all. Maybe just a touch more sharpening, really well done.

[Mike Wilson]

What's not to like? Great use of natural light with just a tiny touch of fill, looks great. Agree it needs a bit more USM.

[Doug Brown]

Here's a quick re-edit with some sharpening and some dodging.

[Doug Brown]

Awww, so sweet. The amount of flash looks just right. What I really like is how eye level this looks, the angle isn't steep at all. Maybe just a touch more sharpening, really well done.

Interestingly enough, the owl was 20-30 feet above me. Maybe it was leaning over and that's why the body isn't as sharp as it might otherwise be.

[Mike Wilson]

Looks even better. Good work.

[Alfred Forns]

Like the re post a lot Tight composition works well and love those prominent eye !!!!

[John Cooper]

I like the repost Doug - now nice and sharp and good balance of ambient light and fill-flash. Very surprising that the owl was at that height - The perspective shown here appears to be only marginally above eye level!!

[D. Robert Franz]

I love owls and this is a fine image. The repost is even better.....

[Scott Linstead]

Repost looks great. Nice job getting the eye contact as well as a very eye-level gaze. I'll jump on the post-proc suggestion bandwagon and suggest a slight increase in brightness.

Scott

[David Steele]

A lovely shot. I thought the original could be brighter and it looks as though it is brighter in the re-post. Perhaps a little more contrast or saturation could be tried too?

[Jim Neiger]

Hi Doug,

I like this image alot. The eyes really draw my attention and I like the tight comp with the surrounding tree. The eyes are very different from those on our Eastern Screech Owls. The Eastern Screech Owls have very human like eyes. The repost was an improvement, but I think the combination of levels and SH tool would have produced a better result than dodging.

[Doug Brown]

I'm never one to turn down an opportunity to refine my PS skills. Luckily I have some time on my hands today, as I'm both on vacation and sick. How's this version? BTW this forum has already done wonders for my PS knowledge. Thanks everyone!

[Jim Neiger]

Hi Doug,

I think the last one is the best of the 3.