Barn Owl (c)

[Raymond Barlow]

Taken yesterday at my latest BIF workshop.. thanks very much to all 11 guests, and I hope you all join in here at BPN for some very fine critique.

D300 - 200-400 VR @ 400mm
1/3200, f4, iso 320
slight crop, natural light, hand held.
cloned out the jessies.

not a great perch, might change the angle next time?

[denise ippolito]

Raymond, Beautiful Head on pose and details. I love the BG w/ the grasses coming up. Wish the perch wasn't in mixed light but that is minimal. Very nicely done.

[Glenda Simmons]

What a wingspan! The eye contact is very good. Working on the perch, a bit, would add to the already impressive image.

[Fabs Forns]

WOW, what a pose you caught, Ray. About the perch's angle, I guess it depends how the light hits it? Diagonal is strong, the Owl just happened to cast a shadow over it.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

One more mouth-melter.

Love the action here as well as the eye contact. I don't like the perch since it's too thick and is broken.

[Harshad Barve]

wing span and head on pose by owl is surreal here
TFS

[Danny J Brown]

Hi Ray: I'm scrolling down and commenting one great photo after another and then I come to this. What a brilliant shot of an exceptional bird. This is a true wall-hanger. Thank you for sharing my friend.

[Stu Bowie]

Excellent timing for the take off Raymond, and just love the eye contact. Great wingspread, and overall, nice and sharp. Unfortunately, I find the perch a tad overpowering.

[arash_hazeghi]

Very nice Ray, love the flight pose, wing position and eye contact. Perch is a bit large and I can see some halo artifact at the wing highlight edges, excellent image. TFS

[Clement Francis]

Just too good. I don't know what to say, let me just look at it and enjoy.

[paul leverington]

Hi Ray!

Hey this one is wonderful especially with those feet! I suppose if you could get him coming straight at you that would be a tad better in some respects--but for me this angle is just about as good. The perch selection is the greatest thing to work on as others also have mentioned. Maybe spend a couple scouting for some good ones I would recommend. The grasses are beautiful to see as well as some interest in the background. Elements, I feel at least, are so contributing to the overall power of the shot. And of course the wing span is tremendous! Beautiful shot Ray!

Paul

[Kiran Poonacha]

beautiful head on flight pose Raymond, loved the wing spread too.. congrats..

[James Salywoda]

Awesome setting buddy sweet shot.....

[Marc Mol]

Perch nit aside, this is one pretty special image Ray, well done. The pose & HA, lighting and talons make this a winner.

[Shrikant Ranade]

Fantastic Image! Congratulations!
Did you keep the high shutter speed in anticipation that the bird may take off? or it was due to the ample light on the subject?
This is my first reply. Please pardon me if it is not done correctly.