GHO on Red (C)

[Vince Maidens]

Hi Folks

Went to Mountsberg conservation this weekend and was able to shoot some great captive birds.

Canon 1D Mark IV
300 2.8L
300mm
ISO 800
SS 1/1250th (was very windy)
F/3.5

The red background is a Japanese Maple in full fall colour. I could probably stand to lose a little off the top, but I loved that colour!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/5141920070_98972c2217_b.jpg

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[URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vmaidens/5141920070/"]Great Horned Owl on Red (http://www.flickr.com/photos/vmaidens/5141920070/) by Vince Maidens Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/vmaidens/), Well done Ray...

[Randy Stout]

Vince:

The Japanese maple does make a striking background for your owl.
I like the wind blown 'horn', nice display of talons, intense stare.

I do think that the owl looks a bit pasted on the background, and you might consider a bit less sharpening.
I know these trees are pretty flamboyant, but the saturation looks a bit much for the red.

Agree about a crop from the top.

Striking photo!

Cheers

Randy

[Doug Brown]

That fall foliage looks stunning! I'm just not sure I like it as a BG for your owl; I find it a little overpowering. I would crop off the top and maybe a little off the right too.

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Gorgeous bg and lovely bird. Striking photo indeed.
Another vote for crop from the top and a bit from the right.
I seem to like perches or elements entering the frame from a bottom corner if they are diagonal.
In this case, I would perhaps prefer some additional space below.
There are two tiny bright spots on the left that made me think I had two burnt pixels. Was glad when they scrolled with the image :)
Lovely bird, love that stare and those talons. Thanks for sharing.