WEEKLY THEME: Seeing Myself in Truth

Hi All, sorry I haven't been around, long stories, yes multiple and getting ready to leave for the Crane Festival, followed by an unexpected out of town surgery.

So glad to see that everyone is liking my Eye idea for a theme, lots of good ones so far.

This is my first and how the theme came to me. I will try to add a couple more before the theme is over.

This one is fitting for right now since the Festival starts in a week and this Owl is a captive bird that comes to the Festival every year.

Owls and Raptors, mostly Hawks are my favorite avians and more of my spirit animals.

This shot really hit me when I saw it and I look at it every day.

That is me reflected in his eye, and in my brain thinking about how animals see us is in all actuality our truth.

My EXIF data is long gone on this....

Handheld, no flash, I was out in the sun, the owl was under an overhang, I was within 10 feet.

This is cropped in to this COMP.

PP very basic, saturation deepened, contrast and sharpen. Tried some levels but it took away some feather detail. I am currently without LR, borrowing a computer until back from trips and surgery.

Thanks for sharing the story behind this. Clear eye vs the feathers is good. Trust you get well. (By the way, when you see my next post of Lucy, you'll see that I am in her eye, too. Not a copycat....I was ready to post it after I checked postings here. I like the way you have given that reflection of you a philosophical thought.)

Great colours and sharpness Linz, interesting take on the theme. Wouldn't it be fascinating to see what they see? Have fun at the Festival!

What a wonderful photograph of a wonderful eye, and so great that you are in it! Owls are special.

And best wishes for your recovery -- I had been wondering why we hadn't heard from you for a while! Glad you're back!

Thanks all and I'm sorry I haven't been around. Felt I needed to post it somewhere but wasn't sure where.

will be bumpy until January... On a borrowed laptop, tooth issues, next week the Festival.... I won something.... Shhhh

then surgery in late December in New Orleans.

i will try to keep up

You posted the perfect image in the perfect place!!

Just work on keeping up with yourself -- we'll all hold down the fort till you're back!

The eye is riveting, and it contrasts very nicely with the feathers. The colors make a great impact, too.

It may not turn out any better than what you already have, but I'd be tempted to try two alternative compositions. One would be too crop just a bit from the right to move the eye further from the center. The other -- in direct contrast -- would be to crop to a square with either the pupil or iris right in the center. Just a thought. I like it the way it is.

Thank you on suggested different Comps, I will try them.

The Comp I did was actually almost a split down the middle, you could see his other eye at an angle just barely. As I wanted a close in crop I decided to go almost straight down the middle of his head. I have a better picture of the head in general but my reflection wasn't quite as good.

I see a few minor things I would like to clean up, but for now on a borrowed laptop I'm limited.

Great close-up, and as you mentioned, terrific feather details! I am behind in viewing and lots of good comments above. Get healthy!

Beautiful feathers, colors and details. That eye seems to be looking right at me! I'd crop out the white dots that are reflected in the eye. I might also crop from the top to made the owl fill the entire frame. Nicely done.