Short eared owl after dark

Having some fun with pushing my gear and self to limits. Opinions welcome!

1/30, f8, iso3200
Canon 1dx, 600f4 + 2.0 tc (1200mm) + lowered tripod to the point where I got comp that I wanted.

Brrr. I see what you mean about pushing the limits. Good detail at those settings. A lovely 'snowberg', and I can see why you framed this as you did. It might also make a great frame with less of the snow on the right and more open space on left for him to look into.

Thanks for your thoughts, Bill. Nearly full frame, regarding more room to the left, there was an ugly chain link enclosure around some sort of industrial pipe, so not an option.

Hi Grace, your gear can handle that, image looks good to me. Although not having seen snow for fifteen years the snowberg does make me feel cold. Beautiful owl, one that is one my bucket list. Thank you for sharing.

Very very beautiful.
Love where you placed this guy in the frame. I also like the windblown shoulder feathers.
Colors are great.I wonder about selecting the owl and increasing the brightness ever so slightly.
Beautiful image for the theme!
Gail

Lovely image Grace, well seen and executed. First thoughts for me were similar to the framing suggested by Bill, but with your explanation that clearly wasn't an option. Great IQ for those settings, excellent technique on your behalf.

Mike

I Agree with Bill about less on the right and more to the left, I might reduce some blues on the Owl.

This is really beautiful. Owl is on my bucket list as well. If a negative space on the left is not possible, I would try putting the bird in the center and see if that helps. Really beautiful color, beautiful picture, and very nice pose, too! :)

Good points covered and explained. Certainly different from the norm. Good stuff
John

Composition wise I agree with Bill but you have explained that to us Grace, this is a lovely and very artistic shot which certainly is different.

Keith.

Different and very nice in its own right. Agree with previous comment about reducing blues in the owl. This looks like he is master of his universe or perhaps even the last owl standing on the Titanic.

Hi Grace, agree that this is avery 'artistic' image and I like the way the owl is looking into the distance.

I also agree on dropping the blues and in parts, selectively doing so, but in doing so it may loose the look and feel you wish to portray here?

If you get the opportunity I would go even further on the ISO, 3200 isn't much for the 1DX and if the exposure is spot on, then noise isn't an issue and can be easily addressed within PP.

TFS
Steve

I received some valuable suggestions on this image and thanks! I reduced the blue overall in this image, brightened the owl and modified the crop a bit. To my eye the image is stronger and still retains the cold, blue feeling of the original.

RP works well, Grace. I didn't think I'd prefer the RP until I compared. Those few stray feathers add interest here.