Great Gray Owl - The Stare.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Obviously the same bird and setting as the previous, and although I prefer the previous HA I'm posting this one as I'm sure some of you will appreciate the intense down-the-barrel stare here (so do I!) Nothing like having a staring contest at close proximity with this species! The heart rate does tend to go up...

Canon 7D + 100-400 @330mm, manual exposure, evaluative metetring, natural light, handheld, 1/125s., f/6.3, ISO 800, filled in the top right corner with clone stamp (no repeating patterns this time!), and a very faint small OOF branch content-awared out on the lower part of plumage.

[Randy Stout]

Daniel:

Hard to chose a favorite between the two, would make a nice combo displayed together.

Sharp, with that intense stare, dappled light handled well, tight crop strengthens the in your face pose/look.

Cheers

Randy

[Karl Egressy]

Another great portrait image, Daniel. I like them both bot I somewhat partial to the first one. I would like to have any in my portfolio.

[Arthur Morris]

Sharp at 1/12 sec. at 330mm. Not shabby. Neither is the bird or the image. Love the stare of course. Techs spot on.

[Marina Scarr]

You must be tickled pink with this amazing bird in your midst. While I prefer the pose of your initial GGO post, this one is quite riveting as well. You did a great job considering your settings and the habitat issues you were dealing with. Looking forward to seeing more and maybe having the opportunity to photograph this owl myself some day.

[PhilCook]

I personally prefer this over the other one....either way it should be my photo

[Roman Kurywczak]

Hey Daniel,
You must have been posting when I was.....so missed this! Very sharp on the face but wondering why the breast/chest isn't as sharp. Keep in mind been staring at a screen all day and given no one else has mentioned it....guessing it is me! I would blend/tweak the twigs in the ULC....but a fine one to have in the portfolio!

[Nick Palmieri]

Those eyes are just ridiculous! It's difficult to pay attention to anything in this image other than the owls eyes. very nice capture!.

[Satish Ranadive]

Daniel Sir:
Great portrait with in your face pose.
Love the eyes with intense stare,nice colors and details on face.

Regards,
Satish.

[Shawn Zierman]

Of the two, I prefer this one. Intense eye contact! Still not digging the tree trunk coming out
of the bird's head and shoulder as is....

[nick clayton]

I love the beautiful face and direct stare of those gorgeous eyes, the tight crop extenuates the intimacy. Lovely light too Daniel.

[gail bisson]

I prefer this one!
The OOF foliage on the body is much less noticeable and I think it is because the owl's eyes grab me and draw me in, whereas in the last image ,the bird is looking down and my eye is drawn downward to the OOF foliage,
Gail

[Jonathan Ashton]

I have been waiting for this one and I wasn't disappointed a super stare excellent focus and detail.
I wish that blooming great tree trunk wasn't smack dab in the centre but it is OOF and not too distracting.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Hey Daniel,
You must have been posting when I was.....so missed this! Very sharp on the face but wondering why the breast/chest isn't as sharp.

Thank all! Hi Roman, seeing that I was in such close proximity I'm guseeing those feathers were just out of dof range with the sharp face set just a little further back than those other areas.