Who can out stare who?

[Steve Kaluski]

When photographing the adult you have to be incredibly quite, even the slightest sound and they are alert, ready to fly, but it can be quite off putting when both adult & juvenile just stare right down the barrel of the lens. Can they see anything, I have no idea, but quite often I would look away from the viewfinder, just for a moment. Not quite as powerful compared to a Tiger, but you just never know what they are thinking.

The light was coming in from the LHS, so the eye colouring is different and I have chosen to keep it that way, far more noticeable in the full res version, likewise the cobweb that attached itself to the lower broken branch.

Steve
Subject: Little owlet sitting on broken branch (Athene noctua)
Location: UK
Camera: Canon 1DX
Lens: 500f/4
Exposure: 1/200s at f/11 ISO1600 +0.67 stop compensation Wimberley head/Gitzo tripod

(In adjusting the EV I changed the f stop, should have been f/9, gained a fraction more SS, full frame on width, slight crop top)

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

A very intense stare indeed Steve. I like the clean BG, the tapering perch and those eye, just too good!

[jack williamson]

Looks plenty sharp at 1/200, f11 provided great dof and the bg is still nicely oof. He looks like he is mad at you.

Jack

[Diane Miller]

Very nice in its detail and simplicity! I love how there are some subtle browns in the BG to echo the bird's color.

I think a little could come off the top for presentation here, but definitely leave it on the master file -- it's perfectly formatted for a magazine cover! (And deserving of one.)

[Karl Egressy]

Excellent image. I like the stare.

[Gabriela Plesea]

...I just cannot resist looking over and over again at this image! And I guess now I understand why this reputation of the owl being "wise" :

A wise old owl lived in an oak
The more he saw the less he spoke
The less he spoke the more he heard.
Why can't we all be like that wise old bird?

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Wise_Old_Owl)

Great image Steve, impeccable PP work as usual, beautifully presented

Warmest regards,

[Carl Walker]

Steve your series of owl images are brilliant. That stare is so typical when it bears down on you. One day I'll get there . The clean BG and jagged branch also add to the image.

[dankearl]

I like the comp and the perch is really good for this guy.
Awesome stare!

[arash_hazeghi]

nice pose and details, I especially like the view of talons

[John Ippolito]

Excellent pose, sharpness, and composition. Love the perch. Beautiful image, Steve !

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Very nice one Steve! l like the pose, and yes, those eyes can tell a story by themselves! very clean and complementary BG, perch is a bit big for this little owl but has character.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Steve, a bit late to the party, disappeared to Botswana for the weekend. Just love the stare down look, and I feel your comp works well. Good DOF on the whole image, the little guy is sharp, and pops so well from the BG. Well captured.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Hi Steve. Love the stare and the jagged rough looking perch. I felt it was time to give back since you always help me (for what my advice is worth) I felt the need to off center this guy some more which put those eyes almost in the third. I also wanted it tighter so... I cloned your signature back in and did my crop. WDYT I also sharpened some more. And then I cropped again some more

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Cheryl, thanks for the RP.

With the stance I feel there is a slight list to the right as viewed, therefore going tighter I feel emphasises it more, WDYT? I also feel, at times, images get too 'full frame', and the subject needs more room, so the image can 'breathe'?

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Hi Cheryl, thanks for the RP.

With the stance I feel there is a slight list to the right as viewed, therefore going tighter I feel emphasises it more, WDYT? I also feel, at times, images get too 'full frame', and the subject needs more room, so the image can 'breathe'?

Not sure :) I think my reason for the crop is that I feel the little guy is a little centered for me. Of course putting him to the left would leave to much empty space to the right and would feel funny. I prefer my first crop avoiding the close in the space you mentioned. Not sure... either way I at least wanted to crop a little tighter mostly. This is an aekwar crop because it is almost as wide as it is high and I wouldn't want to lose any of the neat perch so I am kinda stumped here.. Would love to know what others think about my thoughts

[Roman Kurywczak]

Hey Steve,
I am fine with the OP for reason you mention. Fantastic all around!