Little owl

[John Robinson]

Little owl
This will certainly not be to everyones taste but thought I,d see what folks think.
I was reminded of this by the recent pic posted with the dark backdrop.
Taken late evening with bit of light from right and the bird in front of a hedge.
I,ve tried to get that dusk look. The background although dark has been darkened a little.
Quite a big crop off a landscape, and some brighter leaves in the back toned down.
Thanks for comments on my last pic.
D7000
800 ISO
Sigma 100-300mm 125th @f 5.6.
levels in paint Shop pro 7
CZM
Cheers
John

[Marina Scarr]

I like this image, John, and what I like even more is the environment including the perch with the rusty hinge and the vegetation. I would crop from both sides (a little more from the right) and lighten and sharpen the owl a little more.

[John Robinson]

Thanks Marina
Repost as you suggest. Too much ??
Cheers
John

[Bill Dix]

Quite striking, John. You're really putting this little guy to work for you. Love the evening feeling and the gate post. Ditto Marina's suggestions.

[Iain Barker]

Hi Johnny

I really like the owl and the perch. I wish more of the owl were sharp but I see you are already at quite a low shutter speed.
The background look a little strange like it has been push a little too far in post.
Overall I would be very happy with an image like this well done.

Iain

[John Robinson]

Thanks Iain
Like I said I ,ve played around with this- not my usual approach and just wanted different reactions..
I personally am not too keen. I tend to like to see pics as he photographer saw them -within reason. Bit too much manipulation these days and not enough emphasis on just a simple attractive natural history shot. A god example is a sunset shot then somesays it has a colour cast ! Course it has. !
Tanks for taking the time to look and comment.
Cheers
John

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Awesome pose. Engages the viewer instantly.
I like the perch, rusted hinge, poop and all.
Did you lift the shadows on the dark side of the bird?
Re. comp, I prefer the vertical. Although I wouldn't make it quite so tight. In the repost, I'd get rid of the squiggly letters next to your name top right.
TFS and keep them coming John.

[christopher galeski]

like the OP,may be a touch of sharpening of the owl,like the eye contact.TFS.

[Dave Johnson]

I prefer the re-post John but would crop more off the bottom (to the 2nd screw of the hinge) if it were mine, and I wish it was :) Love that engaging stare he's given you and everything else about the image apart from the poop and a strange artifact in the very top right hand corner near your signature. which actually looks like ghosting of your sig. Nice shot, tfs.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Johnny I like the image very much, I would like to see the starting point, I think the original is going in the right direction but I would suggest the background is just a tad too dark. We all have differing tastes and opinions but I would suggest not quite so much contrast between subject and BG.