Pearl-spotted Owlet - take off

[Richard Flack]

To say this was a highlight of a recent trip to the Waterberg would be an understatement. These little guys are only slightly bigger than my hand (measuring 19cm), and are not the easiest to photograph, as they tend to fly through thick foliage and into high places.
I found this little guy perched in the open, and guessed he would not spend much time there. After a some patient waiting I was rewarded with a few quick frames.
I realise that the wings are OOF and that the wing position is not ideal, but I was just so chuffed that I got the frame and that it was focused :)
I look forward to any comments and suggestions, and really appreciate them!

ISO 800 / f5.6 / 1/4000s / Exp 0

Sharpened for web, medium crop, cloned out a branch which intersected the owl and was distracting, improved shadows and colour

[Richard Flack]

[Ivan Sjögren]

Very cool shot, the smaller owls are a big challenge to photograph in flight. Is the photo posted as a comment the original image? I think the comp is better in the second image. I like the room for the owl to "fly in to" and I think the IQ looks better. I would do all PS work from the first posted image but with the crop of the second version. Great work getting the focus on the owls head. To bad the wings aren't as sharp. Also wish for a better wing position, even though this works well as a take off shot. Great light and head angle.

[Mike Poole]

I don't mind the wing position, and like the shot overall. The one thing that bugs me though is how sharp the main branch is, maybe it's worth a little selective blur in PP to make it less distracting, as for me the branches are an important part of the shot. There also appears to be a halo creeping in underneath the owl as well.

good job with the cloning and an nice shot which I hope makes you smile when you remember the event

Mike

[Daniel Cadieux]

Nothing like a good image to preserve a great sighting eh! Nice and sharp on the face and with nice light on it. Some colour noise makes me wonder if you needed to lighten some shadows on the belly? To bad there were so many tangles of branches, but I think they work OK. Good call removing the ones you did. A small dot above the near wingtip needs to go...

[Richard Flack]

Thanks guys, appreciate the input and some great suggestions!

[arash_hazeghi]

cute take off frame, I would clone out some of the distracting branches, I wish the wings were raised or lowered more. Agree with Dan re noise, there is lots of it on the belly

TFS

[David Salem]

Cool take off frame Richard. Good job with the cloning too. A little noise but not to bad. Well done