Little owl

[Steve Kaluski]

Just another in the series from the new start working with this guy.

They love perches as it gives them a good vantage point, but also they have a great way in blending into their surrounding, oh so well. Taken towards the later part of the day and light was fading, not bad for ISO4000.

Thanks to those who viewed or posted a comment on the previous thread.

Steve

Subject: Little owl (Athene noctua) on hay bale, looking out
Location: UK
Camera: Canon 1DX
Lens: 200-400f/4 (560mm) Gitzo tripod/Uniqball head
Exposure: 1/1250s at f/9 ISO4000
Original format: Portrait, cropped, so this is about 80% of frame
Subject distance: 9.5m
Processed: LR CC (2015) & PS CC 2014

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Steve...... where is the Owl, LOL.
A very good example for exposure blending , leave the funny things aside this a nice frame with great IQ . Iso 4000 no big deal for the 1Dx if handled right mainly in PP and if half way correct exposed in capture .
Superb detail and tones as expected .
I think this crop works quite nice with the central placement , but i can see some more options for cropping , like placing the owl more off center in many directions , but this is a matter of taste .

TFS a pleasure to look at , cheers Andreas

[Gerald Kelberg]

Hi Steve,

I guess if the owl wasn't centred, we would have trouble finding it!

Great way of showing how well it can blend in to it's background, and at the same time the stalks of hay remind that these guys are really very small.

Thanks for sharing,

Gerald

[Steve Kaluski]

I think this crop works quite nice with the central placement

LOL, guys this was shot, portrait & landscape, with other 'smaller variables' in composition, but for me, central placement seemed right, however if anyone has other thoughts great.

Gerald, I guess these guys are just around 22cms (or in old money under 9 inches), but will give David S's Kestrel a run for their money.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Lovely Little Owl, such a treasure to be able to photograph. I think anywhere but center placement would look out of place unless making room for text to be place around the owl, them maybe lower right or left. Nice image Steve, thanks for sharing.

[keith mitchell]

Hi Steve just shows you can get content and excellent image quality, think your Owl colour wise must be about perfect ,thanks for giving us a look.

Keith.

[William Dickson]

Fantastic looking image Steve. I really like the colours throughout. Very nice indeed. Thanks for sharing

Will

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the exposure, clarity, setting and composition. Well done Steve.

[Gabriela Plesea]

Another oh-so-cute image of this little character I have become so familiar with, Steve!
Andreas summed up just about all I had to say, interesting to read his thoughts about placement of subject and I tried moving Mr Owl to the right because of the direction of the perch, but your comp works better in the end

Techs 200% LOL, am I ever going to get shots like this? Super clarity and colours just as I imagine them to be, sharp where needed and great IQ...a barn owl screeching outside as I am writing my comment here... isn't this wonderful?

Wishing you a wonderful day tomorrow,

[Steve Kaluski]

Thanks folks, appreciate the feedback.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Steve, good eye contact, and I feel the central placement was the only way to go. Great view of the feet/talons holding onto his perch, and overall great work with ISO 4000. Im sure you will have more fun and opportunities with these guys. A great subject to have.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Great looking little owl in a really unusual surrounding. For me unusual at least. Well done!