Well an unexpected quick few days away has allowed me to start looking back at images backed up and ready for editing, taken back in May OMG. I just haven't had the time, so it's nice to look at captures with a fresh pair of eyes.
I cannot believe that in a month the meadow just exploded and the old milk charm became swamped in vegetation, especially with the tall grass which provided a great hunting ground. Some may find the grass stems annoying, or even distracting, personally I feel it adds, but all personal taste . On reflection I think a fraction off the foot to loose the handles would be better?
BTW, no need for comments about the species or habits, only about the image please, thank you.
Thanks for either viewing or commenting on the previous image guys.
Steve
Subject: Little owl (Athene noctua) in meadow on rusty milk churn
Location: UK
Camera: Canon 1DX
Lens: 200-400f/4 HH
Exposure: 1/1600s at f/9 ISO5000
Original format: Landscape, very slight crop
Processed: LRCC & PS CC2015
Love the contrast on this one Steve. The different shades of green surrounding the owl look great and blend very well with the browns on the churn and the bird. Nice placement of the bird on its perch
Hi Steve - This has a certain charm to it with the rusted milk thingy (you can tell I'm a city girl). I agree with you about the handle but otherwise think this ticks all the boxes.
Cheers Will & Rachel, cropping won't hurt the overall look & feel and it's now update since posting, but no need for a RP I think. It's great to have a variety of environments and to see how, as I said earlier, it changes over a 3 month period.
I also meant to add this to in the OP
Note: The subject is fully wild and completely unconstrained. Besides the potential impact of my presence, nothing has been done to intentionally alter or affect the ongoing behavior of the subject and, of course, there has been no use of any form of bait or other form of wildlife attractants (including vocalisations) in the capture of this image.
I guess there is no need to tell you how much I love these little owls. I cannot think of an avian species with so much character, expression, and a kind of "attitude" that makes them perfect subjects for photography.
I like the way you captured this, in terms of subject the HA is great and so is the pose. The perch/milk churn sets the scene adding a countryside, relaxed feel to the image. As I am viewing I recognise a few other elements valuable to the scene, like the tall plant on the RHS (adds a vertical dimension), the handle (I personally would leave it in, it helps identify the object in question), and the tall grasses that help us realise how tiny this species actually is.
Lovely natural colours, sharpness is there where needed. I like your choice of DOF and IQ superb at ISO 5000. A wonderful frame Steve, thank you for sharing. Some day I will have the opportunity to explore the country side in your part of the world. I am convinced I shall not travel through it without being reminded of what a great photographer and special friend captured there:)
Hi Steve, love the soft light in this, and I do like the sideways stare. Good plumage detail, and because the milk churn is nice and rusted, it works well for a perch. Yes to coming up a touch from the bottom to eliminate the handles, but dont mow the veggies away.
Thanks folks, Gabriela/Stu sorry for the delay in replying, got caught up with some SA contingency from the WOTY 2015 awards, you perhaps know one or two, LOL .
A wider POV
. On reflection I think a fraction off the foot to loose the handles would be better?
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