Barn Owl alight..a light?

[Stuart Philpott]

hours and hours spent trying for mad march hares,I've just blown my best chance of the day of a hare shot,by doing my usual pre-empt and it being cough cough wrong!! A whisper in my ear "there's our barn owl" say ten seconds later is the picture that will hopefully show .

So basically, I'm totally unprepared,we are in the very last light (minutes) before sunset I under exposed and had to raise exposure,I know last thing we want to do! But here is the result.

This is our ghost,the barn owl a personal favourite of both of us,simple a joy to watch hunting, we adore them !!
to the picture FF( focus on the wall?? I missed the bird in front to have anything is luck )

Tv 1/1250
AV 5.6
ISO1000

Canon 1Div 300f/3.8 2X extiii,processed just with dpp4. Not much more to say, bar the weather conditions were unusual glorious light backed by storm clouds we stood in sunshine, while just a smattering away, they had a deluge.

Thanks for all the help folks and all the previous comments on earlier posts, I wish I could keep up more
Take care

Stu

[Glennie Passier]

Stu, I love this! I would swap a barn owl for the hares any time. I like what you have achieved considering the failing light. And I know you know about ETTR. This whole image sings to me. How many times have I seen "that" light. The hint of the clouds just above the wall is very nice. The lighter strip of blue breaks the heavier blue sky. Most of the sticks I like. The ones I don't like are the ones under his feet, and I would consider cloning these out. I am also torn if it needs a crop to the LHS where the wall rises up. Although I like the wall rising up, because it sort of puts a full stop to the side.

Stu, the pose of the owl and the composition are absolutely gorgeous to my eye. There may be a cast of some sort, but wait to see what others may say. It's more than likely just that time of day.

Well done Stu! Beautiful.

[Diane Miller]

A gorgeous "almost"!! VERY gorgeous. Wonderful light!! Looks like you were caught unawares, so kudos for getting ANYTHING! Looks like the focus was on the FG dry grasses but the owl is good enough to show the subject in a gorgeous pose in a full frame (I assume this is). Actually the sharp rocks/grasses and the somewhat ghostly bird work well for me.

Definitely a keeper! That camera and lens should do well for you. Look forward to seeing more!

[Steve Kaluski]

Stu, this is fantastic, the composition for me is spot on, great light with the pending rain clouds and the location is very cool.

Now looking at the image, it's a bit dark and quite saturated in colour, sharpness well that be that the original may just need more? Hopefully you can see where I am suggesting you go in direction of light & colour. Not perfect Stu, but it's something to ponder on, although I appreciate limited resources.

I think you needed to be around ISO1600 for great SS, if you are using the MKIII 2x I'm not sure you will see the greatest benefit, but certainly better than the MKII which was/is pants!!!

Hope this help as visually it's easier to see and digest.

Steve

[Stuart Philpott]

Stu, I love this! I would swap a barn owl for the hares any time. I like what you have achieved considering the failing light. And I know you know about ETTR. This whole image sings to me. How many times have I seen "that" light. The hint of the clouds just above the wall is very nice. The lighter strip of blue breaks the heavier blue sky. Most of the sticks I like. The ones I don't like are the ones under his feet, and I would consider cloning these out. I am also torn if it needs a crop to the LHS where the wall rises up. Although I like the wall rising up, because it sort of puts a full stop to the side.

Stu, the pose of the owl and the composition are absolutely gorgeous to my eye. There may be a cast of some sort, but wait to see what others may say. It's more than likely just that time of day.

Well done Stu! Beautiful.

Heart felt thanks Glennie,ahh mate I do love our hares,both are magical subjects for me but I do adore this bird. Hmm you like this....I might have another couple to share with you when I get there. Ahh Glennie I was so caught unaware and did pretty much everything wrong on the following frames.Lowering TV not raising iso as Steve has mentioned, I can take some solice though, in that, for once I had that one mused when we got back.

Glennie, personally I don't feel I nailed the focus on the bird well enough to crop much but I still am grateful for the thoughts Glennie. Although I can't remove much yet,you have a great point with the grasses below the feet good spot mate I wouldn't have thought about that.
Glennie thanks,it was a wonderful few mins, I had all but switched off after blowing the hare chance we had waited so long for,so I learnt a lesson,don't switch off !! I also learnt up iso not lower shutter and yet fate smiled a bit huh

Oh, there shouldn't be a colour cast I've done nothing much to colour ,just tried to set black and white points up better and slightly pulled the center point to the right and upped exposure unfortunately(.50)

many thanks Glennie
belucky mate

Stu

[Stuart Philpott]

A gorgeous "almost"!! VERY gorgeous. Wonderful light!! Looks like you were caught unawares, so kudos for getting ANYTHING! Looks like the focus was on the FG dry grasses but the owl is good enough to show the subject in a gorgeous pose in a full frame (I assume this is). Actually the sharp rocks/grasses and the somewhat ghostly bird work well for me.

Definitely a keeper! That camera and lens should do well for you. Look forward to seeing more!

Nowt wrong with camera and lens Diane only me that is suspect, fabulous tools,I just need to be better with them in my hand and with practice one day that will happen,it's coming mate.
Yes it is full frame Diane,I was completely caught out ,rare for me but my head was down after my gaff with the hare. Yes I feel it's an almost too Diane but no worries this only makes me want to try harder.... I am not done yet

Diane no one of your stature, of your level and kindness, has ever said that's a keeper to me before, honestly mate,thank you.I just think I was lucky.It is our ghost Diane one that taught me much about how one needs to keep track of light at sunset.

Again 'cause I'll never be said enough cheers for the tireless work for us guys trying to learn,I know i'm slow kiddo,but be sure your efforts are noted!!

take care

Stu

[Stuart Philpott]

Stu, this is fantastic, the composition for me is spot on, great light with the pending rain clouds and the location is very cool.

Now looking at the image, it's a bit dark and quite saturated in colour, sharpness well that be that the original may just need more? Hopefully you can see where I am suggesting you go in direction of light & colour. Not perfect Stu, but it's something to ponder on, although I appreciate limited resources.

I think you needed to be around ISO1600 for great SS, if you are using the MKIII 2x I'm not sure you will see the greatest benefit, but certainly better than the MKII which was/is pants!!!

Hope this help as visually it's easier to see and digest.

Steve

Cheers Steve, ok fantastic that's thrown me!! Ta, for the constant reposts each one I learn off. ISO point duley noted!! Saturated colours are they down to under exposure Steve ,I feel so,but i need confirmation? I didn't want to up exposure any further,ie noise. It was strange standing in sunset with those black clouds as back drop,so I wanted to try and not rob the frame of that contrast naturally you have pulled that out of the bag for me. **** I'm hungry for the next step,but i'm banking those RAWs and learning buddy ,so nothing is being lost.

Yup I did some homework on extenders, I know they are better paired with a mark ii super tele, focus would be quicker on an X But hey, it is what it is,lets try and make some pics have fun . Sharpness, well we will get there, I feel I failed here (I can see this one), he maybe did slightly better in a few minutes, but mucked up the shutter when he simply should of raised iso.....I'm learning my friend it is slow and ponderous

Ha, location, my patch buddy, the wolds, can't beat a bit of dry stone

thanks for all of it Steve

bring it on


Stu

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Stu, without seeing the RAW we can only assume/guess based on the posting and techs, again perhaps fwd the RAW to the young German for a more informed feedback.

Just keep shooting, posting and where time allows, digest and practice both techs & PP, but ultimately keep enjoying/having fun.

Steve

PS Glad you lost the 'mate', names are easier on the eye.

[Sandy Witvoet]

Comp is totally awesome Stu! Agree with Diane and Steve... Looks like Steve bumped it just enough. Congrats on the shot, tho!

[Stuart Philpott]

Hi Stu, without seeing the RAW we can only assume/guess based on the posting and techs, again perhaps fwd the RAW to the young German for a more informed feedback.

Just keep shooting, posting and where time allows, digest and practice both techs & PP, but ultimately keep enjoying/having fun.

Steve

PS Glad you lost the 'mate', names are easier on the eye.

Steve you will never brake me of "mate",but I'll apologise in advance for that,mind it won't change...you might one day make a photographer of me,so it isn't all bad.I love this Steve. I might need some help shortly,from that clever man you speak of,I have something I want to post here in ETL about ETTR it might help folks like me,but I don't want to bother him until I need to,I won't go further here Steve. Some of these images I will be coming back to in the not to distant future,I hope!!

Sandy thank you, so much,yup Mr Kaluski has given me much to ponder !!! There was much luck here Sandy but hey everyone needs a bit of luck. The best of it is I have more,such enchanting birds,he was VERY kind to me and that light was amazing.
Thanks again both

Stu

[keith mitchell]

Stu I read your comments on this and the wildlife forum with interest.I like your OP which gives the impression of fading light,just my own personal view of course And I could be way off the mark but I would just try and lift the bird itself just a bit.

Keith.

[Stuart Philpott]

Stu I read your comments on this and the wildlife forum with interest.I like your OP which gives the impression of fading light,just my own personal view of course And I could be way off the mark but I would just try and lift the bird itself just a bit.

Keith.

As me with yours Keith and take much inspiration from your pictures and OMG those the fieldmice....complete adoration mate.
Keith so much is subjective,i hope that is right. We all see things how ,we personally see Keith, for me it's so cool to have different points of view to muse on.

I do love Steve's way of subtle processing Keith, he's given me so much to think about. Each and every image he's touched of mine has had me thinking deeply for ages . I'm very slow learning Keith, a tortoise not hare. But seeing these images just simply notched upwards is an incredible educational tool for me.

Keith ,this light ,storm clouds, sun setting bang on the horizon and a stunning amazing bird ,not baited doing what it does "erm cough" flying towards one not away,that is incredibly rare to see.So i my self am really struggling with this light. I have more than this,I like this and the next frame best,but getting this light right remembering it ...truly and not over doing it in processing is at least a challenge,the clouds were so dark..... yet we were bathed in sunlight .

Keith this golden hour is it really minutes? I got lucky buddy I learnt alot from this lad. What a joy

take care Keith


Stu