Great Gray #2

[Jake Levin]

Day 2 with the local "flock" of great gray owls. Unfortunately I couldn't get any pics of one of them making like a lawn dart into a snowbank and coming up with a mouse/rat/critter of some sort in his mouth. I've never hated tall grass that much in my life.

Keep the second short branch or clone it out? Does the fact that it's coming in from nowhere mean it's better left out, or does it add to the image?
Feather detail? Any sharpening needed (this is an as-is jpeg with only +10 clarity added in ACR)?

1/320 @ f/5.6, ISO 400
7D mkII, 500mm f/4 IS
ACR conversion

Owl'll be awaiting your critiques,
Jake

[Alex Becker]

So jealous of the time you get to spend with these guys -- I really want to photograph them. I don't particularly mind the second stump but I'm not sure it adds a lot to the frame either. I think a bit more sharpening could be helpful. I also see a small grey rectangle in the upper left hand corner that kind of looks like spacebar? Nice shot and thanks for sharing this.

[Mike Poole]

Nice stare from the owl, and I agree with Alex's comments above - a little more sharpening and the extra perch does nothing for me, so I'd be getting rid of it.

Mike

[arash_hazeghi]

nice look from the GGO Jake, good high key exposure. if mine i'd get rid of the smaller stump in the left

TFS