Facial expressions are always fun. Hoping to visit the area again next week. Low light, later in the afternoon towards sunset so went a little slower on shutter.
Z9, 800 5.6, 1/250, ISO 4000.

Facial expressions are always fun. Hoping to visit the area again next week. Low light, later in the afternoon towards sunset so went a little slower on shutter.
Z9, 800 5.6, 1/250, ISO 4000.
From the Z9 images I have seen this is the first one that impressed me.
3d Look on the face, image pops, whether your PP or Good low light, its very nice.
Dan Kearl
Yes, this looks much more natural than the flight shots you posted before. Excellent feather detail on the face, and the open beak sucks the viewer straight in. You got lucky with the perch - these guys are often in deep tangles! There are suggestions of branches/sticks here, but they're really minor and not at all distracting. Well done, especially at ISO 4000 and 1/250.
Hi Paul, this is a big step forward to previous postings, did you take up any of the previous suggestions re Nikon Studio?
Like the calling pose, just wished you saw just a little of the talons poking through the plumage and clasping on the branch. If you reduce the magenta cast by moving the Tint slider you will get a more even colour. The broken off 'stumps' are a bit ugly sadly, but can be addressed quite easily if you so wish. Personally I would suggest you push to 6400 ISO and gain a bit more SS, at 45mpx you need to watch pixel blur. Did you darken the BKG?
TFS
Steve
Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

Hi Steve,
Thanks. I'll play with tint just a bit. I actually used Adobe RAW; I either use that or Capture One 22 for RAW processing then go into PhotoShop. I stopped doing as much sharpening just brushing the face a touch. Did lower the background to make it a little more dark too. I'm fortunate in that this area is fairly accessible and not too far away, and they are there every winter though spring is coming. Hoping to go back in coming days.
Hi Paul, good that they are local and consistent in returning to the same location.
In processing the Raw, stick to one converter that you find easy to use and delivers for you, it’s pointless flirting from one to another, because once you export you are dealing with a baked Tiff. In addition, ‘brushing in’ sharpening is not the correct way to go, nor will it deliver the same kind of sharpening you can get from within PS, which is probably the best software out, but again it’s whatever suits you.
Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.
Apart form the broken-off twigs I'm really liking this and its mood. The dark BG looks great, almost desaturated, and that helps the owl stand out here. I like the two breast feathers overlapping the perch, neat! A bit of noise in the BG, but not too bad - you could run a round of NR to it if you wish. All-in-all a super strong image!

love the calling pose and dark ambience, the image is getting a bit noisy (what do you use for RAW conversion?) but not bad...some of the clutter in the BG is unfortunate,
TFS
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Love, love, love the open bill and the bird -- it really stands out. I could not stand the broken branch. When I fixed that with a Quick Mask, I did a bit of BGRND clean-up as well.
with love, artie
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