Barn Owl Portrait...

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Hi Everyone,
This is a portrait of a captive barn owl that I made a few months ago. You can see the setting sun in his eye!
400D 100-400 @ 400mm
AV F5.6 1/200 sec
ISO 800
Exp comp @ -2
Looking forward to c & c's!
Best regards to all,
Nicki

[carole wiley]

Love the dark bg and rich colors. I also like the crop. I tend to like dark photos and this has a nice mood to it while still retaining those beautiful markings.

[Doug Brown]

I like the interplay between fading light and darkness. Sharpness is excellent and so is eye contact. I'm not crazy about the crop though. I'd like to see some taken off the sides and added to the top and bottom. Thanks for posting!

[Lance Peters]

Hi Nicki - Nice one - lov ethe eye contact and BG, not crazy about the crop.

Looks alittle dark on my screen, I made a couple of changes hope you dont mind, made the RHS of the bird a little lighter and worked the eye a bit. (Selectively lightened and sharpened)

And tried a different crop.

Maybe better maybe not :)

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Hi guys,
Thanks for your kind comments and suggestions. I agree that my post did look a little dark - actually I've noticed several times that my image has looked darker after posting than after processing. Has anyone else noticed this? As regards the crop on Lance's repost, I'm not sure. My husband prefers the repost but I think I still prefer the original...should be a quiet evening in this household then...:eek::D
Regards,
Nicki

[Lance Peters]

LOL - Sorry about that Nicki :) Its like a lot of this - It is all Subjective - what one person likes the next doesn't - no right or wrongs really - just a matter of what the individual person likes. :)

I am not really happy with my crop either - would like to see more at the bottom as well as per dougs comment.

[Nonda Surratt]

Nicki,

lovely image of one of the most beautiful owls. I really like the post work Lance did on the OWL,not sure about either crop. I like the extra room on the top of Lance's, but not sure about the over all crop....That said being lousy at crops....ignore:D

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Nicki I do like your image very much !!! The re posted crop does give a different fee but I sort of like the different corp you posted to go along with the mood. Do think lightening a bit does make a difference !!!! You got a special gift for composition !!! Big Congrats !!!

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Thanks so much guys - fear not Lance, all is calm in my household!!! :)

[Alfred Forns]

.... just thought of the crop I wanted !!!! Would only take from the back sort of like Lance did but leaving he front as is !!!! Neat !!!!

[Julie Kenward]

I like both versions! You did a great job on lighting Nicki, but I do like th eye on Lance's version better - it really shows off that sunset!

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Hi Al and Jules,
Do you like this crop better?
Regards,
Nicki
:)

[Julie Kenward]

I do but I still would like just a tad more room at the top. This is beautiful Nicki, but I keep thinking there needs to be some kind of writing in that black space on the left! It would sure make for a beautiful magazine cover!!!

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Maybe one day!!!