Barred Owl (Dec 2005)

[Raymond Barlow]

Oshawa Ontario, Canada
D70 / 80-400 VR
1/200s f/5.6 at 300.0mm
hand held, natural light, full frame

Levels, and noise reduction on the bg.

Back on New Year ’s Eve, 2005 shortly after I received my 80-400, I was very lucky to meet this famous owl near Cranberry Marsh, during a snow storm, what a treat this was... A fellow with a small p/s camera was so close to this bird, he was able to touch its talons... and I believe I still have a shot of that!

I am busy digging through the archives these days, preparing images for some agencies... lots of fun!

a re:edit, no sharpening applied.

[Stephen Stephen]

Ray I really like this habitat image. The colours and the swirling snow are pleasing. A head turn towards you, or even some catchlight in the eye would have moved this up another notch

[Maxis Gamez]

Hi Ray,

Love the feeling of this image, I have to agree with Stephen about the head turn. The image looks over sharpened.

[Raymond Barlow]

thanks guys, for sure a head turn would have improved this image, but the bird was hunting, and I am glad it wasn't hunting me! I would be bored out of my mind if every image I saw of an owl was looking straight at me.

I totally agree Maxis, the image was over sharpened., that`s what comes with all day marathon editing! thanks.

Also, Stephen.. I would never put a catchlight in a birds eye., if the natural light provided it, fine, but an artificial catchlight doesn`t do anything for me. This image was taken during a heavy snow storm, no sun, no catchlight.

[Lana Hays]

Raymond
The first thing I thought of was that I wished for a slight head turn......not looking right at you......just a bit of a head turn. I understand his stance given that he was hunting. I like the feel of this one......especially the snow and the fence. I certainly get a better sense of place with them present. I didn't particularly think of it as being oversharpened but I do like the repost. Did you get any horizontals of this scene for a different view? Well done.

[Raymond Barlow]

yes, a few shots of the scene, but back then I was pretty new at all this, and my first owl encounter.. I was a little overwhemled to say the least!, thanks for your comments.

[Raymond Barlow]

Hi Raymond, Fantastic mood and atmosphere. You may not want to add a catchlight (I agree with your explanation), but you could brighten the eye a bit to give a bit more life. You may be able to a better job with your original. I also boosted the image a few points with curves.

Hi Peter., thanks for your redition of this image, and for your interest to help me improve, very much appreciated.

I really like how you have made improvemnts... excellent.

take good care.

[Stephen Stephen]

Hi Ray,

Thanks for your reply to my comments. Just to clarify I wasn't suggesting that you create a catchlight artificially but rather that if a catchlight had existed, it would have been a bonus to this nice image.

Stephen

[Raymond Barlow]

Hi Ray,

Thanks for your reply to my comments. Just to clarify I wasn't suggesting that you create a catchlight artificially but rather that if a catchlight had existed, it would have been a bonus to this nice image.

Stephen

Ok, cool Stephen, these owls have such dark and mysterious eyes, and I really think that takes away from the the look of this bird... for sure, a catchlight always adds a sparkle to any bird image, and I sure try to get one while I am out shooting, but that only works out when there is sone good direct light.