something different - Barn Owl and Baobab

[Tony Whitehead]

Inspired by Charles McRae's lovely Egret Christmas tree I thought I'd post this.
Nikon D200
Nikon 12-24 f4 @12mm Not quite the normal bird lens:D
30s f8
Tripod
repeated open flashes from SB800 to paint the large tree. The barn owl was perched in the tree and would make a circuit every so often looking for prey. I was lucky enough to catch it on this circuit with 3 flashes which gave 3 images but I have cloned out the other 2.
I like the stars, ghostly tree and owl.
Comments appreciated

[Linda Robbins]

Tony, this image is fantastic. The shape of the tree really makes this image, and the pool of water below adds interest. The stars and the hunting owl all add a mystical feel to the image. I might clone to black the vegetation on the frame edge across from the tree trunk and the small line of dimly lit vegetation to the right of the tree trunk. Excellent technique and results.

[Doug Brown]

Wow Tony! I love it! It must be exciting to think outside the box and get an image like this as your payoff. I too would darken the foreground. Congrats to you on this one!

[Dean Ingwersen]

:eek: Give us a break Tony! That is awesome...great vision to think of the image, and then to pull it off. Agree with previous comments, but this is just amazing.

[Rob Palmer]

Super out of box shot. The owl looks a bit too blue to me but other than that a well thought out image deserving of praise. Congrats!

[ChasMcRae]

Certainly one upsmanship on thinking outside the usual in bird pictures.

It is amazing you actually had the thought to set this up and then actually do it. A lot of my "unusual" pics never satisfy.
Previous comments supported, and please post any other "unusual" photos you think up.

Chas.

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Hi Tony,
Killer image - very well done indeed!!
Regards,
Nicki

[david cramer]

A work of art. Would love to see it with the other two owl images too.

[Greg Basco]

Awesome, Tony! A great idea and well-executed.

Cheers,
Greg Basco

[Chris van Rooyen]

Amazing stuff Tony, all's been said. Full marks for creative thinking!

[Ramon M. Casares]

When I saw the thumbail I thought the Owl was the the moon :) I love what you've acomplished, is different yet great! Congratulations!

[DarrenMcKenna]

Now that is "Birds as Art" a beauty

[Raymond Barlow]

awesome Tony, now this is wildlife photography!! excellent.

[Fabs Forns]

Remarkable, excellent explanation of the technique that will come handy to many. Thank you!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great idea and well-executed. Thanks for the explanation.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

A different and great job. Very good idea and inspirational work.

[Tony Whitehead]

A work of art. Would love to see it with the other two owl images too.

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. David the unedited version is on my website under African Landscapes (not really sure what box this image fits in:))

[Vincent Grafhorst]

What a highly unique and creative image Tony. I love it!

[Simon Bennett]

Absolutely stupendous Tony!!!

[Juan Aragonés]

Very creative and artistic image Tony, fantastic. I agree that the owl is slightly blue and would follow the advices of Linda. Thanks a lot for the detailed expalining of the technique. Big, big congratulations for a superb work of art.:eek::eek: