Assignment SOC:Burrowing Owl

[denise ippolito]

Canon 40D
500MM + 1.4 EX
ISO 640
1/250 sec. at f/7.1
Tripod low to ground
No PP was done

He was sitting still and light was very minimal-but I wanted alot of detail so I shot 7.1 , the day before I shot wide open and couldn't get the detail I wanted.

[Jeff Cashdollar]

denise,

Love the shot, great habitat image and what a wonderful nature expression. Showing the Owl in a studios fashion. What was the subject distance, love the way you filled the frame.

[Nonda Surratt]

Super nice framing and you did get detail Denise! Can't make up my mind if you need just a bit more room at the bottom?

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Think I remember this one Denise, don't think you did too much to it other than sharpen?

[denise ippolito]

Jackie, This one I haven't worked on -but did post a couple from same shoot that looked similar and yes I just sharpened and adjusted WB as per Fabs.- Do you think it needs a couple of catchlights and if so how big on an eye like this?

[Harold Davis]

at first look i thought it was underexposed. but after looking at the histogram, it was dead on. nice job! only thing i could think of that would have helped a little would be some flash fill. would have punched it up a little and given you the catch lights you were talking about.

ooooh, ooooh!! you cut off the virtual feet!! shame on you!!:p

this is an awesome exercise. i feel like a kid when i make the comments. still a lot to learn and this is great!!!!

[denise ippolito]

Harold, You sound excited that I cut off the virtual feet in the burrow!

[Harold Davis]

i'm sorry.....just having a little fun! i love the compo. looks great!!

[Alfred Forns]

Particularly like the framing Denise We all seem to try zooming closer and closer !! Excellent !!!

[denise ippolito]

Harold, You know I love ya!!!:p I was just poking fun at how excited you got;):):D

[Oscar Zangroniz]

Love the BG and intense look you were able to capture.
Congrats

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Denise,
This? Straight OOC? It is wonderful. A few minor PP enhancements and the image will become a masterpiece. I totally adore these little guys and hope so much that one day I will travel to the American Continent to capture them for myself. So much character, but then again, I am an owl lover to the bone! :) Congrats!

[Gus Cobos]

Well done Lady Denise,
I like this very much....no further comments from me...:):cool:

[Lance Peters]

Now we are talking - SOC !!!! -Big Congrats - Super well done -Winner!!!
:)

[Jeni Williams]

lol - quick Denise, add some canvas for THOSE feet!!!;)
I love the owl, a bit of pp would bring this to top class- re the eye, just lighten the catchlights! Stunning bird.:D

[david cramer]

Nicely framed and you got the detail you wanted. I bet it shines with post processing. Nice one!

[Brian Wong]

Hi Denise!

I really like the straight on, low to the ground intimate feel. That said, maybe a very slight move to your left might help with the background leaf merge with the head ... but then you might loose the fabulous straight stare, and also the foreground stem might get into your way.

While I know you were trying f/7.1 for sharpness, I would also try various things to actually decrease the DOF (again thinking of fading out the background & bushy foreground, and making your owl stand out even more!). It should work with your setup and your nice low tripod. Also, since the light was very dim ... you could experiment with about -1.5 or so flash ... but might get some "red eye", or maybe a nice catch light, and helping out wide open.

[denise ippolito]

Thanks everyone for your help and input