Burrowing Owl

[Ramon M. Casares]

Hi everybody, this image was created a few days ago 30Km from home with the last light of the day. Hope you like it.
Comments and Critiques are welcome and apreciated.

MarkII
300mmf4 IS
1/800Seg.
F7.1
+1/3
Iso 800

Enjoy.

[Kobus Tollig]

Can't put my finger on it but it does not do it for me. Tech are great. Light etc.....but does not have that impact you normally give in your images. Sorry I can't give you an answer

[Kobus Tollig]

I think the oof owl is distracting

[Mital Patel]

am no expert but what if we have reverse situation ?

like the first one focus and second one out of focus ?
without any one's presence i think this frame would not make it out so either way this is good to me.

just a thought

[Randy Stout]

Ramon:

I think Mital is correct, that it would be easier to accept the front owl sharp, rear one blurry.
You could have gone to a smaller aperture with the amount of light you had, and helped, but probably not enough to reverse the impression here.

My brain doesn't like the largest component in the image, esp. in the foreground, to be blurry.

Cheers

Randy

[Ramon M. Casares]

I havew the reverse situation but it doens look good at all, the Owl from behind is just a head... imagine an OOF head...
Thanks for you thoughts and comments!

[Stu Bowie]

Ramon, I believe you are only gaining with this image if you get rid of the OOF owl in front. Why - because the guy at the back stands out so well, great eye contact with those lovely eyes, and I can see him all alone in your comp.

[Randy Stout]

Ramon:

Just as a fun exercise, since you have images of each bird individually sharp, do a composite with both of the sharp birds in one image. I would be curious if it can be pulled off without looking hokey?

Just a random thought (must be hungry)

Cheers

Randy

[Ramon M. Casares]

I'll try that and repost if it ends up looking good :)
Agan, thank you all for your thoughts, I still love this image and IMO the OOF Owl is a big part of the comp so I do not pln to get rid of it :)

[Ramon M. Casares]

Here's the composite, it doesn't look bad but it is far away from what I like about the OP.

[Randy Stout]

Ramon:

Thanks for the repost. You have to decide of course what you want to get across. To the casual viewer, I think the repost will be more acceptable.

As always, you have to ask yourself, who will the audience be?

Randy

[Ramon M. Casares]

I am always trying to create images that are fresh and original, images that can generate something else in the viewer than just a "nice shot", I rather have a viewer wondering about the OP than a viewer just liking an image by default if you know what I mean. The OP to me is aesthetic IMO, everything soft except for the Owl's head in the BG, I think it has much more impact and creativity, the second one is just a nice image (composite) of two Owls, but it doesn't go further than that IMO.
Thanks all for your thoughts, comments and suggestions! :)

[Randy Stout]

Ramon:

I am all for creativity and trying something different. That is how you develop new skills and ways of seeing. By their nature, a large percentage of 'new things' fail, because there is a reason we tend to do things a certain way, they 'work'. But, when you get a "different approach" shot that works, it is great!!

So, keep showing us new things. Some of them will inspire us, some will make us scratch our heads, but thats OK. Thats how we advance, lots of false starts, and then a breakthrough!

Randy

[Ramon M. Casares]

Thanks Randy, I agree with with and just to be clear, I do not state that this image works perfectly or that it is great, but I just rather "loose" for trynig something different than to "win" with something that I don't find special :)\
Again, thanks!

[Randy Stout]

Ramon:

You can't make an omlet without breaking some eggs! Keep cooking!

Randy

[Ramon M. Casares]

:D I liked that phrase!

[Gyorgy Szimuly]

Hard to comment it. For sure different. For sure it was not possible to get both in focus. Somehow I like it but I find the OOF Owl a bit dominant. Interesting. Need time to digest it :) Certainly tells about your different point of view which I like.

Szimi

[Morkel Erasmus]

I understand the whole reasoning but I would also prefer the composite at first glance. Still wonderful quality in the owls' details!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

The composite works really well. I like the idea of the original post but the OOF owl is too dominant to make it work for me.

[John Chardine]

Interesting commentary on what I think is a great image. Well done Ramón! It is so important for us to "push the envelope" and Ramón has done this. The OP "says" something but it's up to your imagination specifically what that might be.

I love it!

[James Fuller]

I like the image because it is different and has a very artistic approach to bird photography

[Ramon M. Casares]

Thanks to all of you who didn't like it and also to those who did like it, all opinions are valid and every though helps me to see things that I sometimes don't see. I apreciate all comments, critiques and suggestions!

[Juan Aragonés]

Hi Ramón, I like the original post a lot. The composite works fine for me but after viewing the original post I prefer the originality of your initial idea. I have to agree that the OOF owl in the foreground is a bit distracting due to its size, a litle bit small in the frame would work better.