Amherst Island in southern Ontario 12 Oct 09 by Paul O'Toole Kingston Ontario. Cloudy/dark day.
Nikon D50
80-400VR Handheld
ExposureTime - 1/40 seconds
FNumber - 5.60
ExposureProgram - Normal program
MaxApertureValue - F 5.66
MeteringMode - Center weighted average
LightSource - Auto
Flash - Not fired
ExposureMode - Auto
White Balance - Auto
ISO Setting - 200
Image Quality - NORMAL
White Balance - AUTO
Focus Mode - AF-C
White Balance Adjustment - 0
Flash Used - Not fired
Noise Reduction - OFF
Optimization - VIVID
Last edited by Paul OToole; 10-12-2009 at 05:03 PM.
Reason: added specs
Hi Paul,
You have given us a lovely portrait of a beautiful bird. I have two possible suggestions. You might consider using a gaussian blur on the BG just to de-emphasize it, or you could crop in closer in order to emphasize those amazing eyes! It is also helpful if you can post the techs along with the image. Well done - look forward to seeing more of your work.
Regards,
Nicki
Lovely shot. Would like to see some tech details too. Looks like it is either a bit over sharpened on the face or it is a big crop. Probably make a nicer vert crop too. Well done Paul.
Hi Paul, I like the owl. I like the detail in the feathers and that you can see the talons (pretty good for 1/40 sec). Perhaps a little less sharpening? I also would try a tighter crop to emphasize the owl. I also agree with Nicki that selectively blurring the background might help. Thanks for sharing.
Very nice Paul....glad to see their back...not often you get one, out in the open..I might try a different crop, one which gets the bird out of the middle
Hey Paul, you got some good advice already so I won't repeat them. Looking at your exif I would however suggest raising the ISO when such low-light conditions arise. You will get better SS - very important, especially when handholding as you did (even with a VR lens). In this case ISO 400 = 1/80s., and ISO 800 = 1-160s. Still quite slow, but I can guarantee you a bit less filling of the trash bin due to camera shake :-)
I'll have to make it down to Amherst Island this winter...haven't been there for the past couple of years.
What a wonderful looking owl. Love the eyes of this guy.
I see no blur in here. I would try not to center the bird in the frame, or may be take the picture horizontal.
Nice capture Paul,
Glad to see they're starting to return to Amherst.
Good work on getting one somewhat out in the open. I'd prefer a vertical crop for this one as I don't feel the extra horizontal space is adding much here.
Northern Sawhet Owl
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