Northern Hawk Owl

[Mike Lentz]

Spent another day up in the Sax Zim Bog area in northern Minnesota. We had some success on a variety of boreal type species, this guy included.



Nikon D300 ~ Nikkor 300mm F/2.8 w Nikon 1.4x TC.
1/640s f/7.1 iso200

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great find, this species is pretty high up on my wish list. I like the angle, eye contact, perch and BG. I'm undecided about the second branch and might sharpen the bird a tad more.

[Ofer Levy]

This is really nice!! Agree with Axel regarding the second branch and some more sharpening.

[William Currie]

Very nice image i agree getting rid of the branch and lowering the bird in the frame

[Raymond Barlow]

killer shot bud... a quick edit, with a crop, sharpening, and 72 dpi

[Joe Brown]

Excellent shot with a very nice bg, great detail and attractive colours. I like the second post but would place the owl's head even closer to the upper right intersection of the rule of thirds lines.

Joe

[Keith Bauer]

Really pretty image. Love the background. The colors really help make the entire image flow. I like it better without the extra branch on the left.

[Stu Bowie]

Mike, super comp, and love the eye contact. Lovely complimentary colours in the BG, and agree with another round of sharpening.

[William Currie]

I think the image looks 100% better with the branch gone and bird lower good work

[Todd Frost]

Nice work, I can go either way with the branch and crop choice. Love the bg colors, agree with a little selective sharpening and maybe tone down the highlights on the perch a little.
Todd

[Ted Willcox]

Hi Mike, I like your post. With your composition the branch works to balance the image. Very nice.
Ted

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Mike, I dont mind the second branch. My suggestions would be a crop from bottom( the second mushroom can go IMO) and a little sharpening of bird and perch. Nice pose and look.

[Krijn Trimbos]

For me all this needs is a bit more sharpening and contrast on the bird, and I would probably clone out the extra branch! Please leave the mushrooms in, I love them. The BG and light are excellent! Well done

[LouBuonomo]

I like the original post better with some sharpening.......
Lou

[Derek Griggs]

That's a good looking bird Mike! Chad and I are heading there soon. I really hope to see one of these guys.

[arash_hazeghi]

Very beautiful pose plus nice complementary BG , I would remove the lone branch but in terms of sharpening I like the original better.

[Mike Lentz]

Thanks for all the feedback. I knew there would be varying opinions regarding the extra branch. I thought it added some balance or symmetry to the image vs being a BOAS solely, therefore I prefer the two sticks. I can appreciate the other opinion, I see its kinda split on that one from the feedback. The 'shrooms will stay, I was lucky enough to get full framers without the 'shrooms in other images. :D