Great Horned Owl Tween

[Meesh Fink]

This is my first photo posted here, and yesterday was my 2nd day with the 7D & 400 f/5.6. :D

This is from an owl nest I've been watching all year. It has been a full 10 days since I last checked it, last time I looked they were still in the nest. This time, the nest was empty and this youngster was perched nearby. Harsh BG, unfortunately. Light was coming from behind him, but there was no viewpoint from that direction. I think I'd prefer the owl a bit more off center and looking into the middle.

Your C&C appreciated.

[Dave Leroy]

Lovely first post as well as a lovely little owl.

There is not much you can do about the setting as this is where the owl would be.

A bit of a crop from right would move bird off centre also.

I like the nice soft look to the owl and it is still full of detail.

The eyes could be lightened and brightened up a bit to add a bit more pop.


Very nicely done and looking forward to more.

[Meesh Fink]

Thank you, Dave. I agree about the eyes, and perhaps a little adjustment brush of minus exposure on the top of his head might be good.

I am still trying to decide how much sharpening to apply for 7D images - PLMK if it's not quite sharpened enough. I think this was about 65%, 1.0 radius.

[Dave Mills]

Hi Meesh, welcome to the forum.Most of the technicals look good! The bird looks offset from the center now so I would be careful about cropping.(measure from his beak side to side) With the bird being in habitat the image is very busy but not alot you could do about that. Good find but wish he was better located...

[Alfred Forns]

Big Warm Welcome Meesh

Good suggestions Can add I would to tighter, like the quality and sharpness !! ... btw with that lens you could use a 1.4X (manual focus only) with excellent results !!!

[Lance Peters]

big warm welcome to BPN Meesh - Nice first post. Dont hesitate to jump right on and leave comments on other peoples images - no faster or better way to improve your own photography - all we ask is that you say what it is you like or dont like about the image.

Heres my thoughts
Heaps of fine feather detail in this I d sharpen a tad more
Selectively lighten and sharpen the eyes
Burn the top of the head a tad

The detail in this would make it very easy to evict the branch in front of the owl if you so desired.
Just quickly and roughly ... but you get the idea would be much easier on the full size file - just work slowly.

[Meesh Fink]

Hi Meesh, welcome to the forum.Most of the technicals look good! The bird looks offset from the center now so I would be careful about cropping.(measure from his beak side to side) With the bird being in habitat the image is very busy but not alot you could do about that. Good find but wish he was better located...

Thanks good to know the beak is the technical point of reference. I will go look for him again when the weather clears a bit, maybe he will be perched in a better spot. :)

[Meesh Fink]

Thanks Alfred. The 1.4x is a good idea, especially if I pack the tripod next time (I was using a monopod for this shot). Then I can just pop into liveview and use AF. :-)

[Meesh Fink]

Thanks a lot, Lance! :D I like your edit, it never occurred to me to remove the annoying branch in post. I agree with all of the suggestions. The eyes really stand out when lightened & sharpened.

big warm welcome to BPN Meesh - Nice first post. Dont hesitate to jump right on and leave comments on other peoples images - no faster or better way to improve your own photography - all we ask is that you say what it is you like or dont like about the image.

Heres my thoughts
Heaps of fine feather detail in this I d sharpen a tad more
Selectively lighten and sharpen the eyes
Burn the top of the head a tad

The detail in this would make it very easy to evict the branch in front of the owl if you so desired.
Just quickly and roughly ... but you get the idea would be much easier on the full size file - just work slowly.