Owl at Dusk

[Steve Large]

Hi,
I managed to spot this guy in a local park here in Nanaimo around 8:30pm last Friday. Hope you like this one.

Stats: Canon 50D, 500 F/4 + 1.4X, ISO 800, 1/2 sec exposure at F/8, No flash

Thanks for your comments,

Steve

[Fabs Forns]

Very nice EXP, although a bit tight in the frame. Cool perch and I wish we could see the whole left eye. TFS.

[Randy Stout]

Steve:

Nicely done in such dim light. Both you and the bird were very steady!
Very interesting perch. I might consider cloning out the tiny knob just beneath the tail.
I might also consider toning down the grey line just in front of the breast.

Again, well done under challenging lighting conditions.

Cheers

Randy

[Jim Buescher]

Agree with above comments, in addition, I would probably tone down the oof yellow branch on the right. Great job getting this bird in the open and at eye level.

[Steve Large]

Hi Everyone,
Thanks very much for your comments. Here is one that meets most of the suggestions that you gave. You may think that it is still a bit tight in frame but I kind of like it that way.

Take care,

Steve

[William Currie]

Hi Steve you have a nice image here looks great i no there not easy to get in the clear like this one Brad

[Randy Stout]

Steve:

Overall I do prefer this one, esp. the smoother background. A bit of noise is creeping into the darker areas of the BG now, just a bit more noticeable than in the original.

Cheers

Randy

[Edward Fisher]

I prefer this one over the first image as well, Steve. The direct eye contact will do it every time.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Both work in their own way. One thing I notice is that the perch is sharper than the face of the owl. Perhaps some more selective sharpening to the face will remedy that. Still, good job at half a second!

[Kiran Poonacha]

I like the sencond post, nice looking bird, good details and the Bg works for me (would have loved to see a bit more around).. nicely done..