Close Call

[Mike Fuhr]

I often stop at a local wooded park on the way to work to see if I can find something that catches my eye. One morning a few weeks ago I wasn't having any luck until I heard an angry robin making a fuss up in some trees. Turns out it was because of this barred owl.

I was too far away to get a shot w/my 300 so I decided to go around to the other side (better light angle). Unfortunately, the shortest route went within 10' of this guy so I had to take a long route around this little pond. By the time I got around, I couldn't locate the bird. I walked down the path I had avoided originally only to find the owl in the same tree -- I was looking in the wrong place and had walked right by him! Luckily, he was so obsessed with being dive bombed I walked up to him and got this shot. :) It was still not optimal light nor a great angle (branch behind head don't bother me), but I was able to set up my tripod 15' away and fire away, getting 50 or more shots. This was my favorite.

D300
100-300 F/4
1/100
F/6.3 (-.67)
ISO 500
Tripod
minor crop w some sharpening

[Randy Stout]

Mike:

Glad you got your bird! I like the framing of the perch and upper branch. Do wish the one behind the head wasn't there, but not too large.
I might consider toning down the brighter areas of sky, esp. LLC.
The image is quite cool because of the shade. Did you do any tweaking of the color balance? I think the image would show well with a bit warmer color temp in post.

Cheers

Randy

[Mike Fuhr]

Thanks Randy. I didn't mess with the color balance. I'll try warming it up a bit and see how it looks...

[Randy Stout]

Mike:
Our eyes do a remarkable job of correcting color balance, and I think warming it a bit to taste will look more 'natural'

Cheers

Randy

[Mike Fuhr]

Good call, Randy. I think that really improved it!

[Randy Stout]

Mike:
Looks better to me. I did one more little tweak. I thought there was a green color cast, so I neutralized that with average color blur tech. I also went ahead, used recovery slider at 100 to pull down the overexposed highlights in the sky, and did a subtle vignette of corners.

I don't know this owl well, but think the color is about right.

Cheers

Randy

[Danny J Brown]

Good catch on a barred owl, Mike. I love them for their beady eyes, which are darn near impossible to photograph. The light in this ones eyes shows them about as good as possible.

DB

[Fabs Forns]

Very good catch after all your perils. Randy nailed it with the repost. Great eye contact and detail BG is what it is.

[Mike Fuhr]

Thanks Danny and Fabs -- agree on the repost. I really like it...thanks Randy!

[Tony Whitehead]

Randy has nailed the colour correction on this one. Impressive capture, Mike

[Stu Bowie]

Mike, you guys are squabbling over colours, and I dont have a single owl in my files. ;) Jokes aside, great sighting, and nicely framed between the two branches. Randy's repost works so well.

[Mike Fuhr]

I agree Tony. Stuart -- I didn't have any either... until this one!:cool:

[Hendri Venter]

The colours does look better in Randy's post. Great sighting and well captured Mike.

[Mike Fuhr]

Thanks Hendri!