Barn Owl

[João Morgado]

Canon 400D, Canon 400mm f/5.6 USM L, 1/1000, f/5.6, ISO 1600, Flash, Handheld

Hope you like it!:D

Best Regards
João Morgado

[Arthur Morris]

Was this created at night?

[Randy Stout]

Joao:

Sharp, nice exposure, lovely colors. Framing a bit tight on the sides for my taste.

Was this a captive bird?

Hope to see more!

Cheers

Randy

[João Morgado]

Thanks for the comments!!

Yes this was created at night, arround 10PM, and it's a wild bird... in this time of the year (September/October), in this place, they are unusually cooperative and it's possible to see tens of this beautiful owls in just one night!!

When I took the picture I tought maybe is too tight, but then I tought "The bird is looking directly at me, so maybe the space on the left it's not so important..."

I guess I was wrong... :)

Thanks again!!

Best regards,
João Morgado

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks for the comments!! Yes this was created at night, arround 10PM, and it's a wild bird... in this time of the year (September/October), in this place, they are unusually cooperative and it's possible to see tens of this beautiful owls in just one night!! When I took the picture I tought maybe is too tight, but then I tought "The bird is looking directly at me, so maybe the space on the left it's not so important..." I guess I was wrong... :) Thanks again!! Best regards, João Morgado

Hi João, Thanks for the info. I like the framing but would not mind a bit more room all around. It looks as if the owl is too dark. When doing flash as main light it is important to make sure that some data in the histogram is in the highlight box; it is easy to underexpose them.... I asked because at the setting you used this could have been taken in other conditions than fully dark. Also, it is almost a guarantee that you could have used shutter speed of 1/125 sec. hand held and gotten the image as sharp as this one is.

Anybody know why?

[Arthur Morris]

Yikes, forgot the lightened repost :) All that I did was pull the curve up.

[Arthur Morris]

pps: I like the snails. They are snails, no?

[João Morgado]

Thanks for the comment Arthur...

I think the the answer is because the speed of light is faster than 1/1000... so it would freeze the image as well...

Tha flash was the main light, but the car's headlights were pointing at the owl... so probably the car's light would cause some blur at 1/125...

Actualy this is a minor minor crop, because the image was a bit inclined, so maybe i still can recover the photo :)

Next time I will try the shutter speed at 1/125, and compare the results, it will be better for sure, bcause i will be able to decrase ISO...

Thanks!!

[Randy Stout]

Thanks for the comments!!

Yes this was created at night, arround 10PM, and it's a wild bird... in this time of the year (September/October), in this place, they are unusually cooperative and it's possible to see tens of this beautiful owls in just one night!!

When I took the picture I tought maybe is too tight, but then I tought "The bird is looking directly at me, so maybe the space on the left it's not so important..."

I guess I was wrong... :)

Thanks again!!

Best regards,
João Morgado

Joao:

I do think that the bird looking right at you does reduce the space needed to the sides, compared to the bird gazing off to the side. However, I still think a bit more would make him seem a bit less crowded in the frame.
You are fortunate to see the wild barn owls. Rare in Michigan.

Cheers

Randy

[João Morgado]

Arthur:

I saw your repost now, and it's much better, maybe it's my monitor but I see it as a hair too bright, probably is my monitor... i don't know how escaped from me that the image was dark, because i've done levels and curves in photoshop, I must have been blind back then :confused:

And yes they are snails!:D

[João Morgado]

Thanks Randy!!

Thanks for the explanation and advice!

Best Regards
João Morgado

[Craig Brelsford]

I wish I could comment on João's original, but it's not showing up on my computer. Artie's repost looks very fine. Good job, João.

[Arthur Morris]

Best to use a calibrated monitor and to check the calibration strip at the bottom of each BPN page when you are working.... Thanks for the snail info :)

[Arthur Morris]

Hi Again João,

re:

Thanks for the comment Arthur...

YAW

I think the the answer is because the speed of light is faster than 1/1000... so it would freeze the image as well...

You are getting there. At night, it is so dark that all of the light on the bird is from the flash. That's called flash as main light. It is likely that you could have used ISO 400 or even 200....

Tha flash was the main light, but the car's headlights were pointing at the owl... so probably the car's light would cause some blur at 1/125...

Possible but not likely Especially if you reduced the ISO.

Actualy this is a minor minor crop, because the image was a bit inclined, so maybe i still can recover the photo :)

Good plan. If not, it is very easy to add canvas and the BLACK BKGR.

Next time I will try the shutter speed at 1/125, and compare the results, it will be better for sure, bcause i will be able to decrase ISO...

Actually, the shutter speed will not have anything to do with the EXP.... All of the EXP is by the flash. Folks are directed to the Flash Simplified section in ABP II (916 pages on CD only). It explains fill flash, flash as main light, and manual flash in detail.