Short-eared owl

[Desmond Chan]

500 + D300 hand-held. ISO 1600 f4 1/320s.

Taken at sunset. Applied Nik Color Efex "Morning" filter. Cropped off 20% for composition purpose.

Comments welcome and appreciated. Thank you for looking !!

[Peter Farrell]

I like the effect, Desmond. I think the Owls eyes really pop out at you. I also like the slight contrast in the dark colors. Owls body looks a little blurred and I probably would crop some off the left and bottom.
Peter

[pat lillich]

really feels like you are seeing the owl in the dusk - and the eyes really do pop. agree with Peter that the body looks softer somehow than the head or the perch, if you might be able to do some selective sharpening on it. rich colors and a beautiful bird.

[Ben_Sadd]

I like how the eyes pop, but overall I find it a little dark. I addition to the things mentioned by the others, I feel the background would benefit from some NR.

[Desmond Chan]

Thank you for the comments, folks !!


Some clarification:
1. This image is meant to be dark.
2. Usually things don't look that sharp in the dark

[Ray Rozema]

Very interesting mood. the eyes have sort of a menacing look Agree take a little off the left. would prefer the bird a little sharper. but still like it.

TFS