old fashioned romance

[Loong-Tat Wong]

Hi
Made this image some months ago and it drew comments of an overly bright background when posted in color(in another forum) I am now trying a B and W conversion to see if it is more like-able in this form. While obviously flogging a tired horse but I really like the coquettish look of this girl ala the sex sirens in the old movies :) (sorry for the anthropomorphism!)
Your comments please! Thanks!

Image details: 1dmk4 Fl 840mm f5.6 1/30 ISO 800 EV +0.3 tripod ambient evening light Silver Efex Pro 2 Uncropped.

[Kerry Perkins]

Hello Loong-Tat, the light background doesn't bother me at all but I find the leaves and twigs to be distracting. If it were mine I would clone them all away, as well as that bit of perch in the LLC. I think you could make a nice BG that way and even make a slight vignette to draw more attention to the flirting bird. Nice capture of this moment and I like the placement in the vertical frame. You might also try stretching the blacks a little downward in the b&w conversion to give it more drama, if that makes any sense.

[denise ippolito]

Welcome to OOTB Loong-Tat, Lovely first post. I too like the coquettish look the owl is giving. I don't mind the leaves but find the vertical twig on the right a little distracting. Nice job w/ the conversion, it looks like a bit of sepia. The thin border is a nice touch.

[Maureen Allen]

Great image! The expression on the owl is wonderful. I agree with Kerry - I'd clone out the leaves and twig on the right hand side (I kind of like the ones over her head.) The vignette is a good idea too.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Welcome to OOTB, Loong-Tat - I love the image. The pose is perfect and I think the leaves frame the owl nicely. I'd evict the stick in the upper right but that's it. I hope you post lots more

[Paul Lagasi]

Welcome...I really like the post and the over shoulder look, I might want to see a little more room on the left of the Owl. TFS

[Julie Kenward]

Agree with everyone's comments - if there were more strength to the leaves I'd leave them in but, as is, they do tend to distract a bit more than add to the image. I would think a bit of foliage with more detail at the top left and bottom right would work nicely if you can find some to clone in. If not, I'd go plain like Kerry suggested and add a vignette.

The black and white is definitely working, though. You might also try a duotone or tritone as well and see what you think!