Agree with your assessment and can only add a more over the shoulder light angle would have giving you even light on the face Would also use a higher ISO Your camera produces excellent results and would be safer using higher shutter speeds You did produce a very sharp image with your settings !!!
Love the pose of this beautiful owl. The perch is a little busy as you mentioned, but not too objectionable. I love the dark bg for this owl image. With the light coming from the right, you did a good job with the fill flash to lessen the shadowing on the left side of the bird. Looking forward to seeing more of your images.
Mike,
Great shot of a stealth owl, I have been listening to one for a few weeks and can not find it in the thick tree's and brush,
Were was this image taken?
Jerry
This image was taken a few miles from my home in northwestern Wyoming. Every winter we have a significant number of Pygmy's hunt the valley floor during the worst weather. I have found as many as 3 different birds in a single morning, and other times go weeks without seeing one. A neighbor just informed me that he knows the location of a nest site. I can't wait to go check it out once the snow melts enough to get back to it.