Great Horned Torpedo!

[Dan Brown]

I was able to grab a few shots of this Great Horned Owl as it sped by us during a Christmas Bird Count in Solano co, CA. Pretty big crop, converted in Capture NX2, adjusted in ACR and then in CS5. Cloned out a distant utility wire, NR on BG with Topaz Denoise, sharpened owl with Topaz Infocus and usm. C&C welcome.

Camera Model: NIKON D300, handheld with shoulder support
Shutter speed: 1/2000 sec
Aperture: 7.1
Exposure mode: Manual
Flash: Off
Metering mode: Multi-segment
ISO: 800
Lens: 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal length: 400mm
Focal length: 600mm (in 35mm film)
VR Image Stabilization: On
AF mode: AF-C

[arash_hazeghi]

Dan, this one is a tough shot. Honestly this one isn't working for me, the wing position is just too flat and the top side is in shade plus the IQ has suffered quite a bit from the crop...I feel your pain, more often than not it's just not possible to make a quality photograph of the GHO without calls and an elaborate setup.

TFS!

[Jonathan Ashton]

I like the shot very much, i would also consider reducing the crop to include a little more of the environment and simultaneously enhance the quality of the owl, I suspect there is a little more detail in the face to be had.

[gail bisson]

Hi Dan,
I am with Arash on this one. Perhaps it would be best to go for a lesser crop and include more environment? I wish the wing position wasn't so flat and in the shadow,
Gail

[Joe Senzatimore]

I think you did well with the set-up you had. The 80-400 is one tough lens for flight. I am with those who think more room would be better. An environmental record would work well here.

[Manjeet & Yograj Jadeja]

nice shot, although a wider view would look better if it doesn't have any distractions.

[Dan Brown]

Thanks for the help all. Here's a repost with a much smaller crop, opened up the shadows and added sharpening to parts of the face.