Since BPN members gave me such good feedback on cropping my last Skimmer image, I became inspired and played with this close up Burrowing Owlet. I photographed him with my 2x TC with the intention of doing a tight crop. However, had it not been for your recent advice, I have a feeling I would have been flailing in the wind. So "Thank you all!" I hope this one meets with your approval. This is about 60% of the original. Only a little sharpening was done. I personally feel as though it's sharp where it needs to be.
Canon 1D3, Canon 500L & 2x TC
F8, 1/400sec, ISO 800, manual mode
Feisol tripod, Jobu head
Firstly I'd like to make mention that I am envious of any Owl shot, I see very few sadly. Love the fine detail in the small feathers around the gaping mouth and of course that big big eye....perhaps a tad more dof would be nicer....but I'm just jealous
Marina, Such excellent detail about the eye. Really fine technique to get this. Composition is really quite personal...my suggestion would be to trim a bit more off the top to get the eye higher in the frame. And then you'd probably want to balance that with a bit off the right (as viewed). Just a thought.
Hi Marina, I feel this is an "almost" shot as the lack of dof really hurts it IMHO. It is always better to stop a bit more when using a converter - especially the x2 so f10 or even f11 could have been better.
The crop works marvelloulsy well as is for me!! I'm usually OK with DOF as long as the eye is sharp...except for tight portrait where I prefer more. Here I would have loved for the lower mandible and chin to be within DOF. Still a highly effective image, one that I will keep in mid if ever I run into a cooperative owl again!!
I like it. The dof isn't there but i feel it really brings attention to the eye. I would have liked maybe a tad more on the beak but I like it as posted. I am glad to see you going for something different.
EYE GIVE A HOOT
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