Barn Owl

Image Critiques Avian Critiques
1

P4220143.jpg
P4220143.jpg2213×1294 985 KB

Critique Style Requested: Initial Reaction

Please share your immediate response to the image before reading the photographer’s intent (obscured text below) or other comments. The photographer seeks a genuinely unbiased first impression.

Questions to guide your feedback

Do you like the “simplicity” of the image

Other Information

Please leave your feedback before viewing the blurred information below, once you have replied, click to reveal the text and see if your assessment aligns with the photographer. Remember, this if for their benefit to learn what your unbiased reaction is.

Image Description

Watching our local Barn Owls is a joy this time of year. They come out while it is still light and warm, you get an hour to watch them before dark, and then it’s perfectly timed for a pint down the pub!

Technical Details

I was keen to show the detail on the wing, but I fear that the inevitable compromise of distance (70yds), crop, and sensor size has meant that I don’t have the detail/resolution I would have liked. I have tried to address this with various sharpening techniques (Topaz Sharpen, Topaz PhotoAI, Lightroom sharpen tool), they all help a bit but also create certain artefacts.
This one is made using just Lightroom processing.
But overall I am pleased with the simple composition and block colours.

Olympus OM-1
Pano’/Leica 100-400 @400mm
1/000 f8 ISO 200

Specific Feedback

Initial impact

Critique Template

Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.

  • Vision and Purpose:
  • Conceptual:
  • Emotional Impact and Mood:
  • Composition:
  • Balance and Visual Weight:
  • Depth and Dimension:
  • Color:
  • Lighting:
  • Processing:
  • Technical:
2

Yes I do like the simplicity shown here with layers shown in the bottom of the image with the tufts of grass then green trees then brown hill then blue sky. Seeing the wings only and not the bird’s head highlights the flight of the bird in this instance especially since the bird is small in the frame. I could see trying a version with the bird more to the left and not centered.

3

I like the sense of mystery created by most of the body being obscured by the wings, Ryan. I also like the lighting with the definite feel of late evening and possibly even after sunset.

My initial reaction to the composition is that I would like the bird further left in the frame.

An interesting image and one that is quite evocative.

4

Ryan, I echo the thoughts of Dennis and Allan - the bird would be more effective further left. I also see a bit of fuzziness at the op of the owl - maybe only back feathers blowing ? That one stalk of grass protruding into the blue sky adds nothing, and might be removed.
Interesting image!

5

Thanks for the responses they are helpful.
I agree that it could be shifted left a little, this will require creating a new area to the right but that’s not so difficult in PS these days