Golden hour Barred Owl

Image Critiques Avian Critiques
1

BAROWL5906.jpg
BAROWL5906.jpg3847Ă—2678 1.92 MB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

I was out walking my dog a few days ago and told about the owl. I checked for a couple days and finally got to seem it. He/she was perched on this horizontal branch above a stream about 20 feet from the path bridge. The owl acted as if nobody was there and just scanned the area. I really like the golden hour light but I am not crazy about the busy background.

Specific Feedback

Should I crop this so the owl is more toward the center? Any other feedback to help me learn is appreciated.

Technical Details

Canon 90D
Iso 800
F4
Shutter 1/160
Lens Canon 24-105L

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1 Like
2

This is really good, Brian. I love the pose of the owl and that little catchlight right at the top of the eye adds a ton to the effectiveness of the image. The busy background doesn’t bother me in general but you might look at cropping this to a vertical presentation. I think there’s more habitat than needed to show the where these birds hang out and there are some obviously pruned twigs toward the right that the image might be better off without.

Here’s a version for your consideration. I just cropped it, removed a few bright twigs in the background and applied a freehand vignette with a little extra burning int he upper right. I’m ambivalent about the slanted branch above the owl. Depending on what software you’re using, it could be easier or harder to remove:

Brian-BAROWL5906 copy
Brian-BAROWL5906 copy2131Ă—2678 2.54 MB

Great job with only 105 mm to work with.

3

Darn Dennis, I really like this. Thank you. I was fortunate that the owl was probably only about 20 feet away. He/she didn’t seem bothered by me being there. I propped myself against the bridge railing to keep steady. I walked away when a small crowd began forming. I didn’t want the owl to get stressed.

4

Great light on the owl. Good pose and detail and the background is indicative of the habitat. I like Dennis’s cropped version and I could see trying to remove the branch he mentioned.

5

Hi Allen, Thank you. I will try removing the branch in back. This was seriously the right place at the right time.

6

BAROWL5873
BAROWL58732011Ă—2220 1.16 MB

This is the same owl a few minutes earlier with different light. I have not done much post with this so branches are still visible. I hope to get back out there to try for more photos.

7

This is nice as well, but you’ve got to love that light in the first one-special!

8

A gorgeous shot with wonderful light! I like @Dennis_Plank’s crop. The diagonal branch doesn’t bother me, maybe because it echoes the perch branch.

9

Oh I agree.

10

Thank you. I totally agree. It was just great to be so close to observe the owl and not having the bird disturbed.

11

Hi Brian, nice catch of this close encounter. A great find. I like Dennis’ vertical crop as well. Good luck with your future efforts for more photos of this beauty.

12

Thanks Allen. I will definitely keep trying.