Overall composition.
(If backgrounds have been removed, etc. please be honest with your techniques to help others learn) Canon R, Canon 100-400mm F-4.5/5.6L @ 371mm
1/640 @ F-5.6 ISO 1000. Sky was overcast, light on the flat side.
Hello, John, one of those birds on my wish list. I love the light, subjects and overall mood. For the composition you may consider a 1:1 ratio, getting rid of the OOF greens on the left hand side… Nice catch ! Cheers, Hans
Well done to find one out in the open. Sometimes there is just not a lot you can do about the bg highlights. It is just a function of where the bird is perched.
I might try to selectively lightened the eyes just a bit. And perhaps you have looked at a vertical crop although I do like the woodsy environment the owl is in. So perhaps a 5 x 7 crop?
Nice that you did not use full zoom leaving a nice space around the owl.
What really helps him (her?) stand out are the rich browns of the feathers, and the contrast with the whites. I agree with @Hans_Overduin regarding the crop as the OOF greens aren’t adding too much to the overall scene to my interpretation. I also like @David_Leroy’s recommendation, but would broaden it to brightening the face subtly so the whites match the brightness of the whiter feathers. Great capture and good eye to see this one! I stink at seeing owls!
