screechowlagain

Gallery: AvianPosted December 22, 2010131 views9 comments

This is the same western screech owl as my last couple of posts. This is easily the closest I've ever gotten to a wild owl. It was huge rush! I struggled a bit with processing this one.

40D, 1-400 Canon 400mm, ISO400, 1/8 at 5.6.

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Giorgio Gregori on December 22, 2010 at 12:00 PM

I like the original composition that emphasizes the eye of the owl. I do not understand what the OOF stains are ( at first sight had seemed to me flowers ) .
Giorgio

Registered on November 16, 2007, 87 Posts, 793 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on December 22, 2010 at 12:37 PM

Definitely an exciting encounter.

What gave you problems in processing? There's nothing obvious to me.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on December 22, 2010 at 1:29 PM

I think you did a fine job with the processing. Terrific look at that eye, with nice plumage detail around it. I rather like the OOF veg, as it conveys the habitat this guy was hiding in. Ideally, it might have been nice to have had the beak in the clear as well, but given that the focus of the shot is obviously the eye, that's minor.

Congrats on the cool encounter! These kind of adrenaline-raising moments are what make bird photography great.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by dan elster on December 22, 2010 at 4:50 PM

In terms of processing, I had trouble sharpening. This is full frame, so when I viewed this image at 100% to sharpen, I wasn't sure what kind of detail I should be looking for in the eye...I hope that makes sense. I also am toying around with Topaz noise reduction and there is a bit of a learning curve there too. Overall, I LOVE Topaz plugins by the way.

Giorgio, not exactly sure what you mean by the "stains". At 400mm and this close to my subject, pretty much everything except the birds eye and plumage are very out of focus.

"Congrats on the cool encounter! These kind of adrenaline-raising moments are what make bird photography great" - you are so right Terry, I bet you all of us have had encounters that are unforgettable like this. It's moments like this that keep me going.!j

Thanks for the comments thus far.

Registered on September 23, 2005, 299 Posts, 2443 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on December 22, 2010 at 5:42 PM

Interesting. I like it. This eye demands study. I think what Giorgio was referring to is the pine needles in the foreground.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 22, 2010 at 8:37 PM

Dan, I always enjoy the heartfelt joy you express in your posts when you have an experience like this (or similar to it). That is an amazing eye reflection - mimicking what we see in the background, Love the intimacy here. The feeling of "naturalness" is overwhelming.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on December 22, 2010 at 9:49 PM

I really like this image. The partially obscured owl leaves a little to the imagination. The eye is incredible. Good job.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on December 23, 2010 at 12:00 PM

Dan,
that yellow eye makes the shot for me. Very nice image.
I'm still waiting for a such cool encounter with a owl.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on December 23, 2010 at 1:26 PM

Dan,

I know exactly you mean about when a wild bird gets this close to you being a huge rush. My most memorable one was a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk who was so close to me I could have easily touched it. Just an amazing feeling. I really love how intimate this is and don't see any real issues with the post processing Dan.

A real "hidden" treasure.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments