Great Grey Owlet - vert.

Gallery: AvianPosted February 4, 2013348 views19 comments

Hi again, everyone! Well, it took me a while to get back to my processing project on the Great Grey owls and owlets we photographed this past summer in the foothills of Alberta. I'm so honoured and humbled my last post of this guy was chosen as a weekly pick! Now I wish I had found the time to get this one processed and posted at the same time so I would know which you liked better!

So...which DO you like better? You can find the my earlier picture here, cropped horizontal from full-frame width.

As you can see, seconds after taking the first image I posted, the light faded even more and I managed to catch a few frames with the last of some truly SWEET sunbeams spotlighting my this owl's face as it filtered through the forest.

This image is full-frame except for a very minor loss to rotation to tweak the vertical lines.

I'd love for you to check out the larger version and let me know which of these two images is the winner! As I mentioned before...I'm so taken with this little owl my subjectivity has flown the coop.

Never mind the fact I was FREAKING OUT as I squeezed the shutter on this frame, recognizing I had been blessed by one of those very, very rare moments when the light is not only near-magical, but landing on a captivating and cooperative subject and all the other variables were falling in my favour.

Field Notes:
Nikon D7000
Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/4 IF-ED
ISO 500
1/200sec @ f/4
-0.7 stops from Center-Weighted metered Manual
monopod with shaking hands as this light unfolded. ;)

Processing Notes:
Converted from 14Bit RAW using Phase One Capture One Pro 7 with almost no adjustments other than minor tweaking of colour balance and rotation
Minor tone and contrast tweaks in Nik Color Efex Pro 4 and Nik Viveza 2
Light noise reduction with Nik Dfine 2.0
Selective adjustments to tone background highlights slightly in PS CS5
Selective sharpening/masking

***Owl not called in, baited, or harassed in any way

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on February 5, 2013 at 12:34 AM

The first image, by a narrow margin, John. I think the reduced light in this shot detracts just a hair. Both are excellent. I'd be delighted to have either in my portfolio.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by David E Lester on February 5, 2013 at 7:25 AM

Love them both..each stand on their own merits!!

Registered on March 24, 2010, 155 Posts, 793 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on February 5, 2013 at 12:09 PM

They are both stellar images. I think I like this one a bit better. A little more mysterious. The only change I would recommend is a little less canvass on the bottom. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Dave Walz on February 5, 2013 at 1:57 PM

Wow! What kind I say. Both images are great, but I actually like the second one better. The overall feel of a solitary owl sitting on its perch, looking for dinner, while the night closes in around it is outstanding. Did you lighten the head manually or did just catch a ray of light?

Registered on September 26, 2011, 22 Posts, 67 Comments

Comment posted by Eirini Pajak on February 5, 2013 at 3:06 PM

I like this one the best...It's nice to see his environment more & the lighting is spectacular!

Registered on December 13, 2011, 216 Posts, 1671 Comments

Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on February 5, 2013 at 3:09 PM

Amazing shot ,the colours in the BG are stunning !!

Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments

Comment posted by John Launstein on February 5, 2013 at 4:01 PM

Thanks, everyone! For me, I love the softness of the light on this image compared to the earlier one, and I still prefer the full-frame vertical to my horizontal crop on the first image I presented...this is what "spoke" to me through the viewfinder as this was unfolding, and I still like the sense of height, space and environment it brings.

Jerry - I can't disagree about trimming from the bottom, except I worked so hard to find a position in the forest that captured both the owlet and the moss hanging from the lower branch, I'm reticent to lose that for the second time!

Dave - this is completely natural and almost exactly as it looks in the RAW file. I just brought the brightness and contrast down a bit on the light hitting the tree in the background.

Probably my favourite aspect to this, and I was gushing about it to my kids beside me in the field, is how soft the transition is on the owl from light to shadow. The subtle highlights in the lower wing feathers really help as well, I think.

Thanks again for your comments of appreciation! I still welcome suggestions for improvement, though...like if you think I need to let go of my fascination with that moss on the lower branch already!

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on February 5, 2013 at 4:29 PM

They are both incredible photos and both deserve merit. But, I am liking this one more and more. I like the softer light and the feel of the habitat.

Excellent Work John

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Basri Akcasoy on February 5, 2013 at 4:56 PM

Excellent composition and detail, nice deep dark color and beautiful light on face. TFS.

Registered on February 16, 2012, 118 Posts, 767 Comments

Comment posted by Rebecka on February 5, 2013 at 5:49 PM

What a truly beautiful capture. The moss on the tree adds such nice texture. The light on the bird's face was quite a coup of perfect timing. The deep emerald tones of the BG bring this over the top. An all-around award winning image, IMHO.

Registered on February 5, 2009, 170 Posts, 924 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on February 5, 2013 at 7:23 PM

I like it as is. I missed the first one, but it would have to go some to beat this. This is a fine example of getting it right in the camera and doing minimal processing. Well done, John!

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on February 5, 2013 at 8:58 PM

John: This is another excellent image. It is a very difficult call to say which one I like more. Ok, if I had to pick one, I think it would be this version. The environment is so special on this. The light on the moss on the lower branch adds for me. If there was one thing I might look at, it would be burning the highlights in the tree in the background just a bit. I would not push them too far, but enough that the competition between the owl and the tree diminishes. What a splendid image. I'm even more impressed because this was not baited. Very, Very Nice

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 5, 2013 at 10:41 PM

The light on the face of the Owlet pops more in this image than the horizontal, John. .I think I prefer this one.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 6, 2013 at 5:44 AM

Strikingly atmospheric John - well done

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on February 6, 2013 at 8:21 AM

John, my initial reaction was that I liked the first one best, but the more I look at this one the more I like it. I really like the comp (including that moss at the bottom), and the light here is magic too, singling out the owl's face. I think that Keith is right about reducing exposure on the brightest part of the tree, and perhaps on the oof mossy branch just below/right of the owl as well. These are both fantastic shots and I would be beyond thrilled to have taken either.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on February 6, 2013 at 8:27 AM

Love the environment included in this vertical crop, horizontal was a real stunner too. Nice work.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on February 6, 2013 at 9:18 AM

Amazing capture John. Love the light on the face of the owl.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on February 6, 2013 at 10:55 AM

Hi John,

For me there's no question - I prefer the vertical version. For me the strength of the vertical lines provided by the trees (and the hanging moss) tips the scale towards the vertical lines.

One thing I'm very torn on - the conflict between removing some of the bottom (because I feel the subject is too high in the frame and thus is somewhat out of balance) versus cutting out - or worse yet, clipping - that beautiful piece of mood-setting lichen. But at the end of the day I think I'd sacrifice the lichen to get the owl in a little less of an extreme position (i.e., I don't think the lichen is strong enough of a compositional element to properly counter the extreme positioning of the owl).

But that's just my 2 cents worth...cheers...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on February 6, 2013 at 11:41 AM

An exceptional image, John. And knowing the bird wasn't harrassed or manipulated in any way makes the image even more special for me.

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