Western Screech Owl + Re-post per suggestions

Gallery: AvianPosted March 29, 2014235 views17 comments

This guy was resting unconcerned in his cavity while I took photos and waited for him to open his eyes.

Canon 7d
100-400 mm at 365 mm
F6.3
1/50 sec
on tripod
ISO 100

comments and critique appreciated.
Thanks for looking.

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on March 29, 2014 at 8:52 AM

I love owls, mainly because of their amazing eyes. You managed to capture those eyes well. The owl is well exposed and sharp. My only nit is that the outer edges of the tree look a little overexposed. That should be easily fixed. Great capture. Well done.

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

Comment posted by William Bickle on March 29, 2014 at 10:23 AM

Hello Allen

Sleepy eyes!

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on March 29, 2014 at 12:15 PM

Great find Allen and well captured with good detail in the Owl. Toning down the bright areas on the tree may help the first impression of this composition. This guy looks real cozy in there.
Well done . . .

Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Frye on March 29, 2014 at 12:31 PM

Love those eyes and I like the partial arch of the tree to the right of the owls head -- nice catch

Registered on February 3, 2007, 387 Posts, 1136 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 29, 2014 at 1:38 PM

Hard to even FIND these guys, let alone get a good image!
This is delightful - wonderful eyes, fine detail, and natural habitat.
I agree the whole tree might be darkened a bit.
Very nice image!

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on March 29, 2014 at 2:57 PM

Great catch, Allen, owls are so hard to spot. You've framed this one well and captured such terrific detail that I can see a bit of something caught on it's beak.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on March 29, 2014 at 3:11 PM

Excellent shot of this little guy. Owls are my favorite photo subject. In my experience with screech owls they seem to be sleeping most of the time. You did well to catch him with his eyes wide open. I agree the whole tree could stand a little burning in, easy enough to do, otherwise a sweet shot.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on March 29, 2014 at 4:58 PM

Cute photo with the bird sitting nicely in the hole. Lighting looks less than optimal, but overall a good image of this bird.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on March 29, 2014 at 5:11 PM

Excellent, Allen. Beautifully framed and nice and sharp. To my eye, this looks just a bit oversharpened/contrasty. In the larger image there's quite a bit of noise noticeable in the eyes, which I wouldn't expect at that low an iso. A beautiful shot regardless of my minor nits.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on March 29, 2014 at 5:47 PM

Love the expression from those eyes and head tufts, just a great shot. Might darken the bark a little though.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 29, 2014 at 7:52 PM

What a great find, this a beautiful photo of this sleepy looking owl you created Allen. Your patience paid off wonderfully.

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on March 29, 2014 at 7:56 PM

Lovely image and bird - I especially like the shared textures and colours of bird and setting

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on March 30, 2014 at 6:18 AM

Allen,
Wonderful image, as everybody else has suggested darkening the bark a little would help

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Allen Brooks on March 30, 2014 at 10:55 AM

Thanks for all the comments and critiques. The photo was taken late in the afternoon with the sun shining in directly from the left. I've reposted with the bark darkened. That's why I'm part of NPN, to learn and hopefully improve my work from the suggestions others make.

Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on March 30, 2014 at 1:35 PM

The repost is much better. Way to go.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 31, 2014 at 6:31 AM

Like the framing of the hollow Allen - well done

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

Comment posted by Basri Akcasoy on April 4, 2014 at 7:40 AM

Excellent pose and composition.

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