Great Gray Owl

Gallery: AvianPosted September 4, 2014207 views12 comments

Hi,

A Great Gray Owl photographed by me in Wyoming this summer.

Canon EOS 5DMIII
Canon 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4x TC (tripod mounted)

I cropped about 25% off the sides from a horizontal to make this vertical composition. I should've photographed a vertical one, too. :(

ISO 1000 (tree shadows) | 1/1000s | f/5.6

I like the framing of the bushes on the lower left but am worried that the background is too distracting and I wonder what you think about that.

Thanks, Ashleigh

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Ronald Murphy on September 4, 2014 at 2:13 PM

I think the BG is enough out of focus that it doesn't compete too much; the owl stands out nicely from it. It also gives information about the environment. Great owl expression too.

Registered on March 13, 2012, 279 Posts, 975 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on September 4, 2014 at 2:33 PM

Wonderful shot Ashleigh. The background is fine.

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

Comment posted by John Launstein on September 4, 2014 at 7:21 PM

Ashleigh: this is a great - looking image! I'm a sucker for Great Greys, but this is a very pleasing portrait on top of being an image of a sweet owl. I'm not particularly bothered or distracted by the background, though would admit the image might be stronger without the OOF grey blob behind the owl's back, and the OOF branch that arcs below him. In any event these are minor nits on a great capture with solid techs and processing. Nicely done!

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on September 4, 2014 at 9:03 PM

Hi Ashleigh:

I think this looks quite nice. The background isn't too distracting. I would look at lowering the overall exposure just a bit and some subtle burning of the lightest plumage in the owl. I tried it and think it made very nice image even better.

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

Comment posted by Tjie Poo on September 5, 2014 at 2:09 AM

This is one bird that I want to see and to photograph, you did a fantastic job capturing it ! Congrats ! I like the green bushes foreground a lot.

Registered on December 4, 2012, 51 Posts, 511 Comments

Comment posted by keith mitchell on September 5, 2014 at 8:55 AM

Very nice Ashliegh,these Owls always look to have small eyes for the size of the bird, you have caught it very well.

Keith.

Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on September 5, 2014 at 6:43 PM

Awesome, you found a Great Gray! Great picture, Ashleigh. I like the addition of the red vegetation below him.

Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on September 6, 2014 at 12:33 AM

Awesome Great Gray photo as presented Ashleigh

I like the foreground bushes along with the background. I also like the concentrated stare of the owls face too.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on September 6, 2014 at 8:07 AM

Fantastic Ashleigh - love that intense stare

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

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on September 6, 2014 at 1:12 PM

Fine image, Ashleigh. The haughty expression on the owl makes this. The perch is nice, in good soft light and the comp is excellent. BG is very soft and doesn't compete.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on September 7, 2014 at 7:26 PM

Excellent framing Ashleigh. The bg is a bit busy, but most owls seem to like the woods and it's difficult to get a clean bg. It doesn't look like you had anywhere to move that was going to improve it, unless there was someplace behind it and then you might disturb it in getting there. Sometimes luck just isn't with us on the bg.

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

Comment posted by David Bogener on September 8, 2014 at 2:02 PM

Nice composition and pose. The OOF light blobs to the left of the owl are a minor distraction, but this image is far better than anything I have on this species.

Registered on October 30, 2013, 417 Posts, 1255 Comments