Backlit Barn Owl

Heres another from the weekend. Is the bright background too overpowering? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Billy

Techs: 40d, 300mm w/ 2x converter, 1/6400s @ f5.6, iso 400. Cropped for comp, about 2/3 frame. Again, lots of sharpening on the owl.

I'm sorry Billy but this doesn't work at all for me. The background is too bright, the bird is flying away from the camera so you can't see the face and a lot of colour fringing around the branches.
Robert

For my taste it is a little too harsh. But I'm still jealous as I'm yet to photograph one of these beautiful birds!!

Thanks guys, you basically confirmed my own thoughts! I would have preferred to try and shoot more of a sillhouette, but he was hunting along a line of trees and there was no chance of a clean background.

Billy

If you are able to keep an eye on the birds hunting pattern over a few days. You may find that the bird is keeping pretty much to the same areas. If this proves to be the case you could hide along the tree line and get the shots with the bird coming towards you and with the light coming from behind you.

Tony

Thanks Tony. This is one of a pair that hunt over the fields just behind my house, and I have manages several shots with more conventional lighting. However, I'm having some problems with my 2x teleconverter - I think it has finally given up the ghost after 4 years of travelling on kenyan roads! Consequently, this is one of only a few even remotely sharp images that I got - due to the contrast and sharply defined backlighting. I think I'm going to have to give up for the moment until I can replace/repair the 2x...

Thanks for the comment!

Billy

Again agree with comments so far.. not working for me but I am very jealous... not even had a chance to photograph these magnificent birds let alone have them just behind my house...

It may not be your extender... the contrasty subjects in the bg will draw your cameras AF rather than the much smaller and lower contrast owl, also remember that the AF sensors in the 40D are larger than the indicator in the viewfinder, Agree with Tony in trying to position yourself where the light is best for your subject...

All the best

Thanks Phil. It definitely s the converter - I did a 'brick wall test' and theres a massive sharpness drop from the left to the right, up until about f11. No worries though, I just might have to post some kenyan stuf for a while!

Billy

Gosh that does not sound good... some Kenyan stuff would be good, Often makes a pleasant interlude.

Phil

Sorry it doesn’t work for me, for the reasons you already know. Sorry to hear about your converter.

Hi Billy I agree with Robert's comments