Barn Owl over oilseed rape (+re-post & photo of hide setup)

This is an image I'd been planning for some time and for which I built a small tower hide to enable me to watch/photograph the Owls flying above the rape crop as they left and returned to their nest site on their evening/early morning hunting forays.
I like the combination/bands of colour in this pano format and I've deliberately left the OOF rape flowers in the foreground and, for the large print version, have actually added some noise as I believe this gives the full-sized version an impressionistic feel.
Printed large it's one of those atmospheric images best viewed from a few metres away rather than upclose.
Clearly not everyone will agree with my own thoughts but, as ever,
c&c most welcome.

Taken with Canon EOS30D and Canon EF70-200 L IS f/2.8 lens + 1.4TC at 280mm focal length, f/4, ISO200, 1/1250th sec.

Your end result has certainly made all your hard work worthwhile. A very pleasing image with everything looking correct in the frame, the atmoshere, set up, colours, etc. I can certainly image how a large print brings out the best in this image and rewards your time spent setting up a tower hide.

Nigel
www.nigelspencer.co.uk

Hi Jeff,

Nice shot. This is a fresh approach to Barn Owls however I feel the middle layer is a bit distracting. You'll know yourself weather that is something that can or can't be helped. It maight also just be the light of the land but I would rotate the image clockwise by a few degress to straighten things slightly. It works just now because the owl's belly is night and 'flat'.

Glad to hear a planned image comes to fruition.

Chris

Personally I don't think that any rotation is needed, Jeff. To me the skyline looks natural and I would leave it as it is. The one thing I would do is to crop it slightly differently so that the owl was slightly lower down within the frame than it is at present, in other words I would place it on a third.


David

Hi Jeff,

Great image

The image really works for me as I like the graduation of the blue sky to grey blue hills then down to the ytellow of the oilseed rape.

I would like to echo the feelings about the crop and placing on the thirds this may enhance an already very nice image.

Hats off to you for the work and effort put in to building your hide.

Great stuff!
Shaun

a lovely image the yellow is gorgeous, I like it very much

I appreciate and empathise with the work that has gone into getting this image: my kind of project . I like the image very much, but I hope you also managed to get some shots of an in-coming bird in a similar position on the left hand side of the frame. A well worked project.

I like the feel of this,the bands of colour do make it a little different.The head of the owl looks to be in shadow and I wonder whether lightening the face may improve it slightly.Still a very good image Jeff.

Phil.

A very nice, colourfull image, showing the Owl doing what it does best. Great stuff!
Paul.

Great Job Jeff, well done no nits from me , love it just as it is
Bronia

Love it well done

Beautiful image. I like it a lot. Well done.

a lovely image Jeff, the colours are great. I think the image would be even stronger without the middle band of land/trees as the simplicity of the yellow against the blue would be very striking, but this may not be possible. Either way, a very attractive image.

Matt

Hi Jeff the image really works for me a fine shot.

Phil.

Great shot Jeff - great composition with fine colours. Do you have a picture of the hide setup?

Thanks

Oscar

Thank you everyone for your kind and encouraging comments and observations - all very much appreciated
It's always interesting how varied people's views can be on any given image - and wouldn't life be boring if we all thought the same!
In response to some of the points raised -
1. I note that Chris finds "...the middle layer is a bit distracting..." and that Matt believes the image "...may be even stronger without the middle band of land/trees...". This is perfectly fair comment but for me the middle band of land/trees is an important element in the image and provides a nice transition between the blue of the sky and the yellow of the crop. However and taking these comments on board, I have done (and am attaching) a rather crudely edited version without that middle band. Personally I think that rather than enhancing the original image the removal of the middle band weakens it considerably but I'd be interested to hear what others (especially Chris & Matt) think
2. I note that Chris also suggests a little rotation "...to straighten things slightly..." but the fact is that both the field and the skyline are on a gentle slope and, as David says, "...the skyline looks natural..." (that's because it is) and given that the Owl is flying horizontally I agree with David that no rotation is needed, but thanks for your input Chris
3. The point about placing the Owl on a third is noted - it is slightly off at present so thanks for that David & Shaun
4. And yes Phil, the head of the bird is in shadow so that a little lightening there may improve it when viewed close-up - thanks
Finally, yes Oscar I do have a picture of the hide setup which I'll post separately immediately after this post
Thanks again for all the feedback to date

Especially for Oscar (and anyone else who's interested) - here's the photo of the mini-tower hide setup
It's just a couple of builder's trestles staked to the ground and with boards across the top. The hide itself is made of some garden centre windbreak netting with a camo net thrown over. It worked a treat

Hi Jeff, I've only just seen your repost. On balance I think I agreee with you - the middle layer does actually add interest so I do prefer the original! Your hide looks great, I look forward to more images from it.

Matt

Cheers Matt The hide has since been dismantled and the upper part re-located near to a Kestrels' nest - I'll be posting some shots from that in due course

Jeff