Short Eared Owl (love it or hate it)

Well everyone might hate this, but thought I would give it a go, this was where the owl was hunting in and out of these tall thin trees, so thought I would try something different and work with the habitat, its going to be one of those shots, like it, hate it

Canon 1DMK4, Canon 500f4L + 1.4 convertor, ISO 800, f8, 1/400

Not too sure on this . Can I sit on the fence?
The trees are a major eye pull for me with the depth to the image being almost an optical illusion. Would have liked to have seen the right and centre tree a little softer and perhaps a lower aperture may have achieved this. You're certainly putting the effort in .

Love it! Your best shot posted here to date. Fantastic light effect on the trunks - looks like a painting. The bird's intent look seals the deal.

Cheers,
Chris

Well, I think it's a very striking image, and certainly had me looking at it for a while!

So, in that sense, it's a success, no?

It's a great wildlife image I think.

Well, I like it, it's different and unique
Well captured.

Geoff.

Can't make up my mind Karen but it's certainly different.
Keith.

Definitely a very unusual shot, seems a little surreal to me, it's uniqueness makes it special. What happens if you crop it to landscape shape? You see that makes sense for the owl which is the main subject, otherwise its a portrait shape image which says its about the vertical trees?

Karen, I've looked at this image several times now. I really like the shallow perspective through the trees which gives a 3d perspective. However, I'm not sure that the portrait format quite works (though I am still undecided on this) and perhaps would have preferred it in landscape. What you have also done is an excellent job on locking focus on the shortie as it flies through the trees - this is no easy job. I would keep working on this. Andrew

I agree with Andrew, keep working on this. At the moment I am not quite sure about the overall effect, but I still think it is most of the way there to being a great shot. For me, it will always work better in portrait than landscape, but the bird itself probably needs to be a little sharper. I know that is not an easy thing to achieve given the lighting, the fact the bird is moving, and there are all those trunks in the way! Worth persevering with though.

David

The owl looks quite soft but I have to say I really like this images. It's different and creative. Looks like a painting. Love it.

Edwin

I like it Karen. It is unusual, it made me stop and look twice. The snw/frost/light on the sides of the trees give it an almost ethereal effect. I can see what others are saying regarding the format and I think it could work as a landscape but I still prefer this original. I agree with David that the owl could be a touch sharper.
Different and something I would like to have taken.

i am going to join mark on the fence . I cannot make my mind up. have come back and had a few looks. i really like seeing owls in there enviroment, it works well.
its a shame there are so many trees behind the owl.


Mark.G

Well thank you for taking the time to look and give me your opinions, I can see what you mean about the tree at the back of the owl, would have been better without that, the owl may not be to sharp but was never going to be really or have that much detail, I chose the portrait format because it suited the long thin trees better, I used a setting on the mk4 that helped me photographing them through the trees so the focus stays on the bird better which did help, the trees in this location can be a pain for us toggers who like our good backgrounds,so its good to try something different so when I go again I will be trying this again and see if I do any better, I do have another to post later with the trees in the background but they are more subtle, so will see what everyone thinks about that one.Once again thanks for your input I appreciate it

I think I will have to sit with Mark and Mark
I agree with Jules about a shift in position and a bit of luck though....

Oscar

Well done for trying something different Karen. You will get there in the end with your perseverence

unique + memorable = successful image

Notwithstanding the technical challenge of tracking the bird in this setting, I think the owl could be sharper but who cares when the creativity is as good as it is here? There's a guide to MkIV custom functions on my site if you find yourself struggling with that sort of thing, Karen - there's another good one on a site by a chap called Les Zigurski, too.

I commented on this earlier in work (on a really crap monitor). Now I'm at home I can say I like it even more.

I like that ,a sharper bird may not work here unless the whole scene was sharper aswell ,just my thoughts really good stuff

Simon

Thanks guys and John will take a look at that, thank you, am doing quite well with the functions but am always eager to be learning more

Love it! Might want to crop it horizontal with just the trees and the Owl.

greetings,

Jeroen Stel

Hi Karen it reminds me of my favorite Barn Owl shots (one of Nigel Blakes), although not sure about the trees. In representation it looks quite arty!

Ian

I kind of love it, just screams "different!".

I really like this Karen! Those trees are great and I think the portrait format and composition works very well. Would prefer the owl to be a bit sharper, but other than that, I think its superb.

Superb image Karen

For me, this is by far your best shot to date. Love it.

Regards,

Des