Looks like the light wasn't on your side, but you've done well to get the bird sharp. BG looks a bit noisy just below and to the left of the bird as I guess you have pushed the exposure to bring out detail ?
Doh! Graham, you ruined it! I was going for the 200+ plus record
That's ok. My stuffs are 'experimental' at the best of times. I was trying to illustrate the conditions in which they hunt, most often after sundown. I have plenty of evening or even afternoon lit shots. ISO800 is ok, I've shot at 6400
It is certainly atmospheric Des and I would imagine this is an image best viewed larger to gain maximum impact. I wish we had some of these around here.
Posted by Geoffrey Baker on December 5, 2010 at 10:14 AM
Light could've been better but the Owl is perfectly placed in the frame
Well done.
Geoff.
Posted by Roy Bailey on December 5, 2010 at 10:46 AM
Like this, it is dark but thats fine with me, got that touch of purple you often get in that situation.Bird is well placed in the frame,given the size of the bird you have got enough detail to pull it off.
Posted by Andrew Mason on December 5, 2010 at 11:07 AM
Des, must admit that your comments strike a cord.
At the moment, most of the images we see are of perfect subjects in perfect light. Subject always placed on a third, looking or flying into the image. Perfect perch with a perfect background. But, for example, most of the time Barn Owls hunt at night not in daylight round Windmills.
All of this is starting to look a little homogenus and, dare I say it, boring. Nature is 99% not like this, it rains, it snows, the light is bad, the animals do not sit in perfect light on perfect perches.
With the advances in technology we should all be looking at doing something different in addition to the plain vanilla. When it gets dark, instead of packing up, whack up the ISO and try it at 102,400! Yes it will be grainy but the images will accurately reflect what is going on and they will be different.
I'm as guilty as most but recently posted some high ISO images taken at Karen's Wood but no one picked up on the really high ISO point.
Andrew
Posted by Barry Southon on December 5, 2010 at 11:36 AM
Des
Congratulations for moving outside the normal confines Andrew makes very valid points. The challenge of poor light weather conditions and other factors add to the learning curve for me anyway. Thanks for sharing the information.
Posted by Shaun Simpson on December 5, 2010 at 11:37 AM
I like this shot it shows nature as it is and as it should be, true we all like to take the super detailed super fine shots that show every scrap of detail but sometimes it is nice to just look at a good picture, nice one
Thanks all for your feedbacks, I'm glad that at least some of you enjoy this. Believe it or not I have darker ones that I really like. I think for me a picture (nowadays) is more about atmosphere and emotions. Doesn't mean I don't enjoy a nice portrait though. Far from it. It's just that sometimes it's nice to tell a little story too.
Rgds,
Des
Posted by Guy Rogers on December 5, 2010 at 1:43 PM
Hello Des.
Love the composition and I as worked beautifully showing the owl hunting after sunset.
Posted by Mark Davies on December 5, 2010 at 1:52 PM
that'll do.
Posted by Scott Tilley on December 5, 2010 at 4:58 PM
Hi Des, I really like this one. It almost has a painted feel which I really like.
Discussion
13 repliesThanks for looking.
Regards,
Des
Looks like the light wasn't on your side, but you've done well to get the bird sharp. BG looks a bit noisy just below and to the left of the bird as I guess you have pushed the exposure to bring out detail ?
TFS
That's ok. My stuffs are 'experimental' at the best of times. I was trying to illustrate the conditions in which they hunt, most often after sundown. I have plenty of evening or even afternoon lit shots. ISO800 is ok, I've shot at 6400
Thanks for commenting though.
Des
Phil.
Well done.
Geoff.
At the moment, most of the images we see are of perfect subjects in perfect light. Subject always placed on a third, looking or flying into the image. Perfect perch with a perfect background. But, for example, most of the time Barn Owls hunt at night not in daylight round Windmills.
All of this is starting to look a little homogenus and, dare I say it, boring. Nature is 99% not like this, it rains, it snows, the light is bad, the animals do not sit in perfect light on perfect perches.
With the advances in technology we should all be looking at doing something different in addition to the plain vanilla. When it gets dark, instead of packing up, whack up the ISO and try it at 102,400! Yes it will be grainy but the images will accurately reflect what is going on and they will be different.
I'm as guilty as most but recently posted some high ISO images taken at Karen's Wood but no one picked up on the really high ISO point.
Andrew
Congratulations for moving outside the normal confines Andrew makes very valid points. The challenge of poor light weather conditions and other factors add to the learning curve for me anyway. Thanks for sharing the information.
Rgds,
Des
Love the composition and I as worked beautifully showing the owl hunting after sunset.
that'll do.
Scott