Nice to have the three Steve... for me compositionally I would have preferred the negative space to the right rather than the left mainly because your foreground subject is looking that way and the slope of the perch is more gentle that side....
Posted by Andy Astbury on June 25, 2012 at 6:52 PM
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, that's better
Monsignor Hurst raises a valid point which is now more apparent with the errant bit removed, though on the full rez you might be able to pull the face round a tiny bit with the warp tool.
'Course, you could always have shot it right in the first place
Well
I will never see one of these in the wild so it has to be great stuff,( I cant even afford to go to Aberystwyth !!! )
Trouble is , my eye is drawn to the oof bird on the right.. If you take the oof twig out ( which you have done)- then why not take the oof bird out ???
Silly question ??? But where does it stop ??
JR
Phil good point and there is more to the RHS so will revisit, but no RP.
John, the twig isn't an issue to remove and RP here, or indeed, as a file for whatever use, but the removal of the Snowy Owl is too much, the buck stops with the twig!
Maybe clone out the in focus bird so there are just two and sharpen the shot so they look focussed? I actually like it as it is... and would give a kidney to get it.
Posted by Dawn Monrose on June 26, 2012 at 5:00 AM
Three Snowy Owls! Amazing shot! Comp is fine for me, as the main owl does look like he's looking at the camera, even though his face is turned slightly away.
'would give a kidney to get it.' - Neil it's a pretty good location for these birds and in abundance at the time I go, along with some Harriers too that come ridiculously close. These will be on the target list next year when I go back.
Thanks Dawn, it's all personal preference I guess.
Posted by Andy Astbury on June 26, 2012 at 5:35 AM
It's only the front owls head turn that's creating a slight yearning for more space right.
The other two are placed well for the comp "as is" and removing the OoF owl on the right is totally out of the question from a practicality PoV.
Getting the front owl to appear to be looking at the camera would be the icing on the cake but imo would, in all honesty, only take the image from 99% perfik to 100% perfik - so does it really need to be done????
If I had the full rez I'd have a go with puppet warp, just to tug it round a bit and then correct the right eye, but I'd only try for a couple of minutes just to see if it would work; if it didn't then it's no biggy.
Here's a tip though Steve - when ever I can I always jam my finger on AE/AF lock and shot a frame right or left just to give me that extra image area should I decide I need it for comp in post.
Posted by Kim Connolly on June 26, 2012 at 7:45 AM
Dare I say it - I preferred the original - simply gorgeous.
Posted by David Sewell on June 26, 2012 at 8:03 AM
Second one for me, and I'm more than happy with the composition of that as it is. If I had three snowy owls in the frame I doubt I would be worrying about the third being oof, I would just be enjoying the encounter.
a beauty Steve. I think Andy sums it up when he says the compositional changes would take it from '99% perfik to 100% perfik'! It's a superb image and does look better to me with the grass removed.
Matt
Posted by Andy Shepherd on June 27, 2012 at 10:26 AM
I'd be more than pleased with this, Steve. Looks good as posted to me
I agree with Andy S. I like the first shot best. Best to keep things natural, where poss.
I bet your heart was beating pretty fast when taking these? I know mine would be as they are stunning birds and to get three together - I dont think Ive seen that before.
Fair play Steve
Ian
Posted by Nick Mckeown on June 27, 2012 at 4:28 PM
Second post for me with more off the left hand side to balance it a little better.
Discussion
21 repliesSteve
Subject: Three Snowy Owls in habitat (Bubo scandiacus)
Location: Canada
Camera: Canon MKIV
Lens: 500f/4, plus 1.4x - Gitzo tripod/Wimberley head
Exposure: 1/800s at f/9 ISO200 0 stop compensation
Crop: Slight crop (original capture horizontal)
And for Barry: Subject distance: 14.5m
Love it it.
I do like the shot Stevo - a lot
But I'd have to remove the 'sticky up' stem in the FG mate I really would
Andy, you are putting me to the test, will do, but am slightly hammered on time so it might not be instant.
What a fantastic trio amazing. So much so leave the sticky up stem.
cheers
Steve
Monsignor Hurst raises a valid point which is now more apparent with the errant bit removed, though on the full rez you might be able to pull the face round a tiny bit with the warp tool.
'Course, you could always have shot it right in the first place
I will never see one of these in the wild so it has to be great stuff,( I cant even afford to go to Aberystwyth !!! )
Trouble is , my eye is drawn to the oof bird on the right.. If you take the oof twig out ( which you have done)- then why not take the oof bird out ???
Silly question ??? But where does it stop ??
JR
John, the twig isn't an issue to remove and RP here, or indeed, as a file for whatever use, but the removal of the Snowy Owl is too much, the buck stops with the twig!
Thanks Dawn, it's all personal preference I guess.
The other two are placed well for the comp "as is" and removing the OoF owl on the right is totally out of the question from a practicality PoV.
Getting the front owl to appear to be looking at the camera would be the icing on the cake but imo would, in all honesty, only take the image from 99% perfik to 100% perfik - so does it really need to be done????
If I had the full rez I'd have a go with puppet warp, just to tug it round a bit and then correct the right eye, but I'd only try for a couple of minutes just to see if it would work; if it didn't then it's no biggy.
Here's a tip though Steve - when ever I can I always jam my finger on AE/AF lock and shot a frame right or left just to give me that extra image area should I decide I need it for comp in post.
David
Keith.
Matt
I'd be more than pleased with this, Steve. Looks good as posted to me
Andy...
I bet your heart was beating pretty fast when taking these? I know mine would be as they are stunning birds and to get three together - I dont think Ive seen that before.
Fair play Steve
Ian
Nick.