Parting Gift + repost

Gallery: AvianPosted April 25, 2012162 views6 comments

The past three years I've been attending Bemidji State University in northern Minnesota and finally, graduation is near. Last friday, I had the wonderful opportunity to watch a pair of Barred Owls call to one another and fly gracefully through the forests of the Chippewa National Forest. In all of my duration in Bemidji I never had the opportunity to photograph any species of owls up-close, and am grateful to have had the chance as a last parting gift from the wonderful north woods that surround Bemidji.

Taken near twilight.

Comments and critiques are appreciated!

Thanks,

Ben

5D II - 400mm f/2.8 - 2.0X Teleconverted - HH
ISO 3200 - 1/400th of a second - f/5.6 - cropped to 18 MP

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on April 25, 2012 at 6:39 PM

Sounds like you had a great time. Always a treat to get an owl in the viewfinder. Details looks nice in the owl. Background is interesting. My thoughts on the image are that is has a pretty strong blue/cyan cast to the entire image. Maybe because the light was shadowed (near twilight), but still a cast. I'd also boost the exposure on the bird. I know the eyes are nearly jet black, but if you increase the exposure a LOT, then mask off everything but the eyes, you'll see some light in the eyes that helps the image.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Benjamin Olson on April 25, 2012 at 9:52 PM

Thanks Keith, I appreciate the feedback! Here is a repost, I selectively increased the exposure on the owl and adjust the whole scene for the blue tint excluding the bg sky. I didn't brighten it a ton, but I think it looks much better!

Registered on April 7, 2007, 169 Posts, 725 Comments

Comment posted by John Launstein on April 26, 2012 at 3:07 AM

Ben: I really like this image...and certainly prefer the repost (hands down). Very natural feel and mood here, and the pose he gave you (and you successfully captured) could not be better. Well, I guess I might have preferred seeing both sets of talons as it leaves one wondering if this is a one-legged owl, and the twigs behind his head are unfortunate, but good grief that's beyond picky on such a beautiful bird nicely captured and presented. Love the character in the branch he chose for a perch as well.

My daughter, Jenaya, and I were standing in a forest in northern Wisconsin last march with FIVE Barred Owls calling back and forth around us, and not one would reveal their exact whereabouts to us,

so this is one species that remains on our anticipation list. I'm glad you had this experience and really think you made the most of it. Nicely done.

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 26, 2012 at 9:58 AM

Sweet, Ben. The repost is a great improvement and the original wasn't bad. I like the way the sky and twigs mimic the colors of the owl. Awesome job hand holding that monster lens. Very well done.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Benjamin Olson on April 26, 2012 at 11:03 AM

John,

It's hard to see in this small version, but you can actually see few talons of the hidden foot in a larger version of the image.

Thanks for all feedback guys!

Registered on April 7, 2007, 169 Posts, 725 Comments

Comment posted by Hali Sowle on April 27, 2012 at 4:36 PM

Nice shot Ben, I really like the repost, it made a huge difference, can't believe you handheld that and got such a sharp shot.

Registered on January 9, 2008, 36 Posts, 582 Comments