Sycamore Sentry

Gallery: AvianPosted December 15, 2014422 views17 comments

HI,

This is an Eastern Screech Owl (rufous morph) roosting in an old Sycamore tree cavity near my home last week. I photographed it from a car window with a beanbag mount on a very busy road. It was scary and I don't know if I want to do it again!

Canon EOS 5DMIII
Canon 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4x III

ISO 1600 | f/5.6 | 1/250s

I have other shots where he's looking at me but I liked this one. Cropped from horizontal to vertical for composition. 75% of original. I did some minor sharpening of the face.

I am wondering what you think of the composition,

Thank you, Ashleigh

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on December 15, 2014 at 7:16 PM

Cool shot, Ashleigh. The colors of the sycamore tree is a nice compliment to the bird's colors, and the comp works well for me.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on December 15, 2014 at 8:28 PM

Love everything about this. Well done.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Alberto Patiño on December 15, 2014 at 11:54 PM

Beautiful detail and soft colors - I agree that the texture of the sycamore's bark is a perfect frame !

Registered on December 2, 2014, 278 Posts, 1736 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on December 16, 2014 at 2:37 AM

Ashleigh,
What a wonderful perch you have here, the owl looks very snug, I would like to see others with perhaps a little more eye if you have them

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on December 16, 2014 at 5:09 AM

I think this is very cool. The soft color palette of the plumage and mottled tree bark are really wonderful. Plus, I'm jealous, as I've never photographed a screech owl.

I do wonder if a crop off the bottom might be helpful. The owl is currently positioned in the vertical center of the frame, but with the curving contour of the overhanging trunk I kinda think it would be better in the lower third, so the eye could travel upward from the subject.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by keith mitchell on December 16, 2014 at 8:42 AM

A view of your Owl from the side with it's half asleep pose works for me in fact it's right up my street, just the thing I like, Owl blends beautifully with that nice bark, excellent piece of work.

Keith.

Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on December 16, 2014 at 4:40 PM

Very nice shot, Ashleigh.
Congrats
D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on December 16, 2014 at 5:26 PM

Another winner you have here Ashleigh

It's amazing this beautiful owl puts up with such a noisy and dangerous place to live. A great pose by the owl with that open eye. But, I love the shape and texture of the tree, it tips this one over the top for me.

A wonderful composition!

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on December 16, 2014 at 7:29 PM

Hi,

Nice diagonal comp with an ideal soft background. The screechie is framed nicely by the hole in the tree trunk

.......................Jim

Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments

Comment posted by Ashleigh Scully on December 16, 2014 at 10:19 PM

Thank you everyone! Max I will try that crop this week it is a good idea. Goodnight

Registered on November 4, 2013, 36 Posts, 210 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on December 17, 2014 at 7:43 PM

I like the composition a lot Ashleigh, but think it would be an even stronger image if you got a look toward the viewer...not sure he/she gave you one or not in the series you took of it. As far as the crop, I actually prefer the one you posted. The owl is in the right third and his head/eye (which is what most all viewers will focus on first) in the top third. So my opinion is that it works perfect. Nice work and great find....have still never seen a Screech.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on December 21, 2014 at 7:16 PM

The composition is wonderful, I really love the textures and colors. Excellent work!

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on December 21, 2014 at 9:16 PM

Ashleigh,
Clearly being scared taking this shot from a car on a busy road is a challenge, but this shot is worth it. Congratulations on catching a very sweet image. I like the composition and the bump in the tree is very interesting. Keep up the good work.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on January 9, 2015 at 8:16 PM

What a cool shot - I love the texture and colors on the tree and the bird is just beautiful

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Ashleigh Scully on January 11, 2015 at 9:02 PM

Thank you everyone for the Weekly Pick!!!!

Registered on November 4, 2013, 36 Posts, 210 Comments

Comment posted by Jason Jablonski on January 14, 2015 at 12:52 AM

What an awesome capture!! Love the crop and everything about this photo! Nice work Ashleigh!! Keep it up!!!

Registered on March 1, 2014, 24 Posts, 43 Comments

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on January 19, 2015 at 12:40 AM

Congrats on the WP, Ashleigh! I really like this one. It's not often you get to photograph an owl with a nice, clean background!

Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments