Flexing muscles - BIF!!

Gallery: AvianPosted February 17, 2015290 views12 comments

Personally this one I just kept in the archive purely down to the size of subject in frame, it's just too BIG IMHO (Big in Frame), it really needed to have been shot in landscape and without the 1.4 with more space ALL around, the 200-400f/4 would have been the preferred choice of lens, but this is always with hindsight. This is the middle chick who was just starting to understand the concept of wings and what they can do, caught just in mid flex. Slight positioned more to the right, this is FF on the width, but have cropped more off both top & bottom in line with the previous posting, although I decided to use a square format this time, IMHO it just fitted the bill???

Thanks for either viewing or commenting on the previous image.

Steve

Subject: Little owlet (Athene noctua) flexing wings/fledging, along an old log, side on profile
Location: UK
Camera: Canon 1DX
Lens: 500f/4 with 1.4
Exposure: 1/500s at f/9 ISO1250
Original format: Portrait, crop from the top/bottom, small bird poop removed!!!
Subject distance: 7.7m

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on February 17, 2015 at 10:52 AM

Hey Steve,
The square format was an excellent choice for this image and IMO you have plenty of room all the way around. It is obvious from the pose, this little guy is not going anywhere. Wonderful detail, BG and perch with ideal timing, just a Picture Perfect Composition.
Well done . . .

Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on February 17, 2015 at 10:57 AM

Thanks Mike, sometimes you have a 'sanity' check hence the post, just really not sure about it, so many thanks, lets see what others think.

Steve

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Thompson on February 17, 2015 at 11:33 AM

Steve, I agree with mike. I think there is enough room all around too and the feather detail is great in this image. Background is perfect, no problem with the comp. Sweet image!

Registered on August 7, 2014, 125 Posts, 2319 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on February 17, 2015 at 11:37 AM

Love it. The format works for me. You could add canvass if you wanted to. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on February 17, 2015 at 1:49 PM

I like this as posted Steve, for the reasons already mentioned. Nice

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by John Launstein on February 17, 2015 at 4:03 PM

Steve - Personally I think this is an outstanding image exactly as posted. I'm not arguing with your feelings (regret) for wanting a bit more room, but if you separate yourself from that sentiment, this is a very strong--powerful even--image as presented. 1:1 aspect works for me here as well. This one's top shelf in my books.

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

Comment posted by Josiah Launstein on February 17, 2015 at 4:19 PM

This picture is so amazing! The feather detail is really nice, and the talons are so cool! It's really cool how you can see his eye and the head has nice detail. I like the background, too!

Registered on January 26, 2013, 52 Posts, 126 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on February 17, 2015 at 5:18 PM

Hi John, your reply has really hit home, as we often live, breath and cherish our images, but at times, we question, shed doubt, or even challenge our own images which I think is good and also very positive. I appreciate the words as you can often reflect on an image, and at times either see more in an image than others and vise versa.

Some very telling words, thank you.

Steve

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on February 17, 2015 at 7:06 PM

Looks pretty good Steve

. I like the squared up format and there's enough room around the owl too. The lighting is awesome and it picked up the feather details and soft shadows very well. The pose is pretty cool so I think you have everything covered.........................Jim

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

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on February 17, 2015 at 8:24 PM

Can't think of a thing to say that hasn't already been said. Top notch!

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on February 18, 2015 at 9:27 PM

Really like the narrow depth of field. Focuses in so well on the owl. Colors and detail are great.

Ray

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on February 19, 2015 at 7:57 PM

I really like the intimate feel of this one Steve. I feel like I am right there on the branch with him. I understand your self assessment on the shot. but, I also like your decision to move this to a square crop. It really works here and since the bird is large in the frame and the POV on the branch....like I said, I think it actually adds a little more intimate feel. I am not sure you would have had that same feel without the 1.4 in landscape. So don't beat yourself up...it's a very nice image.

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