Barn Owl

[DavidM61]

Hello

I am looking for constructive critiques of the photograph, as below, in the sense of composition, impact, focus etc. Although its always nice to know if people like a photo or not (and please feel free to say ) what I am really after is constructive feedback on the image so that I can learn and develop (no pun intended !!) my skills.

Taken using a Nikon D300s with a Sigma 150 - 500mm f5 - 6.3 DG OS lens. Taken at 380mm, f8, 1/2000s, ISO 800, 0EV. No flash or other lighting, just natural daylight. Some minor tweaking carried in PSE 9, mainly to levels.

Many thanks in advance for constructive comments.

[Geoff F]

I think my main area of concern, David, would be to reduce the amount of black space at the top. But this may mean having to use a square crop.

Other than that, it looks good. Possibly selectively brighten the darker feathers.

To some extent, it is a pity that the bird is 'looking out of the fame' but I suspect this would become less of a problem after reducing the top space.

[Radu Dinu Cordeanu]

Hello

I am looking for constructive critiques of the photograph, as below, in the sense of composition, impact, focus etc. Although its always nice to know if people like a photo or not (and please feel free to say ) what I am really after is constructive feedback on the image so that I can learn and develop (no pun intended !!) my skills.

Taken using a Nikon D300s with a Sigma 150 - 500mm f5 - 6.3 DG OS lens. Taken at 380mm, f8, 1/2000s, ISO 800, 0EV. No flash or other lighting, just natural daylight. Some minor tweaking carried in PSE 9, mainly to levels.

Many thanks in advance for constructive comments.

In my opinion a photograph must pp his shots.Do not pp the shots is not a glory.So I transform yours into "nef" file with Capture NX2 and then a short pp in PSE with lasso tool on eye and then levels to bright.

Thank you
Radu
PS- I have this lens and I know its "softness" over 300mm.

[DavidM61]

Many thanks Geoff and Radu for the comments and assistance with this, very much appreciated. I like the results Radu with the adjustments that you have made.
Geoff, yes, it does result in square crop, which I feel detracts from the shot. Would I have been better including a bit more of the stump it was on, so that the owl is higher up in the frame/shot, and thus not including as much background?

Many thanks.

[Geoff F]

Yes a bit more at the bottom, and less at the top would have worked well. Alternatively, a slight rotation to 'straighten up' the owl would allow you to crop a fraction off the top and right side.