Barn Owl (captive)


Posted by Cliff Beittel on Fri Dec 19, 2003 4:28 pm

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© 2003 Cliff Beittel, all rights reserved. For discussion only, not to be downloaded for any purpose.

Another image from the raptor shoot I attended in October. Hope having so much barn is OK in the Birds forum--the subject is the bird. Barn Owls commonly nest in manmade structures, including barns, belfries, nest boxes, duck and deer blinds, and abandoned mines. Sunrise, EOS-3, 400 DO, 1/60, f8 (spot reading from window frame), flash at -2/3 (CF 14.0), Provia at 200 and pushed one stop, close to full frame, posted a couple hours early as I must be out tonight.
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by moose henderson on Fri Dec 19, 2003 4:43 pm
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like the environmental shot nature of this but the owl appears to be looking to the right and not much margin of photo on the right, nevertheless, nice job.
 

by Abe Borker on Fri Dec 19, 2003 4:48 pm
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If you have a shot of him looking left I think it might be a stronger copostition as John mentioned. Regardless great tones and a powerful enviormental shot.
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by Paul Skoczylas on Fri Dec 19, 2003 4:58 pm
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I'll respectfully disagree with the previous posters. :)

I think it works great as is. The window is as much part of the subject as the owl. With the owl looking out, it evokes the imagination--what is he looking at? It does help that its body is pointing into the photo.

I think this is a fantastic image, and I wouldn't change a thing!

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by Alan Murphy on Fri Dec 19, 2003 4:59 pm
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Cliff, I love this shot. Being a "perch" man, this is just a great looking barn. I think the Owl looking right balances the shot nicely.
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by Sandy Mossberg on Fri Dec 19, 2003 5:05 pm
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Very nice, Cliff. The tones of the wood are complementary to those of the owl. Does the window contain glass?
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by RichardMittleman/Gon2Foto on Fri Dec 19, 2003 5:14 pm
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Wonderful, unusual composition. Great color and texture of the wood which matches the owl perfectly.
Any reason that you didn't level the window?
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by Greg Downing on Fri Dec 19, 2003 5:37 pm
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Cliff, before reading other's comments this is my initial reaction to the image:

The composition works extremely well here; had the barn side been included it would likely be a huge distraction, particularly because it appears to be sunlit. The inclusion of the window makes the shot so much more interesting to look at. This is a clear example of bending the rules to fit the vision. The rule of thirds is used here (loosely), but the rule of having the bird look into the frame is broken, and this adds to the photo on many levels, IMHO.

I wouldn't change a thing! Just fantastic.
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by Jill on Fri Dec 19, 2003 5:50 pm
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Intriguing shot, Cliff !! Phenomenal in all respects !!! I love it !!!
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by Chas on Fri Dec 19, 2003 6:25 pm
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Cliff, this is wonderful. The comp works for me, with the owl as is drawing and holding my attention. I am undecided on the amount of barn on the rightside, but as taken it does effectively balance the image and bird particularly well.

Thanks for sharing, and have a wonderful Holiday Season,

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by Bill Whala on Fri Dec 19, 2003 7:36 pm
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Cliff,

This is absolutely KILLER. I love everything about it. The owl looking out of the frame, the out of kilter window frame. It all works - big time!!!
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by AlexC on Fri Dec 19, 2003 10:31 pm
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Image deleted!!!
Sorry, I just read about your caveat regarding the image!!!
My apologies!!!



The image is loaded with goodies, Marvelous light and a wonderful bird, what bothers me the most is the many angles on the window and frame, it gets sort of contorted in my mind!!, I just had to play with it!!
This is something I like a little better composition wise, but that is just me!!
Hope you don't mind !!!
Still wonderful as is!!!
8)
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by Brian L. Zwiebel on Sat Dec 20, 2003 12:19 am
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Cliff,

I love this one. As presented it gives the impression of the bird peaking from around the corner. I wouldn't change the framing a bit.

I am curious to why the seemingly heavy hand with the flash (not evident in the image). I presume the bird was somewhat shaded being back in the barn.

Way to go!

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by LHays on Sat Dec 20, 2003 4:55 am
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Cliff
When I opened this...it sure isn't what I expected. This is stunning. I could look at this one all day. The barn setting is incredible. I always thought your penguin shots were my favorites but this one just climbed to the top.
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by Mike Wilson on Sat Dec 20, 2003 5:12 am
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This one sure tells a story. I like the warm colors and pose of the owl. Nice one.
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by Cliff Beittel on Sat Dec 20, 2003 7:06 am
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Thanks, everyone, for your comments. Sandy, no glass--don't think there was a single pane in the whole building, and it would have ruined the shot in a whole lot of ways. Richard, not sure about the leveling. I have a Gitzo base and normally level before shooting anything. Could have forgotten, but also the barn is old, probably not level. And, I wasn't square to the window, but off to the right. I have rolls and rolls of variations, but this was one of my favorites. I see a lot of tilted barns here in PA (they eventually fall over!), and I like the tension. Alex, there was no need to delete your cropped version--the harsh words aren't directed at folks here--though I think it lost tension versus the original. Brian, by heavy hand I assume you mean -2/3. Note, though, it's -2/3 at Custom Function 14.0, which means the flash is itself reducing output. From a quick test, it seems -2/3 (CF 14.0) is equivalent to -1 2/3 (CF 14.1). Personally, I think when someone states flash settings without specifying CF setting, they are leaving you in the dark. :wink:
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by Harvey Edelman on Sat Dec 20, 2003 8:16 am
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Everything has been said. nice shot.
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by Laura Stiefel on Sat Dec 20, 2003 10:32 am
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It's all pretty much been said but I too love this one just as it is. I think this is fantastic. The inclusion of the barn is just perfect and the light is beautiful. There isn't a thing I would want to change in this photo. :)
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by E.J. Peiker on Sat Dec 20, 2003 11:56 am
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Absolutely love it - perhaps the best BO shot I've seen.
 

by Cliff Beittel on Sat Dec 20, 2003 12:18 pm
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E.J. Peiker wrote:. . . perhaps the best BO shot I've seen. . . .
EJ, Thanks, but you must not have seen the one years ago (don't remember the photographer) of a Barn Owl flying out a window like this one! It deservedly made the cover and/or Center Portrait in BW, many calendars, etc.
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