Ian Chantler  

Canadian Grey Owl by Ian Chantler

September 2023 - Canadian Grey Owl

About the Image(s)

I was invited to show my work at Aughton Village Hall on Bank holiday Monday a beautiful little village in South Lancashire outside the hall a local rescue centre for raptors was showing 3 of their birds and allowing people to photograph them for a donation to help the centre, I loved this Canadian Grey owl and wanted a real close up shot of him he was such a professional every time I raised the camera he looked straight into the lens,I did around 6 shots every one looked pin sharp except for the beak, the gentleman from the centre said he was found with extensive damage to his beak and had a new one made from plastic and resin which is amazing because he would have had to be put down otherwise so I am not sure whether its the bionic beak causing the problem or its down to me.

How I did it

How I did it camera Canon EOS 5D Mark III lens EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM focal length 105mm f4 1/200s ISO 400.
Raw image adjusted in Photoshop CS6 highlights and shadows adjusted, light dodging and burning in certain areas cropped on all sides sharpened using a high pass filter

7 comments posted

Diana Magor   Diana Magor
(Group 32)
He is beautiful. I didn't know you had a show of your photos.
You were taking at F4 so maybe the depth of field wasn't great enough to get eyes and beak all in focus. The feathers under the beak are similarly out of focus, whereas his flat face is all in one plane. Good mono shot.   Posted: 09/05/2023 05:49:56
Susan Quinn
I enjoyed the owl looking right at me. Overall well processed. Suggest the nose looks a soft and you might want to sharpen it. Susan   Posted: 09/05/2023 14:18:46
John Gilkerson   John Gilkerson
Ian, an interesting story and, apart from the beak, an excellent image.
I would have used at least f11 for this shot.   Posted: 09/06/2023 03:02:28
Ella Schreiber   Ella Schreiber
Hi Ian: Congrats on your image show! Wow...here's look'n at you! Which made me look closely at those big eyes and could almost see your reflection taking this image. Who knew? Well, the eyes have it as the saying goes.   Posted: 09/07/2023 06:57:50
Nick Delany   Nick Delany
Ian, Owls make such fine B&W subjects. The depth of field effecting the focus on the beak is a problem. Next time try f/8, use spot focus, focus on the most forward element of the bird (Beak) and let the depth of field deliver the rest of the bird sharp   Posted: 09/08/2023 19:45:57
Peter Clark   Peter Clark
Ian - very little can beat the impact of the eyes of an owl as evidenced by your image. A great shame that the softness of the beak detracts from the overall impact of the image.
I concur with the comments of others re. a smaller aperture and focussing on the beak.   Posted: 09/09/2023 04:17:22
Ed Ries
Ian, the eyes definitely grab you. Powerful close up. As has been stated I think I would like the beak in focus as well.   Posted: 09/17/2023 13:44:10

 

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