Mark McKinney
April 2025 - Irish Barn Owl
About the Image(s)
Well, I titled this "Irish Barn Owl". It just returned me from a "judging". The name of this photo is now "Beat Up Owl".
Thew judges fell it is overexposed and lacks detail. These owls are mostly white with a little bit of light brown on the wings.
I thought this phot was pretty good, especially as to the exposure. Pentax K1 full frame, 50 mm f 1.4 lens. 1/60th sec, f 6.3,
ISO 800. Photo taken under a thick tree canopy.
5 comments posted
Hi Mark,
I've had photos in many competitions. You have to take the comments with a grain of salt. If that judge looked at a histogram of this image (which I did), it would be obvious that the image is perfectly exposed. Further, zooming in shows detail in the feathers that is quite nice. The eyes are amazing
In fact this image looks so good that at first I thought it was a stuffed or fake owl. So great job. I like it.
If your club is like mine, a losing image can get resubmitted again, under another judge. Don't give up. Posted: 04/16/2025 00:34:49
I've had photos in many competitions. You have to take the comments with a grain of salt. If that judge looked at a histogram of this image (which I did), it would be obvious that the image is perfectly exposed. Further, zooming in shows detail in the feathers that is quite nice. The eyes are amazing
In fact this image looks so good that at first I thought it was a stuffed or fake owl. So great job. I like it.
If your club is like mine, a losing image can get resubmitted again, under another judge. Don't give up. Posted: 04/16/2025 00:34:49
Thank you. This was a PSA Interclub Competition. Posted: 04/16/2025 21:54:18
Well Mark, I don't know who judged this image, but I feel your exposure is spot on. I can see nice detail on the fact, head, wings and chest. Nothing looks overexposed or blown out. You have a nice muted background and the composition is just fine. I really like how they eyes (tack sharp, by the way) seem to follow me as I move. I do wish you had a bit more depth of field to get the legs sharper, but that is a minor issue. Was there something going on with its right claw?
I think you should re-submit, if possible, to get other PSA judges opinions. Posted: 04/16/2025 22:30:45
I think you should re-submit, if possible, to get other PSA judges opinions. Posted: 04/16/2025 22:30:45
Agree with above. I zoom in and can make out the feathers and as stated by Bruce and Bunny's analysis, nothing seems blown. Again the eyes are tack sharp. It looks tagged and if so, I wonder why ? One more thing, does it hoot with an Irish brogue ? I agree with Bruce and Bunny. Judges have different opinions and areas of interest. Resubmit seems like a plan. Posted: 04/17/2025 18:28:44
Was the judge using a calibrated monitor or projection system? Were you at the judging or did this person judge on their own computer at home? Posted: 04/20/2025 20:49:51