Dean Ginther
October 2025 - Barred Owl
About the Image(s)
My neighbor called me and directed me to this Barred Owl which was perched in a pine tree between our houses. I walked to within about 30 feet of it and it seemed undisturbed. I think he/she was semi-napping. I took many images on two separate occasions.
As usual, I was using my Sony A7R5, with a 28 - 200 zoom - F5.6, 1/40, ISO 320. And yes I know it was a slow shutter but I wanted to keep the ISO fairly low and this owl was basically a statue, with some occasional slow head turns. I took some other images with a higher shutter speed too.
I cropped (but left the tree trunk for context), sharpened and denoised, and made the background a bit softer and darker.
5 comments posted
I do like how this image keeps the focus on the owl. My eye is drawn to it even though the tree is so big it gives context to the story Posted: 10/02/2025 07:17:16
I like the tree as a frame on the right, but find the light area - sky and branches to the right of the tree to be distracting. I have cropped to keep about half of the tree.
I love the owl. They are not always easy to photograph as they usually sit so high up in the tree. I might have lightened the eyes and added a catchlight in its right eye. Posted: 10/07/2025 18:13:18
I love the owl. They are not always easy to photograph as they usually sit so high up in the tree. I might have lightened the eyes and added a catchlight in its right eye. Posted: 10/07/2025 18:13:18
Hi Dean,
What a great reason to run to your neighbor, and what a good capture!
It is pretty unusual to see this beautiful owl essentially at eye level.
I agree with Mervyn re cropping and would probably add a small catch light in the right eye.
Great f-stop to blur the background, and selection of the other parameters.
Nicely done.
Posted: 10/10/2025 22:04:27
What a great reason to run to your neighbor, and what a good capture!
It is pretty unusual to see this beautiful owl essentially at eye level.
I agree with Mervyn re cropping and would probably add a small catch light in the right eye.
Great f-stop to blur the background, and selection of the other parameters.
Nicely done.
Posted: 10/10/2025 22:04:27
That is an amazing pose you captured. The detail and the expression in the subject is lovely. It really has character. I agree with everyone else with the eyes and the tighter crop but I don't see anything else to change. Great Shot! Posted: 10/14/2025 01:39:56
Nice capture. I agree with the additional crop and some catchlight. I would have also desaturated the greens to appear more realistic. Owls are great! Posted: 10/14/2025 18:14:09