Falconing.

Taken on the top of a mountain with a fair bit of wind; a nice

overcast day in late afternoon, but I was struggling to get enough

exposure and enough dof without blurring -- this was +2 to the meter,

about a 3.5/125. Should I have stopped down one more?

I would have cropped a tad more off the top, but an otherwise excellent picture.

About as good as you could do with the available conditions. A deeper dof to get more details on the owl would have been perfect, but that would mean a slower shutter speed, and motion-blur. IMO, the top of the photo is not interesting, perhaps a lower camera angle to get more of the beautiful little girl in the frame. I rate this 6/6. Best regards -Jim.

First, a beautiful picture, Sam. You captured the moment. The exposure looks dead on to me - the girl's face, hair and clothing looks perfect and there is good detail in the owl's wings. Perhaps the edge of the owl's nose (?) could use a slight buring.

 

The only other thing I can think of would to have used just a touch of fill flash to put a catch light in both the girl's and the owl's eyes. As it is it's and easy 6/6.

 

Yes, you could crop at the top, but I think the expanse of sky goes well with the owl's semi-spread wings.

Lovely :) Very good DOF - I like it

Fine shot Congratulations...

Great shot! =) Love her expression and that bird is just adoring!! =) Great DOF 6/6

I love the delighted look on her face and the colors are very good. I want that bird!!!!!

The bird's name is Sunshine, and she is a barn owl in the possession of the people who run the "birds of prey" show and the falconing classes at Mont Tremblant in Quebec. They'd be happy to show her to any visitors, but I don't think they'll let you have her!

The blured DOF accentuate the good exposure of the girl and the bird ( aside from its " nose"), even so a very nice image Sam. Pnina

first thought was too much sky - 2nd thought - I like it, gives the bird room to spread those wings, guess that leaves me undecided. I love this though, the exposure is good and the moment is lovely.

Wonderful shot !!!!

What is this? What moment!

I love the expression, and the wind moving her hairs. To improve, try to crop in a square composition.

Judging from the long list of comments, I'm no doubt in agreement with at least someone up there! This is just a cool shot. It's the best word for it...cool! One nit might be a tighter crop, but the moment speaks for itself anyway you cut it! 6/7

 

db

~

Thanks, all.

 

I think this crop works better in print than on the screen, since on the screen you immediately see the emptiness on top while in the print you focus quickly on her face and the bird and thirdly her hand, and the background is just that.

 

I heartily recommend taking your kids falconing if you ever get the chance. It's a great thing!

Hi, Sam. Probably my favorite picture in this folder. I like her expression very much. Wish the bird were as sharp as she is. I'd crop a little at the bottom and a lot more at top in order to fit this into a tight square, and