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In To My Soul
1st PlaceIn To My Soul
SaraR


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Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Symmetry II (Basic Editing)
Collection: Challenge entries
Camera: Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT
Lens: Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS
Location: Kirby Wiske, North Yorkshire
Date: Apr 28, 2007
Aperture: f5.6
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/100th
Galleries: Nature, Animals
Date Uploaded: Apr 29, 2007

 Wow, Gosh, Yay!!!!! Thank You! Its 5.15 in the morning here in York, and I don't think I shall be going back to sleep...

When the challenge was anounced I knew exactly what I wanted. This was taken at a Falconry Centre close to York, as was my Tryptych entry, and I used my new 100-400mm lens. Its my baby, and I almost love it more than I do my cat....

This is going to be an exciting day for me as it is the awards evening at York Photographic Society, of which I am a member, and I get a trophy for Best Annual Print, a Rose Bowl for best photo of York and it's peopleand certificates for a Highly Commended and Second Place in the Small Prints Competition (the 2nd was for my other blue, the 12 Days entry - perhaps I shall have to enter this one in next years comp...)

I have so much to learn; every day I am awed by photographs on this site. I still haven't a clue with any lighting other than natural light, and know I have got to master this before I can really develop any more - I have a bit of a block in understanding, so if anyone knows of any books or guides that even the dimmest person can understand, let me know! The same goes for landscapes, which I love trying to take, but just can;t crack....

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 249
Avg (all users): 7.2270
Avg (commenters): 8.0000
Avg (participants): 6.9219
Avg (non-participants): 7.4242
Views since voting: 8168
Views during voting: 257
Votes: 163
Comments: 54
Favorites: 26 (view)

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AuthorThread
 09/14/2014 02:56:25 PM
WOW!! This is perfection at its finest. The eyes are so expressive and perfect focal point to such a divine creature. Excellent work once again!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/11/2014 04:29:45 PM
Talk about "In your face". Great closeup.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/12/2011 11:18:26 AM
Stunning, great symmetry and focus. I love the triangle that is created by the owl's eyes and beak...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/14/2008 08:42:34 AM
Hi Sara,

Great shot. I recently replaced an old Canon 70-300 (non IS) to the 100-400 f4 and am now finding myself really missing the 70-100mm focal lengths. Did yours replace a similar lens? (looks like it from your profile) - if so, how are you handling the missing lengths? (do you take out the old lens?)

N
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/04/2007 08:13:30 AM
this is a great shot. The only beef I have with it is that the focus is in between the eyes and not on the eyes themselves. i don't know what conditions you were shooting so that might have been very hard to do. I would have also maybe played with contrast or curves just to darken the beak and the black feather in each bottom corner. But like I said, great capture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/11/2007 03:44:29 PM
I think this is the best picture of a Great Horned Owl I have ever seen. We used to own one, she was just a tiny one though, a baby. She was getting too big, so she is now at a zoo. Awesome photo though!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/15/2007 01:41:01 PM
what expression,what definition,good good shot
congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/13/2007 04:13:55 PM
What an outstanding addition to the DPC archives. A deeply penetrating capture with great detail and arresting color. Congratulations on this highly deserved BLUE.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/12/2007 05:58:26 PM
Congratulations on the Blue with this beautifully balanced shot! Great subject well captured! Fantastic work!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/11/2007 09:26:36 PM
perfect! Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/11/2007 05:57:08 PM
nice pic!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/10/2007 04:12:40 PM
Congrats on a fine picture! Great sharpness and clarity.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/10/2007 01:42:31 PM
MY FAV BIRD
LOVE IT
Congratulations Sara!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/10/2007 08:48:37 AM
Gripping gaze...congratulations on winning the blue ribbon with this beauty!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/10/2007 02:08:00 AM
What a beautiful shot - lovely rich color, and the 'expression'. Glad I am not a mouse!

You are listed as having the 350D, and this could be the problem with landscapes. You didnt say what exactly was the problem, but I find the same - to me, there is not enough detail at 8 megapix to show the fine detail, but the sensor in this camera is very sharp with individual pixels.

I find the best thing is to set the film speed to 100, use a tripod, set the camera to RAW setting, use manual settings at about f11, colour saturation to high settings, and autofocus on something about halfway into the picture. If you have a choice of lenses, use your sharpest one if wide angle enough, and take several of each scene or view.

If you use the Canon software, set sharpness to about the threequarter setting, and if you want higher colour just dial it in. Then, in Photoshop, if you want, your can use Unsharp filter to crisp it more, and even then, you can use the sharpen filter to get it at maximum crispness.

You will then get the sharpest, richest shots you can on the camera!

It's a bit hard to move the scenery, but if you can move around, then take several of the scene, and dump the ones you don't like.

There is no substitute for taking more shots, and the rule of thirds is often very useful, where points or objects of interest should fall about one third from the edges of the picture, both from the top and bottom, and both sides - imagine the picture divided into three cuts both accross and down, and where the dividers meet, put objects of interest, and the picture is automatically more interesting. Good idea to read books on landscaper photography, and look at the luminous landscape website. Sorry about longwinded message
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2007 10:03:50 PM
Beautifully done. Congrats on the blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2007 08:09:40 PM
Wow, Sara, your stars have really lined up in your favor. Congratulations on you blue ribbon, and have a wonderful time at the awards tonight.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2007 03:31:06 PM
Congratulations with this most excellent closeup. Love the color and capture of texture.

Message edited by author 2007-05-09 15:31:26.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2007 02:11:39 PM
When I voted on this challenge, and this came up, I said out loud, to my cat, "This will win the blue". Ask her - she'll back me up! Congrats!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2007 01:52:59 PM
Congratulations Sara! Great shot. And also thanks for marking my symmetry entry as a favorite! I'm honored! Congrats also on your other awards.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2007 12:31:34 PM
hey congraulations on the blue. nice and intense
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2007 11:54:58 AM
Congratulations on your Blue. I just love owl photos and this one is awesome. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2007 11:28:41 AM
=))
Congrats, Sara!
This is awesome!
Best picture ever.
=)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2007 10:30:40 AM
Congratulations! The birds certainly treat you well!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2007 10:13:36 AM
Wow! My favorite kind of photo! This is amazing Sara! Congratulations on winning first place!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2007 08:30:51 AM
Great shot. Love the clarity and and the eye colour. Congrats on your Blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2007 08:20:09 AM
A bit blurry on left side..how did you focus / sharpen this? Otherwise, pretty good.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2007 08:07:10 AM
Congratulations on all of your accomplishments. What a week, huh?
This shot is so mesmirizing. Way to go!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2007 07:54:29 AM
Sara, I love owl photos, and this is fabulous! What a great job of showing symmetry in nature. Mega congrats on your blue, highly deserved!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2007 06:47:37 AM
Awesome image here, and so deserved the "BLUE" ribbon.....
Owls are definately one of my favorite birds, and this one is super.
Just added this to "my favorites", as the textures are to die for.....

Message edited by author 2007-05-09 06:50:50.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2007 02:50:58 AM
go MAD SHUTTERS ! congratz !!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2007 02:17:20 AM
Congratulations, Sara, looks like you were right to be so upbeat throughout the challenge (on the scores thread; I was really waiting to see which shot was yours, there were so many good ones in this challenge). Great subject, wonderfully shot, and perfectly presented. Definitely deserving of your blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2007 12:38:43 AM
Congrats Sara!!!! I knew this stunner would win.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2007 12:28:30 AM
Wow, Gosh, Yay!!!!! Thank You! Its 5.15 in the morning here in York, and I don't think I shall be going back to sleep...

Edit: Oops, meant to put this in the photo description part.

Jeni, Yanko, BergieKat, Richard and RMS, thank you so much for your words of congratulations!

Message edited by author 2007-05-09 00:39:36.
 05/09/2007 12:22:06 AM
I changed my vote from a 9 to a 10 at the last minute hope it helps this was 1 of 3 i gave 10's.... the other two didn't make it sadly!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2007 12:09:17 AM
Well done! Congratulations on your blue ribbon! Very well deserved. A joy to view!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2007 12:08:47 AM
Way to go!!!!! Excellent capture! Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2007 12:07:01 AM
Congrats Sarah!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2007 12:06:17 AM
Yay!!!! Congrats!! Wonderful shot!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
05/08/2007 11:06:20 AM
Brilliant!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/07/2007 03:33:00 AM
Used many times before, but very nice and sharp shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2007 06:28:21 PM
Took me a while of staring at the eyes to realize that you were at a zoo! great shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2007 01:16:03 PM
Amazing!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/05/2007 12:02:42 PM
oh beautiful! Is the owl real? lol
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/05/2007 05:32:06 AM
very nice close up
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/04/2007 11:44:53 AM
You nailed that one! Very impressive. I would like to see the focus a bit sharper around the edges. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/03/2007 09:10:16 PM
Love it!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/03/2007 07:42:54 PM
i would have called this 'watcha lookin at!'
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/03/2007 06:57:34 PM
sharp image
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/03/2007 11:26:10 AM
wow, I don't even have words for this one. I can't even stare into the owls eyes, I would lose a stare off to him, hehe. Very nice pic!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/02/2007 09:45:57 PM
Awesome and intimiditating.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/02/2007 05:01:17 PM
craaaazy, but cool
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/02/2007 12:22:21 PM
Perfect! See you in the top 5!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/02/2007 01:44:53 AM
excellent, intense shot. The owl posed very nicely.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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