Eastern Screech Owl in Very Low Light

[padrepaul]

Would appreciate any critiques of this image; worked on it a bit as the light was quite lousy, sun had just set and it was cloudy - but screech owls aren't exactly going to hop out in perfect light typically.

Was excited as this was a red morph. Thanks for any input.

Z9, 800 5.6, 1/125, ISO 8000.

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[padrepaul]

Here's a second version, I tried to make the eyes a little better.

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[Blue tit photo]

I would try to warm the shot a bit to bring out that colour. Otherwise very nice

 

[ssheipel]

Nice shot. Personal preference, of course, but for me the crop is too tight, and the subject too 'centred' in the frame.

 

[padrepaul]

Thanks for the replies; I may be able to not crop as tight, but lots of branches around this guy so hard to go wider. Might try to warm it up too.

 

[Woody Meristem]

Did you try to adjust the white balance? To my eye the white feathers on the bird are much too blue.

 

[NorthernFocus]

Others have already pointed out the most obvious thing which is the WB.

 

[padrepaul]

Thanks, I did adjust white balance a little bit; perhaps it was the very low light and lack of sun that made it a little too blue.

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[Andrew Lamberson]

That is a Wow for me!

I still am amazed when I see (or shot) images at an ISO of 8000 that look that good! Amazing technology on all the Z cameras.

 

[RichF]

Excellent image. A few thoughts. I see a blue cast. You can use the eye dropper to check area that you would like white (such as the breast feathers).

You can expand the area around the bird (I think Steve had a video on this) even if the actually photo has very busy foliage.