Perched American Barn Owl – High Key
I photographed this perched American Barn Owl yesterday at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area in northern Utah near a hill that was covered in snow which gave this image a high key effect. High key images seem to be an acquired taste and I quite like this one but I also wanted to see what it would look like in black and white.
Perched American Barn Owl – Black and White
I converted the image to black and white using Photoshop just to see what it would look like.
I actually like them both, the color image because it shows the rich colors of the American Barn Owl and the black and white image for its simplicity.
(I ran a poll for 24 hours to see which American Barn Owl image most people preferred)
The image that got the most votes was the color version with 76% and the black and white version was 24% of the vote.
Mia
Click here to view more of my American Barn Owl photos plus facts and information about this species.
Magnificent photographs, Mia! I did not realize Barn Owl feathers were so rich in color and detail. Perfection!
Thanks Julie, some Barn Owls have even richer coloration than this one does.
I think they’re both nice, but, I really love the first one.
Thanks Bob!
Mia, I can’t answer that question, because I like them both for different reasons. Next week I’ll be up at Audubon where they have a display of birds and animals that have been restored by a taxidermist. Most were road-kill, some other unfortunate means and if you know anything about Audubon you realize they have to research every critter they find and document it. One of them is a barn owl… I’m hoping to be able to go up and do some photos of it, perhaps for a painting. Your color photos help me to remember the colors properly. All the motion photos you have give me some ideas in the event I have to change a pose somewhat from the photograph. You help me to understand the movements of the birds.
As far as black and white goes, I’ve long been a pen and ink artist since I was a kid. I learned how to capture the “che” of a bird through sumi-e painting when I was ten. It’s a whole other way of expressing and seeing. When I really want to understand a bird I do pen and ink since you really have to understand structure etc.
So your choice is impossible for me. I can only offer my profound thanks for helping me explore where I’m not able to go.
Merrill, I hope you are able to get those photos next week at Audubon.
Thank you so much for your compliments on these images.
Okay so I didn’t vote. I like the first one because of the colors of the owl. You see them so seldom in light that you don’t realize what lovely color they have but I also like that the black and white one pops some of the details in his feathers.
Not voting is fine Sherry, I couldn’t decide which I liked best.
Gorgeous:)
Thank you Susan!
How wonderful!~
I’ll never be able to get one that close so I’m quite jealous.
love the barn owls!
Thanks Judy. I saw some today but they were too far away.