Jose Cartas
October 2026 - Great Horned Owl
About the Image(s)
I took this photo last June in the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, in Vancouver. Beyond the main attraction (the suspension bridge), the park also hosts (among others) a facility where visitors can watch birds of prey held by their handlers. When we were there, we saw this owl and a gyrfalcon. Taking the shot was relatively easy, since the bird was very calm and almost not moving. The main issue was removing the distracting background, including the handler's arm, which I did through cropping and cloning. Technical specifications: 220mm. lens, 1/180 sec. at f/8.0, ISO 1600, handheld. Due to the high ISO, I also did some noise reduction in LR.
3 comments posted
Hi Jose, what a piercing gaze! I think that this is an impressive portrait of a grand bird. I really like the slightly soft way you show her plumage so that the colors and patterns are in the main role instead of sharp individual feathers. I think that this directs attention to those magnificent eyes. And the background turned out beautifully. Posted: 10/10/2026 07:51:42
Great portrait, Jose. The eyes are sharp and captures our attention. You did a great job removing the distractions. My only suggestion is to slightly darken the lower body of the Owl, particularly the lower right cornoer, to keep the focus on the eyes. Posted: 10/11/2026 20:49:45
The contrasty light makes for a good impact image. Of course it is all about the eyes. Posted: 10/12/2026 14:35:52