I find it hard to believe those eyes are real. This image, I admit, is taken of a captive bird – a trained bird – one which probably could no longer survive if it were freed into nature. It’s looked after and fed well.
It was on one of these stands you find at various events where children on payment of a small fee may hold the owls for a moment and get their photograph taken with it. I feel a certain sadness in these eyes.
The background is an off-white tent which surrounded the owls and protected them from rain. I used software to brighten the fabric of the tent …. to ‘white it out’ with a Levels adjustment. The bird’s feathers are perhaps slightly lightened as well. But the eyes are untouched …. they are real ……that’s what they look like.
jazziBeeblog 
There is indeed something about those eyes – very wistful-looking to me. Your edits are extremely effective in highlighting the owl’s expression
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Sarah! Yes I thought the eyes were amazing so I tried to tone down everything else.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am with you – I don’t like the thing with people holding wild animals for money. And this owl is, as you say very rare, endangered, almost extinct. As far as I can see it’s a Snowy owl, from nothern Scandinavia, Iceland and Siberia. Beautifully caught.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I believe they are well-loved like pets, but it is controversial.
LikeLike
It is.
LikeLiked by 1 person