Snowy Owl

Snowy Owl · 06:58 PM

Finally got somewhat close to one of the Snowy Owls today. Still a little to far away for any spectacular shots but it is great just just seeing them. It was bitterly cold (in the low 20's with 20mph winds). My tripod was shaking just from the wind.

We found him less then an hour left before sunset, and unfortunately he was back lit.

This is cropped.
Pentax K20D ,Pentax smc DA* 300mm f/4 ED (IF) SDM
1/200s f/5.6 at 450.0mm iso800 (with Kenko 1.5xTC)

**sureshgvv** · 01-31-2009, 07:06 PM

IMO, copping the top would make the shot more effective.

Jimbo · 01-31-2009, 07:35 PM

I agree with the crop. Maybe to the top of the grass in the background. Great shot though! JIM

palmor · 01-31-2009, 08:32 PM

I agree about the crop

Edited the original photo with a new crop. This one might be a little bit too cropped (lost some IQ) but I do like the overall look better. One of these days I'll close enough for a good shot

John

Toshi · 01-31-2009, 08:43 PM

Nice capture John! Great job considering the conditions

reeftool · 01-31-2009, 08:53 PM

Good shot. They are very difficult birds to even find.

roentarre · 01-31-2009, 08:53 PM

This is a stunning image itself in deed!

Great capture!

PentaxFan · 01-31-2009, 09:35 PM

Nicely captured under the conditions ;-)

I know they are hard to keep around as they are a skittish bird in most cases. I have had a recent encounter with one as well and I hope you don't mind me sharing the shots in your thread

palmor · 02-01-2009, 07:01 AM

Originally posted by PentaxFan

Nicely captured under the conditions ;-)

I know they are hard to keep around as they are a skittish bird in most cases. I have had a recent encounter with one as well and I hope you don't mind me sharing the shots in your thread

Not at all! Great photos! We have 2-4 that nest in the area every winter in a local National Wildlife Refuge. Which is good and bad.. good because we get to see Snow Owls, bad because it is very restrictive about where you can travel in the reserve (for good reasons I know). Sometimes we see them a mile away and there is no way to get closer.. although that is probably be a good thing since there would be a ton of people bothering the birds. I guess if they come to you they don't mind the people

One of these days I'll get one of them to pose nice for me!

John

**Rense** · 02-01-2009, 07:10 AM

Hey snow owl shooters, I like these a lot! It has been at least 25 yrs since I've seen one in the wild myself, since they are very, very rare around here. Great!

daacon · 02-01-2009, 07:17 AM

Nice captures of a rare find - Love the one on the sign. Seems to be posing for ya.

wildman · 02-01-2009, 07:22 AM

Lovely.
With a Snowy that far south I'd take what I could get and gladly.

gawan · 02-01-2009, 07:52 AM

Wonderful capture, Palmor!

JMR · 02-01-2009, 02:55 PM

Nice shot. I don 't see anything wrong with this crop and never saw the first crop. I think the owl is beautifully juxtaposed against the rest of the picture space, given its size and the elements (grass and snow) around it. Of course you can use alternate crops, but always remember, you may alter the tone and feeling of the image when doing so.

JMR

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01-31-2009, 07:06 PM	#2
sureshgvv Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Jacksonville, FL Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,115	IMO, copping the top would make the shot more effective.

01-31-2009, 07:35 PM	#3
Jimbo Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maple Ridge BC Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,368	I agree with the crop. Maybe to the top of the grass in the background. Great shot though! JIM

01-31-2009, 08:32 PM	#4
palmor Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: North of Boston, MA Posts: 798 Original Poster	I agree about the crop Edited the original photo with a new crop. This one might be a little bit too cropped (lost some IQ) but I do like the overall look better. One of these days I'll close enough for a good shot John

01-31-2009, 08:43 PM	#5
Toshi Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 431	Nice capture John! Great job considering the conditions

01-31-2009, 08:53 PM	#6
reeftool Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Upstate New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,552	Good shot. They are very difficult birds to even find.

01-31-2009, 08:53 PM	#7
roentarre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,783	This is a stunning image itself in deed! Great capture!

01-31-2009, 09:35 PM	#8
PentaxFan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 257	Nicely captured under the conditions ;-) I know they are hard to keep around as they are a skittish bird in most cases. I have had a recent encounter with one as well and I hope you don't mind me sharing the shots in your thread

02-01-2009, 07:01 AM	#9
palmor Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: North of Boston, MA Posts: 798 Original Poster	Originally posted by PentaxFan Nicely captured under the conditions ;-) I know they are hard to keep around as they are a skittish bird in most cases. I have had a recent encounter with one as well and I hope you don't mind me sharing the shots in your thread Not at all! Great photos! We have 2-4 that nest in the area every winter in a local National Wildlife Refuge. Which is good and bad.. good because we get to see Snow Owls, bad because it is very restrictive about where you can travel in the reserve (for good reasons I know). Sometimes we see them a mile away and there is no way to get closer.. although that is probably be a good thing since there would be a ton of people bothering the birds. I guess if they come to you they don't mind the people One of these days I'll get one of them to pose nice for me! John

02-01-2009, 07:10 AM	#10
Rense Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zetten - The Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,050	Hey snow owl shooters, I like these a lot! It has been at least 25 yrs since I've seen one in the wild myself, since they are very, very rare around here. Great!

02-01-2009, 07:17 AM	#11
daacon Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alberta,Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 20,914	Nice captures of a rare find - Love the one on the sign. Seems to be posing for ya.

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02-01-2009, 07:22 AM	#12
wildman Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Flyover America Posts: 4,469	Lovely. With a Snowy that far south I'd take what I could get and gladly.

02-01-2009, 07:52 AM	#13
gawan Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Helsinki Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,400	Wonderful capture, Palmor!

02-01-2009, 02:55 PM	#14
JMR Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 3,332	Nice shot. I don 't see anything wrong with this crop and never saw the first crop. I think the owl is beautifully juxtaposed against the rest of the picture space, given its size and the elements (grass and snow) around it. Of course you can use alternate crops, but always remember, you may alter the tone and feeling of the image when doing so. JMR