Snowy Owl

Gallery: AvianPosted December 27, 2011379 views21 comments

Earlier this month I had the opportunity one afternoon to look for the snowy owls that have invaded the north-west this winter. It was the same day I met Max Waugh, a cool guy by the way. Out of several owls perched in the area, I picked this one to try to photograph, after a long and slow approach I was able to get close enough for good photos and spent most of the afternoon with him or her. This photo was made while it took a quick break to look at me while preening.

Canon MKIV, 600mm & 1.4x, 1/1600, f9, ISO 640, slight crop

I appreciate all your comments and suggestions

Ken Archer

Comments

21 comments

Comment posted by John Robinson on December 27, 2011 at 5:54 PM

Great exposure on this one. Good stuff.
JohnR

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on December 27, 2011 at 6:21 PM

Beautiful image. Your exposure looks perfect to me. Wonderful Details.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Suzanne Huot on December 27, 2011 at 6:39 PM

The lovely blue sky behind the grasses makes a perfect background to show of this beautiful snowy owl in.exposure looks bang on too.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 32 Posts, 240 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Nichols on December 27, 2011 at 6:44 PM

Ken, nice to catch all the feathers fluffed up. Snowy Owls are such beautiful birds and you have a very nice composition here. The blue in the background really helps to show off the eyes.

Registered on November 7, 2007, 161 Posts, 1420 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on December 27, 2011 at 7:02 PM

Really good exposure...I see so much detail in those whites! A wonderful setting and comp! Way to go...wish I had been with you!! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Cam Held on December 27, 2011 at 11:54 PM

Absolutely perfect! SOOOO jealous!
-Cam

Registered on November 12, 2009, 59 Posts, 398 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on December 28, 2011 at 12:08 AM

Beautiful, Ken! I'll be up there in a couple of weeks to try my luck.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Avi Hirschfield on December 28, 2011 at 8:19 AM

I am greeeeeeeeeen with envy we dont get these guys at all not even near us

Wonderfull detail and exposure

Happy new year and sucsesfull birding

Registered on November 1, 2003, 518 Posts, 2114 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on December 28, 2011 at 9:53 AM

Really nice exposure on this one Ken! The eyes about jump off the screen at you.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on December 28, 2011 at 11:32 AM

Love the composition!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on December 28, 2011 at 12:25 PM

Very nice! What a great shot of a beautiful bird. I would love to photograph one of these guys but we don't get themdown here in Texas. Where was this taken?

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Ralph Kerr on December 28, 2011 at 1:52 PM

Nice one, Ken. Nothing more I can add

Registered on January 30, 2007, 369 Posts, 852 Comments

Comment posted by Andrea Marzorati on December 28, 2011 at 3:07 PM

The subject is great.
The photo is beautiful, the exposure is perfect for me

Registered on December 1, 2005, 86 Posts, 589 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 28, 2011 at 7:14 PM

Very nicely done. Pleasing pose, good eye contact and wonderful setting. Really enjoyed your account of the afternoon you spent with this owl.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on December 28, 2011 at 8:14 PM

Gorgeous. Great contrast between the owl and the setting. Truly a beauty.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Randy Bacon on December 28, 2011 at 10:36 PM

Gorgeous Ken - this is a bucket list bird for me - until then, I'll live vicariously through sweet images like this. Exposure, detail, light, BG and pose - spot on.

Registered on November 24, 2008, 56 Posts, 492 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on December 28, 2011 at 10:57 PM

Hey Ken, just checking in from the park and I'm glad I did. You really captured some gorgeous color between the whites, golds and blues... I don't think I ever nailed that nice ocean background. Good eye. Looking forward to seeing more!

btw- saw (but did not photograph) my first bobcat here. Hopefully it's a sign of things to come.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on December 29, 2011 at 12:08 AM

Awesome Snowy Ken. The aquamarine water and golden grasses are a wonderful setting for the white owl. If you have any more room at the bottom, and it is esthetically pleasing I would look at adding a little more space there. Unfortunately I have no snowy images

and would love to have taken this.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by denise ippolito on December 29, 2011 at 9:07 AM

Ken, Great pose and eye contact. I like the environment and the exposure looks great! Well done.

Registered on December 17, 2009, 202 Posts, 1529 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on December 29, 2011 at 1:24 PM

Love that ocean bg and the eye contact, I´ll have to make a trip out there when I return, Happy New Year bud!

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on December 30, 2011 at 8:16 AM

Outstanding shot!

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments