Snowy Sunrise...

Gallery: AvianPosted January 8, 2012421 views20 comments

I'm not usually an avian photographer, nor is my set up traditional for this type of photography, but with the incredible irruption of snowy owls this year, I couldn't resist taking my 300mm to the coast to try my luck.

I found this cooperative individual on a quiet weekday morning, and spent a few hours crawling in towards his perch. I ended up with a few frame fillers, but was more inspired to capture the environment around the bird...the Atlantic Coast, the snowless winter and the diffuse light of the cloudy morning.

Thoughts and comments appreciated...as we might have a few more months of opportunities with this amazing bird!

Canon T1i with Tamron 70-300 @ 175mm
1/200 @ F7.1
ISO 400
Handheld

Comments

20 comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on January 8, 2012 at 8:57 AM

Very nice, Jim. I like the included surroundings. It really sets the scene. Great job on the techs too.

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

Comment posted by John Blumenkamp on January 8, 2012 at 9:02 AM

This great Jim. I love the overall setting that you've composed nicely here, and the softer tones with the distant horizon light is especially nice. Very nice work.

Registered on February 26, 2011, 58 Posts, 313 Comments

Comment posted by John Robinson on January 8, 2012 at 9:11 AM

Thats a lovely shot ! Even the thumnail grabs you ! Great stuff.
JohnR

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

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on January 8, 2012 at 11:17 AM

Wonderful ! Since you seem to have so many, please tell them to come and have a look in the Netherlands

. Anyway, appreciate your choice of having a wider angle of view instead of a frame-filler. Well done ! Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on January 8, 2012 at 11:23 AM

Hello Jim

Very pleasing image , the soft tones really adds to the overall mood achieved. I too prefer including some of the environment when possible. His eyes appear open but quite tight ,would have liked full eye if he had cooperated.

Thanks for sharing

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Suzanne Huot on January 8, 2012 at 11:23 AM

A very beutiful composition with a great feel l to it.I love the posiyioning of yjr Owl in the frame and the way one enjoys the total scene without being distracted by it.also that lovely soft early morning light .

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on January 8, 2012 at 11:23 AM

Exceptional image in every way! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Bob&Charly Nelson on January 8, 2012 at 11:38 AM

Great work Jim. All the elements work together in this for me.
Bob

Registered on October 27, 2005, 289 Posts, 4202 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Rhodus on January 8, 2012 at 12:24 PM

Jim, I absolutely love the quality of the light in this image and like you I really appreciate the environmental elements. Wonderful!

Registered on November 16, 2003, 157 Posts, 3326 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on January 8, 2012 at 1:21 PM

I like the colors and the surroundings and how quiet they do seem, and the look of the owl. Really nice composition, too. Really pleasing image.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 8, 2012 at 1:32 PM

Very nice feel to the image. Really like the diffuse light and the setting. I might like it even more with the eyes open.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 8, 2012 at 2:25 PM

Exceptional image! Wonderful bird in a nice pose - but the BG is what makes this image. The old posts, rocks, sea grasses, water, and sunset positioned perfectly behind the bird combine ino a really terrific image.

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 8, 2012 at 3:51 PM

I too like the overall look of this. Very unique setting for a snowy. I like the BG sky as it adds to the shot IMO.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on January 8, 2012 at 4:08 PM

What a nice subject to find on an early morning beach walk - I love everything about this - though you could have gotten more DOF and thus removed the OOF area in the foreground

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Tonia Graves on January 8, 2012 at 5:19 PM

Not an avian photographer huh?...could have fooled me! I really like the setting you captured here w/ the posts & the water in the background. Very nice work!

Registered on October 29, 2011, 92 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on January 8, 2012 at 6:06 PM

Jim,
For not usually being an avian photographer, you certainly fooled me. This is a stunning image. If there had been another owl, this could have been a "posed family photo". Thank you for sharing this image.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 8, 2012 at 7:03 PM

I like this very much and am happy to see the wider view. This brings back lots of memories of seeing these wonderful owls along the Nj coast in similar settings when I lived there.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Graham on January 8, 2012 at 7:25 PM

Great shot, Jim. You made the right choice to include the surrounding terrain, makes it a much more unique image. Keep taking shots like this, and you might just decide to become an avian photographer :).