Snowy Portrait

Gallery: AvianPosted February 18, 2012173 views3 comments

I hadn't been out since Christmas time, when I saw ~30 Snowy Owls in one small area around the Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge. Yesterday I went to the center part of the state on my "normal" winter raptor route. Don't think they're as concentrated anywhere in the state, like they were earlier, but I still found 7 yesterday, which would be my highest ever, in any year other than this one!

This guy has staked out a golf course near Pierre, and has a bit of an attitude. Kind of interesting to see the "personalities" of the different ones, but this guy certainly isn't shy of humans. Was told later that he's been pretty bold since he arrived.

Canon 50D, 400 5.6L, ISO 250 1/1600, f/8. About 60% of full-frame pixels .

Comments

3 comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on February 18, 2012 at 3:42 PM

Lovely delicate detail in the feathers. The head turn is nice. I wish the eyes had been lighter, but given the light, going for the detail in the whites was a good move.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on February 18, 2012 at 3:51 PM

I like the level of detail Terry and the frame filling view. Nice job with the exposure.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on February 19, 2012 at 8:01 AM

wow--that is some amazing detail, Terry, he sure isn't shy! a cool image as is, though a little light in the eyes would really have been stunning. really like that over the shoulder look.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments