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"Rainy Owl"
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"Rainy Owl"

by Angela McCain

Gallery: AvianPosted February 26, 2012470 views14 comments
Boundary Bay. BC. February 24, 2012

D3. ISO 2500. 500/4 with 1.4x tc. f 5.6 1/400s. Tripod.

My owl pictures will be different than many. They are mostly high ISO due to the weather. (Fits the recent theme we have been discussing). I got to Vancouver late the first day and only had an hour of light. The next morning brought heavy rain and cold wind. I sat in the motel and moaned at my luck for the first few hours, then went out anyway. I was there alone. The absence of other people made the owls very calm and they didn't want to move around in the rain any more than I did. None flew in the making of these images.

Comments

14 comments
Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 26, 2012 at 10:39 PM
I'm glad you were able to get these unique shots. I've always believed that anyone's portfolio is enhanced by a variety of subjects, styles, settings, and other parameters.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments
Comment posted by Ray Whitt on February 26, 2012 at 10:52 PM
Outstanding shot Angela. Love the rain, it adds a wonderful element to the image. Looking forward to your other pictures.

Ray
Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Cross on February 26, 2012 at 11:01 PM
Very nice. It was a good return on your effort to go out on such a crummy day. The owl's eyes are great and there is lots of detail in the plumage. Considering all you did to gather in as many photons as possilbe, I think this came out quite well. Nice to have a high end camera that can do that as well as having a pretty waterproof body. Looking forward to some of the others I hope you'll share with us.
Registered on April 3, 2010, 271 Posts, 1342 Comments
Comment posted by Charles Gangas on February 27, 2012 at 12:06 AM
When I first became a commercial pilot I asked an old veteran how he coped with the wild variations of weather we encounter. His response has always stuck with me- "the weather is, you just deal with it". Seems to me you did that exceptionally well here Angela-just a wonderful image!
Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments
Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on February 27, 2012 at 8:08 AM
love the falling rain, the wet look of the bird, and the great bg, Angela. way to get out in the weather and get a cool image.
Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments
Comment posted by Dottie Short on February 27, 2012 at 4:06 PM
Years ago when I played tennis several times a week one of my opponents said they loved windy days. In amazement I asked why, and she said "because everyone else hates it". Angela, you made the best of the situation and your Snowy, or should I say Rainy Owl image is spectacular. Wish I had been with you.
Registered on April 12, 2010, 61 Posts, 375 Comments
Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on February 27, 2012 at 4:50 PM
Loos like Pacific Northwest weather to me. :biggrin: Very nice photo, one that emphasizes the species is seriously out of range. Congratulations on making some fine lemonade.
Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 28, 2012 at 6:01 AM
What great detail Angela - love the forlorn look
Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments
Comment posted by William Bickle on February 28, 2012 at 4:10 PM
Hello Angela

Welcome to Canada Eh! The mood of the bird resembles the Overcast Conditions. Like the Image and the Rain effect. A difficult Exposure with So bright Whites on the Bird, Well handled !

Sharp in detail, Clean BG.

TFS

Bill
Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Archer on February 28, 2012 at 5:07 PM
These poor owls have endured much more of this type of weather than pictures posted on most forums have shown. Good for you for getting out there and trying for photos in our normal north-west winter weather and making a unique photo.
This is excellent Angela :eek

Ken Archer
Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments
Comment posted by David Haynes on February 28, 2012 at 7:05 PM
Angela,
ISO 2500?? I can only dream. Most of us photographers lament the conditions we have to shoot in sometimes and at the end of the day we all try and make the best out of what's given to us. You made an emotional image with this capture that I have not seen in the other owl images posted this year. I see cold, wet, and miserable in the owls face and environment and you captured it perfectly. You should get kudos for going out in those conditions and trying to drum up something when you knew it was going to be hard and dreary. Your efforts paid off remarkably well. Congrats! :toast:
Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on February 28, 2012 at 8:42 PM
The falling snow or rain adds a lot to this shot Angela and the image looks very good despite the higher iso. I think the branches at the bottom aren't ideal but I doubt you could have done anything about them. I'm glad that you got up there and got your Snowy, nice work. :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Hackley on February 29, 2012 at 2:15 PM
Wonderful scene with the rain and snowy. I am glad you got out there to get this unique image and went for it. How often to you get a chance to photograph a calm snowy owl? Very nice shot for ISO 2500, nice job in getting this, well done Angela.
Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments
Comment posted by May Haga on March 1, 2012 at 10:50 AM
Excellent image Angela. Love the setting and the rain, as long as I am not in it.
May
Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments