Snowy Owl Slumber

Gallery: AvianPosted March 9, 2012307 views11 comments

I took this photo a couple of weeks ago on the Washington coast near Ocean Shores. The snowy owls were very cooperative and happy to wink at me and snooze periodically. This is the best of the lot from the trip because I was able to get a contrasting bg. The gray skies were a nice lightbox didn't add much from other angles. Feedback and suggestions for further processing always welcome.

Canon 7D, 100-400mm L at 365mm
ISO 160, f/5.6, 1/500s

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 9, 2012 at 8:30 PM

Nice bird and setting. Exposure looks good.

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

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on March 10, 2012 at 12:02 AM

nice image - i would have preferred the FG log to have been in focus as well ... BG works perfectly. well done.

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 10, 2012 at 12:27 AM

Welcome to NPN Marylynne!!! A very nice first post. The owl is sharp and nicely exposed. I like the background and perch too.

Some of the drift wood the owls perch on out there is very photogenic and perhaps that is why you chose this composition. But, I might be tempted to try cropping a bit off the left side and some off the top so the owl is not so centered in the frame.

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Marylynne Diggs on March 10, 2012 at 11:32 AM

Thanks, Richard, Stuart, and Ken.

I couldn't decide whether the log was adding or subtracting, so I did let the fg log fall oof. I was fairly close too, so I might have had to stop down and lose shutter speed to get it in focus (this owl surprised me while I was headed over toward a different owl. I heard a flutter and saw him when I was just 50 or so feet away).

Ken: do you mean cropping off some of the owl's left or left side of the frame? I was thinking the owl was not terribly centered, but she's not quite on a "third" either. I'm thinking you mean crop from the right of the frame to move the owl closer to the right edge?

Registered on December 14, 2010, 122 Posts, 1034 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on March 10, 2012 at 2:30 PM

Very nice. I like the mood that the light has created here.

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

Comment posted by Marylynne Diggs on March 10, 2012 at 4:33 PM

Thanks, Angela. There was a high layer of thin clouds, so I got a lightbox effect. I got better shots of owls, but all with the hazy white sky behind, so the overall effect isn't better.

Here is a version with a tighter crop overall and the owl less centered. Better?

Registered on December 14, 2010, 122 Posts, 1034 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 10, 2012 at 5:11 PM

Welcome to NPN Marylynne, I like the setting a lot here and nice, soft lighting. I think the comp in your repost is perfect.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 10, 2012 at 6:47 PM

Hi Marylynnne,

Your repost seems much more pleasing to view. Although the new crop wasn't quite what I was thinking, this works very well. Nice Work!!!

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on March 11, 2012 at 9:20 AM

Nice shot! I like the repost better, also enjoyed reading the post about your trip to photograph the snowy owls.

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

Comment posted by Craig Strand on March 11, 2012 at 10:59 AM

I just love this capture Marylynne. Great comp. and your exposure is right on to display the owls colors and brightness. Very well done!

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Marylynne Diggs on March 11, 2012 at 11:47 AM

Thanks, Nate, Ken, Robert, and Craig.

Ken: feel free to elaborate on the crop you were picturing.
Robert: Thanks for checking out my blog!
Craig: you should get yourself up there....I would love to see what you bring back. Email me for specific location info.

Registered on December 14, 2010, 122 Posts, 1034 Comments