Just another wet day!

Gallery: AvianPosted March 15, 2012166 views14 comments

Taken on one of the worst days I have ever encountered, the rain was torrential, bitterly cold winds and after 4 hours everything was saturated in rain. This was one from the first shoot. The OOF strands that run vertically in front of the log are blades of dry grass. Mid morning approx 11.33am. I wanted enough slow SS to catch the rain in the BKG to add more interest to the image and convey the conditions.

Steve
Subject: Snowy Owl saturated in rain on drift wood (Bubo scandiacus)
Location: Canada
Camera: Canon MKIV
Lens: 500f/4 + 1.4x MKIII - Gitzo tripod/Wimberley head
Exposure: 1/200s at f/5.6 ISO800 +1/3 stop compensation
Crop: Slight crop (original capture vertical)

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Rick Turner on March 15, 2012 at 5:20 PM

A wonderful capture. I suggest to crop off from top.

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on March 15, 2012 at 5:28 PM

Wow, awesome image! I love your choice of shutter speed to make the rain streak, it adds a really cool effect. It looks like you have some great detail in the wet feathers. It's nice to have a natural perch other than fence posts for these guys. There's also some really nice colours throughout the picture.

Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on March 15, 2012 at 5:54 PM

Really well done. I agree with your choices, although a slight crop from the top might be helpful.

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

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on March 15, 2012 at 5:58 PM

Thanks guys, totally agree re some off the top as presented, however I tend to leave it purely for use in the future.

cheers
Steve

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments

Comment posted by wade pettitt on March 15, 2012 at 6:24 PM

Man that looks miserable. Great job in getting out there and coming away with a great image, I agree that a small crop off the top will improve the image.

Registered on May 6, 2009, 184 Posts, 471 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on March 15, 2012 at 7:19 PM

It feels cold and wet and miserable. That's good because it means you conveyed the scene and conditions very well. Great detail, color and sharpness.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Cross on March 15, 2012 at 8:06 PM

This photo really shows what real world is for these birds. He looks kinda wet and cold, too. Nice environmental shot with the perch, the rain, and the bedragled feathers around the feet. Nicely composed and good SS selection to emphasize the rainy day.

Registered on April 3, 2010, 271 Posts, 1342 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 16, 2012 at 12:47 PM

Really like this - nice pose, bright eye, the wet feathers add interest, and the rain streaks are excellent.
Fine image! Well worth the miserable conditions for you, I hope.
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on March 16, 2012 at 12:50 PM

Excellent shot for the conditions you were photographing in. This certainly does show the weather conditions. I like your choice of shutter speed to bring out the rain but still retain very good detail on the owl, well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Marlise Launstein on March 16, 2012 at 1:01 PM

This is such a beautiful image

! The owl looks so cool when wet. I like how he is standing on the log. And he has an amazing pose. I love the sharpness of it to. Great shot!

Registered on August 31, 2011, 28 Posts, 175 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on March 16, 2012 at 10:02 PM

Steve I love this. The Head angle works so well with the angle of the falling rain. Nice light adding to the mood too.

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on March 17, 2012 at 1:30 AM

Thanks again folks, guess the foul weather has it's compensations.

Steve

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 17, 2012 at 2:32 AM

A sweet photo made in terrible looking conditions, love the rain soaked textured look of it feathers and rain drops.
Very Nice Stephen!!!

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Sally Wood on March 17, 2012 at 8:16 AM

Lovely image and really tells a story.

Registered on March 8, 2012, 39 Posts, 509 Comments