Alien @ Sunrise

Gallery: AvianPosted April 3, 2013372 views14 comments

Alien @ Sunrise

I captured this one a few weeks back while doing some reconnaissance for a future owl photo tour in Manitoba...

I suspect many a mouse would think that this shot accurately captures the "demonly" qualities of this "King of Owls" - the Great Gray Owl. I captured the image at sunrise in mid-March on a terrifically cold morning in southern Manitoba (it was about -25C when this shot was taken). And, for the record, that is NOT an alien emerging from its chest...the owl had JUST finished preening itself as was putting its foot "away" when I snapped this. Nonetheless, I loved the effect that the hunched-over head and the talons combined to illicit...made the owl seem like some evil entity that should be found in some hobbit forest somewhere!

Subject: Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) on a cold Manitoba morning
Location: Lac du Bonnet region, Manitoba, Canada
Camera: Nikon D4
Lens: Nikkor 400mm f2.8 VRII lens combined with 1.4x TC-14EII teleconverter (and supported on a tripod).
Exposure: 1/640s @ f5; ISO 160. --0.67 stop compensation from matrix-metered exposure setting.
Crop: About 75% of full frame

Like almost always, additional details about the image (including processing details) available here:

http://www.naturalart.ca/galleries/birds/birdsofprey/detail_2.html.

BTW - the commentary about this image on my website (under the "In the Field" tab) contains information that Nikon shooters who are considering a purchase of a super telephoto might find interesting and/or useful.

Comments and critiques welcomed - probably best to view the larger version prior to doing so!

Cheers...

Brad

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on April 3, 2013 at 2:34 PM

Wonderful image Brad. I particularly like the bright yellow eye and bill, but the overall detail is superb. I guess you've done this sort of thing before.

Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Frye on April 3, 2013 at 4:04 PM

Outstanding - I like the dark-foreboding feel of the picture

Registered on February 3, 2007, 387 Posts, 1136 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on April 3, 2013 at 6:54 PM

This owl is downright creepy looking, mouse or not! What a great capture made even better by your perfect timing! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on April 4, 2013 at 3:55 AM

Most of the owls I have encountered seem to display an array of facial expressions. This expressive face you captured here along with that claw makes for a menacing portrait.The light and environment helps heighten the dark feel of this photo IMO.

Excellent Capture Brad!!!

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on April 4, 2013 at 12:07 PM

Nice Brad. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Guy Nelson on April 4, 2013 at 7:50 PM

Hi Brad,
When I look at this image... I totally agree with you on your analogy Brad. Somewhat of an old "evil witch" look.... and is up to no good!!! Just waiting for that unsuspecting prey to show themselves for her to devour.

This one makes me....

Excellent image!

Guy

Registered on October 12, 2012, 24 Posts, 138 Comments

Comment posted by William Gillis on April 4, 2013 at 9:27 PM

A superb image for me Brad. Well done, especially enduring the elements for both you and the camera equipment.

William Gillis

Registered on November 28, 2011, 17 Posts, 204 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on April 5, 2013 at 5:09 PM

Way cool Brad.

I like the dark mood that you captured here.

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on April 5, 2013 at 6:35 PM

Wonderful shot with the directional light to show case the owl against the darker background. I like the pose with one eye in the light and the claw showing plus the nice feather detail in the larger version, excellent shot Brad.

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

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on April 5, 2013 at 9:19 PM

Very interesting shot in challenging conditions.

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

Comment posted by Paul Rebmann on April 6, 2013 at 8:52 AM

Sweet!

Paul

Registered on July 17, 2012, 31 Posts, 122 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on April 6, 2013 at 4:37 PM

Hey all,

Thanks to everyone for the feedback on this shot. While I captured a good number of "classic" shots of owls on this trip, this one is definitely one of my favourites...for me the "evil witch" look (as Guy called it) adds a lot of appeal to the image. I've always loved side-lighting, and here it really helped to both bring out detail and to contribute to the moody, mysterious (and menacing) feel of the image.

Thanks again...cheers...

Brad

PS to Martin D: You said "I guess you've done this sort of thing before". Nope - first time I've ever used a camera. Ok, maybe not quite the first! But now that I've figured out you're supposed to point the long thin thing at the subject, I've been doing a whole lot better (and getting far fewer out-of-focus shots of my forehead)!

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 7, 2013 at 2:34 PM

Sweet image, Brad. The raised foot really makes a great focal point.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Neal Cooper on April 8, 2013 at 1:56 PM

Brad. I like the dark mood of this image. Capturing owls is a challenge at best, but you were rewarded for your effort with this stunning image. I also thought of the Alien when I saw its foot :-)
Well done.

Registered on June 3, 2009, 144 Posts, 306 Comments