Second Snowy

Gallery: AvianPosted January 4, 2015737 views23 comments

This was the second Snowy Owl of the season that I saw (in as many tries). There is a dredging project going on at the beach where I found it, so it's more or less off-limits for the time being which is unfortunate for me, but probably best for the bird.

When my wife and I set out to look for the bird, we drove down the dirt road the cuts behind the dunes when all of the sudden we saw this big white bird fly out of a pine tree. We parked and got out to search for it - only for the owl to fly back around, right over our heads and land on the same perch.

Nikon D7100 300mm f4 + 1.7X TC HH
f/6.7
1/250s
ISO 1000

Cropped to about 60% for compositional purposes, minor adjustments

Comments

23 comments

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on January 4, 2015 at 11:03 AM

Hey Luke,
You are sure going out with a 'Bang' !
Well done to you and your guide for this find, beautiful composition. The owl is nicely separated from the white BG and the pine tops add wonderful interest and color. Your cropping choices also have produced a well balance image.

Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments

Comment posted by Allen Brooks on January 4, 2015 at 11:08 AM

Beautiful detail and well composed.

Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on January 4, 2015 at 12:18 PM

Very nice Luke. I like the perch and composition. The eye contact is awesome...............................Jim

Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on January 4, 2015 at 12:22 PM

Not much to say, this is outstanding IMHO!

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on January 4, 2015 at 12:35 PM

Great photo of one of my favorites. Don't yet have a good pict myself. Bird, setting, and comp are 10+.

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

Comment posted by Steve Thompson on January 4, 2015 at 2:13 PM

Beautiful Owl portrait in nice soft light. Great comp too.

Registered on August 7, 2014, 125 Posts, 2319 Comments

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on January 4, 2015 at 2:22 PM

Been out twice with no luck (at the CT side of LI Sound). It has been seen at Milford Audubon.

Great eye contact and detail. Like the perch as well. Congrats on a nice capture.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on January 4, 2015 at 5:46 PM

Nice image Luke. I like the comp a lot of this. Good placement of the owl and nice job in what looks like a completely overcast day.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by John Launstein on January 4, 2015 at 6:18 PM

Oh my word, Luke! Jenaya, Josiah and I just drove 570km round-trip in an all-day snowstorm and -30C windchill temps in search of snowies on the Alberta prairie and went from sunrise to sunset with 0 owls...then pulled off 5 in 35mins but nothing remotely close to this! In fact, I said to my kids, can you imagine if we ever found one perched in a pine or other conifer? Then I drop by NPN and see this.

Absolutely awesome...and totally jealous.

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments

Comment posted by Jefferson Silva on January 4, 2015 at 6:23 PM

This species is a dream to me.

Amazing image...

Registered on December 18, 2012, 162 Posts, 975 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 4, 2015 at 6:56 PM

Nice find and unusual perch for this species. I miss them here in AZ.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 4, 2015 at 9:54 PM

superb, Luke. really well executed in every technical aspect, excellent comp, and what a great perch--not something you see often for this species.

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

Comment posted by David Haynes on January 4, 2015 at 10:09 PM

Luke,
Excellent capture. Sounds like this bird wanted to give the shot you were looking for....or maybe this was the only decent perch nearby. :)
Perfect overcast condition to this this owl in and you sure took advantage of it. Sweet image in all regards. Love the comp and if you have enough room would love to see a vertical of this.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on January 4, 2015 at 10:38 PM

Hi Luke

Wow!! you captured this Snowy Owl perfectly. Love the eye contact, perch and detail.

Albert Darmo
Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by David Rowe on January 5, 2015 at 1:25 AM

Hi Luke
This is downright super!
I'm amazed at the sharp DOF and lack of noise - well done. Congratulations on all fronts.
David

Registered on December 20, 2013, 133 Posts, 286 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on January 6, 2015 at 12:27 AM

Excellent, Luke.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on January 7, 2015 at 3:01 PM

Hi Luke, these Owls are awesome and I like the colour contrast between subject and the 'perch'. Based on the BKG I just wondered if you shot a tad darker. The only reason I ask is there seems a bit of noise coming through in the tail feathers and therefore did you lighten the image, but not a deal breaker. Nice detail in the subject. cool.

TFS
Steve

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 8, 2015 at 2:55 AM

Sweet! Unusual perch, nicely-composed, and tack-sharp bird with great eyes!

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on January 8, 2015 at 11:30 AM

Luke.
O have never seen one of these, and probably never will

Bit this will do to remind me of what a beauty it is

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on January 14, 2015 at 8:53 AM

Love this shot, the owl and the perch are wonderful!

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on January 17, 2015 at 6:30 PM

Wow, lucky you! for the experience and this fabulous image! AND the Pick!

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on January 17, 2015 at 6:37 PM

Thank you for sticking around for another year! Congratulations on a great image for the WP.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on February 11, 2015 at 10:33 PM

Luke: I'm really late to this party but after seeing it on the POTM slide show I had to comment. Spectacular subject, perch and overall result. Many kudos. >=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments