Hawk Owl +REPOST

Gallery: AvianPosted February 28, 2011247 views20 comments

I was rewarded for taking a drive with my family in a heavy snowstorm today when we spotted this Northern Hawk Owl. He was perched at the top of a dead tree scanning the snowy field for something to eat. I got some quick shots from the truck to make sure I got a picture, but he actually let us approach to about 40 yards. I was really excited to see a Northern Hawk Owl because I love owls and don't get to see them very often.

This image is actually a blend of two pictures because all of my vertical shots ended up having too many snowflakes in front of his face or he was looking the wrong way...I "stole" the owl from a horizontal picture that didn't have as good a composition and had my dad blend the layers. I tried lots of shutter speeds for different effects with the snow, but I ended up liking this one best.

I would really appreciate your comments on the composition. I wanted to put the owl at the left third, but it ends up cutting off the lower branch and it didn't look as good that way to me. Do you think having him in the top center works OK? Any other comments or suggestions will be appreciated!

This is basically full vertical frame.

Nikon D300
Nikkor 300mm f/4 AF-S w/ TC-14E II
ISO 400
1/1000sec @ f/5.6

Comments

20 comments

Comment posted by David Bostedo on February 28, 2011 at 11:20 PM

I like the composition here just fine. I think the diagonals keep it from feeling too weird. I think the "rule of thirds" can be ignored easiest in oddly shaped images, which this certainly is. It definitely has the right feel with the snow.

Registered on May 5, 2006, 178 Posts, 2224 Comments

Comment posted by Andrius Pašukonis on March 1, 2011 at 12:42 AM

I would probably like to see a little more space on the right side, but as you said, cutting the branch is not an option. Overall I love this picture. Such a gorgeous settings and I really like to see the environment around the animal.

Registered on July 23, 2005, 111 Posts, 408 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 1, 2011 at 6:13 AM

Very atmospheric Jenaya - I like it

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on March 1, 2011 at 8:41 AM

Jenaya: I think this is very appealing. The strong vertical pano crop presentation is pretty unique for an image like this. With the snow falling, it seems to work. I think it would be interesting to see just a bit more room on the right. Maybe adding a bit of canvas on the right. Wouldn't want to crop off the branch on the left to make that happen. Very nice image.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on March 1, 2011 at 11:08 AM

Great winter shot- I like your idea of a strong vertical composition, I'd try to add just a bit more canvas on both sides (more on the right one)- very well done, Fabio

Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on March 1, 2011 at 11:10 AM

Love the mood and composition. Whilst I did not notice the 'blend', now that you've mentioned it, I do notice it at first glance. The odd thing though, and I cannot explain it, is that if I stared at the owl for a longer time, that 'blend' sort of "disappears"! Weird.

PS: The repost as presented is my preference.

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 1, 2011 at 11:24 AM

I love the snow and the perch and the size of the owl in the overall composition. This is a very moody image - the sort of shot that I'd never get tired of viewing framed and hung on the wall. I wouldn't mind a little more room on both sides but I like this very much as presented.

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

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on March 1, 2011 at 2:16 PM

Hi again, everyone and thank you for your comments. We chose to do a pano crop to emphasize how he is up high looking over the fields for hunting. Actually my Peterson's Field Guide even says these owls are commonly perched at the very top of a tree, so I wanted to emphasize this characteristic.

The "blend" is basically painting the better owl/pose over top of the original on this vertical shot so we could see his eyes...it's very tight to his outer feathers, but the soft snow surrounding him does look "blended!"

I was so happy to see this guy and that he picked such an interesting-looking tree to perch in, with just enough angle for some snow to build up instead of just a straight vertical line.

I'll play with the image a little more later and might repost a different version with more space if I end up with something I like.

Thank you again! I wish I could photograph owls every day!

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 1, 2011 at 5:05 PM

Jenaya, this is beautiful!
You have an excellent eye for composition!
You're right that GENERALLY images seem more balanced and pleasing when the subject is not so centered - but you have found here that the "rules" often don't apply to unusual things like this wonderful perch.
The bottom line is what LOOKS right TO YOU - and this is just great the way it is!

I think the owl could use a little more contrast, if you know how to do selective contrast adjustments - ie only to the owl. Try it so see what you think.
Keep up the great work!
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on March 1, 2011 at 5:46 PM

Jenaya

This image works very well for me as posted. I love the mood, the comp you used and the falling snow.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 1, 2011 at 6:07 PM

Looks excellent to me too

Sweet photo Jenaya!!!

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on March 1, 2011 at 6:35 PM

I wish I could photograph owls every day!

Me too!! They are magnificent birds.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on March 1, 2011 at 6:44 PM

I hope it's OK to post the original (non-blended) image as a repost. This is the image as I took it, with selective dodging and burning to the owl and tree. I also brightened the whole image a little. I do like his pose here but we thought he looked better in the picture I used in my original post, especially his eyes and beak.

I took your suggestion to add more contrast to the owl. We had done so originally but kept it to a minimum so it didn't pop too much to fit the overall mood of the picture.

I'd love your comments on which you think is better in terms of the crop, brightness, and contrast, as I would like to enter this into some contests.

Thank you!

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

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on March 1, 2011 at 7:56 PM

Very nice image Jenaya, this is a personal preference issue but in terms of crop and location of the owl in the photo I like the repost better. As to the contrast I like the original post best. In other words I like the original post but prefer the wider crop and the owl more to the left, off center.

Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on March 1, 2011 at 9:56 PM

really nice, Jenaya, and well thought out. I prefer the contrast and the owl in your original (blended) post, and the composition of your reposted (original) post. love the setting, and really, I like both comps.

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on March 1, 2011 at 11:15 PM

Love the first version as posted. Frame it! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Andrius Pašukonis on March 2, 2011 at 1:04 AM

I will echo the previous posts saying that I prefer the contrast and the owl itself of the first one but the composition of your repost.

Registered on July 23, 2005, 111 Posts, 408 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on March 4, 2011 at 12:30 AM

Composition works for me Jenaya! The falling snow is beautiful. Congratulations on another fine photo.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on March 7, 2011 at 6:02 PM

Thanks for all of your comments and suggestions everyone! My dad and I are thinking of entering the second one with reduced contrast because the contest I want to enter does not allow you to take an animal from one picture and add it to another.

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

Comment posted by John Launstein on April 5, 2011 at 11:17 PM

Jaye - I still can't believe you got the shots you did in the conditions you were in. I guess as someone who was involved in the decision on how to crop, etc., I might be a little biased here, but I really think you created a wonderful composition. This image remains one of my all-time favourites of yours. Way to pay the price in the freezing cold and HEAVY snow to get these images.

The effect of the snow, not just the individual flakes but how they create that wonderful, soft, moody background is fantastic.

The character of the tree branch this owl perched on is wonderful, and the addition of the snow just makes it that much more interesting without distracting from the beautiful subject.

Great job. You already know I wish I had similar images, but I enjoyed being a shoulder tripod for you while hearing your shutter clicking away as this owl posed for us.

Your Dad,

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