Snowy Owl

Gallery: AvianPosted January 11, 2012440 views25 comments

Oh, what the heck...

This is for Luke

I also took the trip to WA to see a few Snowy Owls. Here's one from today. While this might look a bit threatening, he actually just finished scratching his head.

D700
500mm
1/640
f7.1
iso 500

Comments

25 comments

Comment posted by Rob Graham on January 11, 2012 at 11:13 PM

Those eyes :). Beautiful bird. I like the soft OOF background with a bit of texture, it really separates the bird from the background while avoiding a plain BG.

Registered on August 22, 2006, 842 Posts, 2824 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on January 11, 2012 at 11:55 PM

Great view of the eyes and the furry feet and talons, Charlie. Glad you had some luck.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 12, 2012 at 5:31 AM

A very nice shot Charlie. Love the perch, BG, and light. Bird's posture adds to the shot IMO. Glad you saw some snowies.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on January 12, 2012 at 8:06 AM

Love the hunkered down pose and those amazing eyes Charlie!
I'm with Rob on the BG, great job!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 12, 2012 at 8:10 AM

love the pose, Charlie! nice setting too. this works well as is, and I think would also look good in a horizontal with less on top and more at right.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 12, 2012 at 9:47 AM

Beautiful, Charlie. I remember this one, but it didn't open it's eyes wide for me and the clouds were in the way when I was shooting it. Great perch. I was the one in camo with my wife in camo pants and a green jacket. Great pose end your usual superb job.

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

Comment posted by John Blumenkamp on January 12, 2012 at 10:48 AM

Great snowy capture Charlie! I like the raised left foot of the owl, and of course those awesome eyes staring your way.

Registered on February 26, 2011, 58 Posts, 313 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on January 12, 2012 at 11:07 AM

Charlie,

As soon as I saw this I thought "CVT got his Snowy". Kudos on this... I still think of that bird I found after we had departed that day and the guilt I've been wracked with ever since!

Gorgeous bird with a nice looking gnarled perch and very pleasing background. KC couldn't meet you down there for a shooting session?

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by John Robinson on January 12, 2012 at 1:40 PM

Cracking shot all around.

JohnR

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on January 12, 2012 at 2:00 PM

Hi Charlie, when you mentioned you were heading up this way a couple weeks ago, I thought you were heading up to BC. I guessed wrong. You did well getting those beautiful eye's so wide open, nice pose and great perch!

I was out there all day too, unfortunately I missed meeting both you and Dennis. I hope your trip keeps going this well!!!

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on January 12, 2012 at 2:15 PM

Snowy owls sure have been dominating posts here at NPN lately. I wish a few would make it on down to Texas! A very nice shot of this snowy. I like the perch and the BG and those yellow eyes are great. Those talons look formidable. Congratulations on your success.

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

Comment posted by Alan Murphy on January 12, 2012 at 3:00 PM

Killer pose. Wish the grasses were not there.

Registered on December 3, 2003, 192 Posts, 739 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 12, 2012 at 3:17 PM

What a look and pose, excellent detail on the larger image, they are really something to look at, well done.

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

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on January 12, 2012 at 4:22 PM

Great eye contact and detail Charlie, and the perch has some very interesting texture. My eyes are drawn to those talons though...ouch!

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 12, 2012 at 5:35 PM

Sweet shot, Charlie. Love the perch and nich habitat in the BG. Light was perfect to make the owl stand out with max details. Really nice.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 12, 2012 at 7:08 PM

Well done.

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

Comment posted by Doug Backlund on January 12, 2012 at 7:15 PM

I really like this Charlie, the eyes are always hard to get with these snowy owls, and seeing the talons up like that is great. Nice perch and setting too.

Registered on September 29, 2005, 252 Posts, 3380 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on January 12, 2012 at 9:50 PM

Glad you made it up to WA, Charlie! Nice one!

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on January 13, 2012 at 10:06 AM

I love all these postings of Snowy owls. Great HA and expression nice soft light and those talons, woooo

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

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on January 13, 2012 at 2:35 PM

Really nice look at this Snowy, Charlie. Nice lighting, and great background. That is some look you are getting.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on January 13, 2012 at 5:08 PM

Wonderful, love the raised foot and talons. He does look a we bit threatening!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by dan elster on January 13, 2012 at 5:38 PM

Very nice! I was there too...by chance, were you staying at the Guesthouse suites? My buddy and I stayed there and had breakfast 2 days with two San Diego photographers.

Registered on September 23, 2005, 299 Posts, 2443 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on January 14, 2012 at 7:35 PM

Hey Dan,
Yep, that was us. Nice meeting you!

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

Comment posted by May Haga on January 15, 2012 at 10:37 AM

Love capture Charlie. Excellent setting and a great pose.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Tim Sommers on January 16, 2012 at 8:24 PM

Nice photo I love snowy owls they are so fun to photograph keep up the great work

Registered on December 8, 2011, 14 Posts, 9 Comments