Photo of the Month 3/'12

Gallery: AvianPosted January 31, 20121,904 views47 comments

Snowy Owl, Mount Rainier

Over the course of four trips this winter (so far) to photograph the snowy owls, I have photographed an owl on this unique drift log perch every trip. But this time was at dusk with Mount Rainier glowing in the back ground.

Canon MkIV, 100-400mm @200mm, 1/80, f11, ISO 640, manual spot meter, full frame horizontally, vertical pano crop

All your comments and suggestions are very much appreciated.

Ken Archer

Comments

47 comments

Comment posted by Verdon on January 31, 2012 at 4:55 PM

what a stunning landscape : that was my first expression and owl like a cherry on the top of delicious cake!!! Three thumbs up!!!

Registered on June 10, 2011, 147 Posts, 1444 Comments

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on January 31, 2012 at 5:14 PM

Awesome habitat, Ken. Nice Owl too...
Mauro

Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on January 31, 2012 at 6:26 PM

Excellent! I have something similar from our area, but the drift log is nowhere as nice as yours!

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

Comment posted by Peter Cross on January 31, 2012 at 8:12 PM

Great image, Ken. The driftwood is spectacular and the owl is a real bonus. Love the colors and the alternating bands. Must br one of the darkest snowy owls I've ever seen. Thanks for sharing this with us.

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

Comment posted by Tonia Graves on January 31, 2012 at 8:23 PM

Beautiful landscape & avain photography! It's the best of both worlds! Nice job with this!

Registered on October 29, 2011, 92 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on January 31, 2012 at 8:27 PM

All the elements came together here Ken - though it would likely be better without the dark cloud band up top

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

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on January 31, 2012 at 8:52 PM

Very nice. It looks especially good in the large version. The light area under the cloud makes the drift log stand out nicely and the dark cloud bank at the top of the frame makes the owl pop. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on January 31, 2012 at 9:08 PM

A strong comp—the eye goes fro the mountain to the sky, the driftwood, to the owl. Wonderful tension and good colors!

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on January 31, 2012 at 9:33 PM

Must have been an exceptional moment. Love the image of Mt. Rainier and the snowy. What a great perch and the detail that you have coaxed out of it is very nice. Some noise in the upper band on the larger image that could be handled I think.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Schiebelbein on January 31, 2012 at 10:19 PM

Real nice Ken. Real sense of depth/space with the perch, mountain, and clouds. I like the pano crop as well.

Registered on November 8, 2008, 55 Posts, 393 Comments

Comment posted by David Bostedo on January 31, 2012 at 10:41 PM

Terrific and unique Ken! Great one. Still... I feel like just a touch more room on both sides would be welcome.

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

Comment posted by John Blumenkamp on February 1, 2012 at 2:04 AM

A great owl-scape image Ken. I really like that you framed Rainer in the background as you have here.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on February 1, 2012 at 8:45 AM

Really great Ken. Can't ask for a better area for a snowy to be hanging out. The drift wood really makes this special. The mtn. in the BG is not bad either. Awesome stuff.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on February 1, 2012 at 8:50 AM

Very cool image Ken. Congratulations.
May

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

Comment posted by Max Waugh on February 1, 2012 at 6:14 PM

Now that's cool. The blue bands really give this a funky look regardless of the presence of the mountain. Very well done, Ken. Makes me think I need to get back down there one more time this winter. ;)

Max

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

Comment posted by John Tobias on February 2, 2012 at 7:38 AM

Very nice photo. Like the composition. Must have been exciting to see the owl in such a photogenic setting, which you captured so well. Thanks for sharing.

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on February 2, 2012 at 12:43 PM

A very interesting image combining landscape, light and owl. I really like the overall composition and placement of the owl along with seeing Mt. Rainier in the background. The drift wood brings me into the image and I like that the owl has a dark sky behind it to really make it stand out more, excellent shot Ken, well seen and well done.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on February 2, 2012 at 10:07 PM

Amazing image - wonderful driftwood, nice owl, and great sunset. I agree that a bit more room on the right would add balance and impact..
I have mixed feelings about the dark band on top..
Sandy

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

Comment posted by David Haynes on February 6, 2012 at 1:11 AM

Ken,
This is just beautiful. Sorry I'm just now getting around to my commenting but I had to let you know how exceptional this is. What a setting! The very slight snow patches makes this image stand out to me and it gives texture to the perch. You must be thrilled with this one Ken. Congratulations.

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

Comment posted by Alan Bryant on February 8, 2012 at 9:53 AM

Congrats on your EP

As said by others, atad more room on the right would be nice.But it still looks A-OK as is.

I dont mind the cloud in the BG.Adds another element to the image, plus its not going through the owl

Registered on March 31, 2006, 473 Posts, 1081 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on February 8, 2012 at 11:47 AM

Congrats on a great EP!
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on February 8, 2012 at 12:52 PM

Absolutely captivating! Critterscapes -- beautiful landscapes that include wildlife -- are my favorite images, and this is one of the best. Man, everything came together on this one: light on the peak; light on the bird; great perch, it's all there. And your comp handlles it all beautifully, with the snowy in just the right proportion to the beautiful landscape, and your angle of view placing the owl against the dark part of the sky is superb. Contratulations!

Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on February 8, 2012 at 12:54 PM

Congratulations on a well-deserved weekly pick
May

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

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on February 8, 2012 at 4:06 PM

Ken, you have really been nailing some terrific shots lately! This one of the Snowy Owl is spectacular both for the bird and for the setting it's in. Congrats.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on February 8, 2012 at 6:02 PM

Whoa, I think my head is beginning to swell a bit. Thanks so much everyone for your encouraging comments on my photo

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on February 9, 2012 at 4:05 PM

Wonderful shot, with great colours and perfect composition.
Congrats on the WP!

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on February 9, 2012 at 8:13 PM

Ken,
already commented but wanted you to know how much I think you deserve this EP award. Terrific capture. Nice series. Congrats!!!

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

Comment posted by Ed Williams on February 10, 2012 at 1:21 AM

Congratulations on a well deserved weekly pick Ken. Amazing pink color, striking drift log and great composition.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments

Comment posted by Barry R. Byrd on February 11, 2012 at 1:36 AM

All been said- I particulary love the multiple horizontal lines and great use of spot meter

Registered on December 20, 2005, 136 Posts, 970 Comments

Comment posted by Anand Narayanan on February 12, 2012 at 10:48 PM

What a bird ! What a perch and What a backdrop

Awesome job on the exposure

Registered on October 25, 2009, 110 Posts, 835 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on February 14, 2012 at 2:12 PM

not sure how I missed this one, Ken, but it's awesome! congrats on a well-earned EP. everything about this rocks!

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

Comment posted by Max Waugh on March 5, 2012 at 12:18 PM

Congrats on the front page, Ken!

Max

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

Comment posted by Dan Roberts on March 5, 2012 at 1:23 PM

One of those special moments in time. Nicely done.

Registered on March 9, 2011, 69 Posts, 501 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 6, 2012 at 1:27 AM

Although I've looked at this many times I realized that I haven't commented yet. Big congrats on this beautiful image Ken

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Neal Cooper on March 6, 2012 at 11:36 PM

Congratulations on this stunning image Ken. I ilke the different color bands and the composition you used. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on March 6, 2012 at 11:38 PM

A most beautiful image.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Giuseppe Guadagno on March 7, 2012 at 10:08 AM

Ken, it's more than an Avian photo, more of a Landscape photo, more than an abstract tree photo; is more. Splendid.

Registered on February 3, 2007, 827 Posts, 5052 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on March 7, 2012 at 10:30 AM

WOW ! terrific setting n beautiful Owl.
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Murali Santhanam on March 7, 2012 at 11:20 AM

Excellent way to frame the scene.

Registered on July 31, 2008, 43 Posts, 331 Comments

Comment posted by Garry Revesz on March 7, 2012 at 1:45 PM

Beautiful shot Ken. Congrats. I'm envious. I have been looking for snowies all winter here in Ontario, Canada, but we have had such a mild winter that I think they never even bothered to pack to go south. I think they all stayed up north.

Garry Revesz
Toronto, Ontario

Registered on April 29, 2010, 0 Posts, 4 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on March 7, 2012 at 3:17 PM

Congratulations Ken. A well deserved Photo-of-the-month.
May

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

Comment posted by Shantikara Valuska on March 7, 2012 at 4:53 PM

Great image! Congrats on the award!

Registered on July 25, 2011, 38 Posts, 451 Comments

Comment posted by Mohammad Hosseini on March 8, 2012 at 1:47 AM

Ken, this is a wonderful image. Real mood for Owl, the layed color of the background is just greatly adding to the mood. Well desrve the FOM.

Registered on May 16, 2011, 15 Posts, 301 Comments

Comment posted by dan elster on March 12, 2012 at 7:51 PM

Congrats Ken! Well earned award.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on March 20, 2012 at 9:44 AM

A big congrats Ken, quite an honor.
You da man

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

Comment posted by Roger Leekam on March 30, 2012 at 9:57 AM

Ken, I only now found this & it's incredible. Congratulations! See you in Malheur.

Registered on May 28, 2009, 83 Posts, 646 Comments

Comment posted by Andrius Pašukonis on May 17, 2012 at 5:49 PM

This is a fantastic image! For me, just this wonderful driftwood with glowing Mt Rainier in the BG would already be a beautiful landscape, but with a snowy owl on the top, I'm speechless

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