Sunrise Sentinel...

Gallery: AvianPosted May 7, 2013196 views9 comments

Great Gray Owl - Sunrise Sentinel

Another shot from an owing trip to Manitoba in March - this pose is more traditional (or "classic") than my last and almost spooky post of a Great Gray (Alien @ Sunrise)...this one appeals less to me but probably easier to "sell" as a field guide shot!

Catching a Great Gray Owl perched on a snag just a few feet above ground - and in the warm light of sunrise - is a darned good way to warm one's spirit when it's about -25C outside! It's funny how you can forget about how cold your hands and feet are when there's a cooperative owl mugging for you!

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 2x TC-20EIII teleconverter (and supported on a tripod).
Exposure: 1/800s @ f9; ISO 450. -0.67 stop compensation from matrix-metered exposure setting.
Crop: About 85% of full frame

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

http://www.naturalart.ca/galleries/latest/.

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

Cheers...

Brad

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on May 7, 2013 at 12:43 PM

Hi Brad, I like the lighting on this, it has a nice warm early morning glow to it. Based on the techs they must be quite amenable to your presence, about 35ft ish? Nice fieldcraft. Have you applied any NR to the BKG, as it looks quite smooth overall? Love the detail & texture within the plumage and that concave head, works so well for sound pick up. The hint of blue picks the cold, but wonder if a slight desaturate of the blue would gain anything, especially in the snow, WDYT?

TFS
Steve

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

Comment posted by Brad Hill on May 7, 2013 at 1:02 PM

Hey Steve,

Thanks for the feedback. In answer to your questions...

1. Nope, no differential NR on the background - the smoothness appearance is all-optical. Entire image has default/automatic NR of my preferred raw converter, but at this ISO it is exceptionally minimal (as in close to zero).

2. I guess a judgment call on the blue...I definitely like it on the shaded snow as I think it helps convey the coldness of the morning (and hasn't been at all enhanced during processing). I would opt to keep that blue in. Perhaps I could selectively desaturate it a tad on the lighter feathers on the owl that are sun-lit...may play with that a bit...

Thanks again for the laser-eye feedback!!

Cheers...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on May 7, 2013 at 1:24 PM

Sweet shot Brad. Love it as posted. Would love to get a chance at one of these birds some day.

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

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on May 7, 2013 at 1:28 PM

Very envious of your owl sightings Brad. But I get the impression you know where to look.
Another terrific shot.Personally I preferred the 'Alien' but the colours and detail on this one are superb.

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

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on May 7, 2013 at 2:46 PM

Thanks Brad, it's always nice to look at your images in ALL aspects that that may involve. I think we both are of a similar POV re the Blue, just needed to mention it and others may learn from thoughts & exchanges, something your images always do. Not sure if you use Nikons own converter or LR, interesting that LR already has some embedded sharpening built in and subject to the camera too. Interesting about the NR, I like to adjust the low & high frequency which does also help and becomes easier when exporting too.

Appreciate the feedback & info.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on May 7, 2013 at 2:53 PM

Amazing capture Brad. I love these guys and you have captured it beautifully.
May

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on May 7, 2013 at 3:04 PM

Hi Brad:

For me, this image portrays a sense of solitude. The owl looks so peaceful and comfortable. I think Steve's feedback on the snow is very insightful. Just a touch of desaturation in the blue snow might help. Wonderful image. Thanks for posting it here.

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

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on May 7, 2013 at 4:01 PM

Insightful comments. I would tend to say good as is, but I have a wish for the right eye.

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on May 8, 2013 at 2:24 AM

Brad,
Phil has beaten me to it, all other things aside the "missing" eye is my only problem.

These sure are spooky looking birds.

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