Harsh

Jenaya, I like this not so much for the quality and detail of the photo as for the unadorned and powerful story it tells. To me, very emotional.

You're absolutely right about this showing what an animal such as this goes through. Even before I read you description I thought that this looked really cold and windy. And it was. So you captured that well. It sure looks lonely out there and darn little to eat. I read just today that this is another eruptive year for snowies due to an excellent breeding season last summer. This photo would be an important part of a series telling the life history of this bird. Not so much a stand alone. Good job, nevertheless, turning almost nothing into something.

Hiya Jaye! Well, you already know I find this to be a tremendously powerful image. Of course, being there hunkered down behind the truck in the ridiculous -30C windchills and whiteouts when you took this image probably biases me to appreciating your desire to portray the "harsh" realities! I think you've really done that here. I could never understand why this owl chose to situate itself right in one of the main paths of the wind and blowing snow, nor why it remained there for so long (clearly not simply eating a vole), but it provided you with a remarkable opportunity to show the other side of life as a snowy owl...we usually see gorgeous daylight images of snowies against deep blue skies with nice warm morning or afternoon light, catchlights in their eyes...all the ingredients for a killer wildlife image. But this one says something more, and I'm proud of you for seeing it, capturing it perfectly, and presenting it publicly.

Really, really cool image in my not-so-objective opinion.

Jenaya it looks like it's very tough for the Birds and the person with the camera, one glance tells the viewer the whole story ,great piece of work.

Keith.

This is a powerful image, it tells the story on how tough it is on wildlife to survive the long bitter winter. The owls body position and the blowing snow puts this image over the top. Your dedication to tell this story with your photographic vision is honorable.

Excellent work Jenaya!

Hi Jenaya!

I really like this a lot. First its your style, which is really cool because it fits well with some of your other images with a small subject in an environment shot. Second, it is easy to tell whats going on because the owl is hunched over and it looks like its ducking into the strong wind. The composition is great too. Awesome job!!

Hey Jenaya,
When I clicked on this image I had absolutely no idea what I was going to find as the thumbnail doesn't show much of anything. So naturally, my curiosity got the best of me so....Click.....BAM. There it is in all the harsh reality that is winter at the extremes. Barron, extreme, lonely, cold, probably hungry. Just trying to survive. To have seen this the way you did and capture it the way you did tells me a lot about you as a photographer. Most would simply say it's too far away and not much of a shot and leave yet you saw what most wouldn't or couldn't see and you captured the raw, harsh reality of life in the extreme. Kudos to you. I know your Mom and Dad must be super proud of you and I'm sure your younger brother looks up to you. Congratulations!