Snowy Snowy :)

Gallery: AvianPosted February 1, 2015173 views8 comments

Hi everyone! This is another picture of one of the snowy owls my dad and sister and I found last month. We got caught in a crazy prairie blizzard all day but found a few owls right at the end of the day. This one was the most cooperative. He hunted right in front of us but after catching a vole he flew off and we thought he was gone. Then I spotted him on this fence! I love the way the fence looks in the snow. I also like that you can see how hard it was snowing.

I hope you like this picture! I love photographing owls!

PS Please view LARGER version

Nikon D7100
Nikkor 300mm f/4D IF-ED with 1.4x TC
ISO 3200
1/320sec @ f/6.3
+1.0 EV
resting on open truck window
Cropped to app. 85% full frame width

Processing Notes from Dad:
Converted from RAW using Phase One Capture One Pro 7 with minor adjustments to colour balance, highlights and levels
Selective adjustments to improve detail and definition, minor dodging/burning and selective sharpening in PS CS5

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on February 2, 2015 at 12:00 AM

Hi Josiah, I love the falling snow and overall feel of this. I also like the fence and how it peaks and then drops off down the hill. I am not real excited about the center comp on the owl though. If mine, I would consider bringing this back to a 2x3 crop and loosing either part of the left or the right to off center the owl. I personally would choose to loose the right side and right about where the other fence in the BG comes in the scene. It has a tendency to pull my eye. However, that comp would have been improved with a look more towards the viewer or even a little left from the owl. Anyhow, great eye to see this scene and composition to begin with.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Sandra M. Apel on February 2, 2015 at 12:44 AM

Joseph, you captured this winter scene well. The owl in the blowing snow almost appears "ghostly" adding a sense of eeriness to this winter scene. I agree with Kurt about the centered owl. My preference would be to crop from the left as I like the way the fence drops off down and to the right. Hope you had a warm fire to welcome you home.

Registered on October 15, 2013, 20 Posts, 171 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on February 2, 2015 at 1:37 AM

Well seen and captured. The photo has a lovely mood. I agree with Kurt on the need to de-center the bird, and lean towards Sandra's suggestion you take it from the left. I think these changes will make a good photo stronger.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by John Launstein on February 2, 2015 at 2:10 AM

Josiah: I love this one. There is definitely something special about it. I like it for the same reasons you do: the fence and the flying snow. You and I already talked through cropping options and the overall composition so obviously you know I think this is pretty unique with a wonderful feel and balance as posted. I can't argue with the more traditional approach to trim from the left to place the owl toward the left third, but I find myself feeling something intangible is lost when we do that in this case.

Really, really cool.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on February 2, 2015 at 8:18 AM

really a cool shot. I like the lines that the fences create, and I love the snowy feel of it. I'm in the crop from the left camp.

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

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on February 2, 2015 at 9:30 AM

neat image Josiah. The falling snow really adds atmosphere.
Composition wise I would prefer it if you cropped a big chunk from the RH side to loose that ugly metal gate.
This would also move the highest fence post to the RH side of the image and bring your main subject off centre.

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

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on February 2, 2015 at 6:05 PM

Hi Josiah,

I'd go with an off center composition too. I like Kurt's suggestion for cropping. It will make a stronger composition for sure. The snow and snowy owl are nicely exposed..............................Jim

Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments

Comment posted by Josiah Launstein on February 9, 2015 at 2:16 AM

Thank you everyone for commenting on my picture.

Registered on January 26, 2013, 52 Posts, 126 Comments