Posted by Wayne Rhodus on December 31, 2011 at 12:24 PM
Got wind that some Snowy Owls had come as far south as my area (a very rare occurance). So I made a trip over to Smithville Lake in NW Missouri to see if I could track them down. Met fellow photog Dale Edsen there and was able to spend 2 hours photographing this owl, what a treat. Scratch one off the life list!
Posted by Rod Kissinger on December 31, 2011 at 1:52 PM
Awesome photo Wayne. These are beautiful creatures-Well caught!
Posted by Merle Cook on December 31, 2011 at 3:54 PM
Wow Wayne - What a great shot.... The more or less plain foreground with the dry weeds and then dark background makes a great combination. The only suggestion - and you know me - it's a minor one- would be to crop the fg just above the dark brown mossy looking area to clean up the fg. That is one for your portfolio.
Posted by Darren Huski on December 31, 2011 at 5:01 PM
What a treat to see them that far south. Good capture and it sounds like a great day.
Posted by Tom Kennon on December 31, 2011 at 6:58 PM
Great catch Wayne! Great focus, especially the eyes. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by Howard Cheek on January 1, 2012 at 7:15 AM
Congratulations Wayne, beautiful image..Happy New Year
Wayne, This is a marvelous capture. It shows much better here on NPN than on FB.
Love the lighting...contrast against the dark blue.
Posted by Ken Bachman on January 1, 2012 at 5:38 PM
Congratulations, Wayne. Not only a rare shot but a great one as well. My only suggestion might be to crop the out of focus foreground away.
I just read this morning in the Wichita Eagle that there may be as many as 2 dozen Snoweys in Kansas this winter, one see regularly only 15 or 20 miles from me. I would be delighted to get a capture half as good as this.
Posted by Wayne Rhodus on January 3, 2012 at 3:19 PM
Thanks everyone, I appreciate your comments. I went back again yesterday and spent another 2 hours photographing a snowy on the dam. In all that time it only moved position once, and then it only moved about 10". I was hoping for some flight shots but it was not to be. I may post 1 or 2 more shots later.
Posted by Jan Harrison on January 5, 2012 at 7:58 AM
Great shot. I wish we had more wildlife images to view here on CSNP.
Discussion
10 repliesLove the lighting...contrast against the dark blue.
I just read this morning in the Wichita Eagle that there may be as many as 2 dozen Snoweys in Kansas this winter, one see regularly only 15 or 20 miles from me. I would be delighted to get a capture half as good as this.
Have a good new year.