My First Snowy Owl

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I went to Long Island this morning and hoped to find a snowy owl. After a couple of hours I found this beautiful bird and was able to make some images. This is almost full frame, just cropped for composition.

Thanks to MichaelM who gave me very good directions, which helped a lot! Another surprise was that I ran into Artie Morris. I hope he found the snowies, too.

1D3, 500f4, 1.4x, 1/400s, f/8, EC +0.33, ISO 400

[Ramon M. Casares]

Wonderfull setting, love the perch, ambient and light, exposure, pose, colours and detail are excellent, I am glad you found what you were looking for. Very nice! Congratulaitons!

[Jerry van Dijk]

That perch is amazing! I like the composition you chose with this. In combination with the owl and the empty, sandy BG this looks like something from a fantasy movie! Great work.
- Jerry -

[MichaelM]

Glad you found it!!

Superb image. I have been watching the light all day, contemplating my escape from work!

[David Hemmings]

Very nice Axel, congrats on getting the shot you went for. I really like the unique setting. Nice angle and nice soft light add to the wintery feel. Maybe the perch is pretty strong but I dont think in this case it affects the image adversely.

[Dennis "Curly" Buchner]

Very nice Axel, love the perch and composition. Nice clean background

[Tony House]

Congrats on finding the Owl, always nice when a plan comes together. Curious, was you shooting from a car or was this a careful approach? The owl's here will not tolerate any movement, so being in place or in the car is the only approach, just wondered if the Snowy Owl's are more tolerant.

Nice work.
Tony

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Congrats on finding the Owl, always nice when a plan comes together. Curious, was you shooting from a car or was this a careful approach? The owl's here will not tolerate any movement, so being in place or in the car is the only approach, just wondered if the Snowy Owl's are more tolerant.

Nice work.
Tony

Thanks, Tony. This was on the beach and I walked slowly toward the owl.

[Marko Matesic]

Lovely setting ...composition and soft light are fantastic!!

[Todd Frost]

One sweet image. The perch is much larger than what we usually see here but that is one of the things that makes the image so different and appealing. Exposure and detail handled very well.

Todd

[Steve Maxson]

Hi Axel. I like everything about this image - the low angle, the sharpness, the simple composition, and the subtle colors. I would be thrilled to have this image. Having said that, I wonder if the image would be even stronger with a different head angle - say, looking at something between you and the left side of the frame and thus leaving the viewer to wonder what the bird is gazing at and why (it's that "different strokes" thing, I guess). Were you able to shoot more than just this head angle?

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Hi Axel. I like everything about this image - the low angle, the sharpness, the simple composition, and the subtle colors. I would be thrilled to have this image. Having said that, I wonder if the image would be even stronger with a different head angle - say, looking at something between you and the left side of the frame and thus leaving the viewer to wonder what the bird is gazing at and why (it's that "different strokes" thing, I guess). Were you able to shoot more than just this head angle?

Thanks, Steve! Interesting idea. Yes, I got to photograph different head angles, and I'm quite sure I have something like what you suggested. I'll process a few more in the coming days.

[Lana Hays]

Axel
I absolutely love this one. What an incredible scene.....it looks like a fine painting. Did you get any other angles....perhaps a vertical or in other places?

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Axel
I absolutely love this one. What an incredible scene.....it looks like a fine painting. Did you get any other angles....perhaps a vertical or in other places?

Thanks, Lana! Yes, I made several images and will post some more in the next few days.

[Raul Quinones]

Great picture, nice composition and colors. As mentioned above rather large perch, but you make it work.
Congrats on your first snowy.

[Jeff Nadler]

love the setting

[bill kominsky]

This whole image is amazing Axel yopu've really nailed it my friend, killer shot.

Bill

[Grace Scalzo]

COngrats, Axel!! Just a beautiful image, wonderfully composed.

[Ed Grella]

Axel,
Congrats on this beautiful image!

[LouBuonomo]

Your the first to find him on the driftwood.

[stuart wanuck]

just love it!

[Paul Lagasi]

Congrats Axel...Its always great to see a life bird....

[Michael Stern]

What a great image....congrats to the max...

[Fabs Forns]

I wouldn't change a thing! Lucky you :)

[Mark Schmitt]

It's all been said. Will only add my congratulations on a "picture perfect" image.

[Juan Aragonés]

This one is killer Axel. I wouldn´t change a single thing in this image. the perch is fantastic and I like a lot the fact that you choose a composition with lots of habitat. I also like the idea that Steve pointed out and would love to see more of the images that you made that day. Very, very good job!

[Jonathan Michael Ashton]

A real WOW shot, I love everything - wouldn't change anything

Jon

[David Roach]

A huge congratulations on your first snowy! The soft light and colors, the perch, the composition (doI really need to mention the subject); all perfection!! Just seeing one of these beauties would be amazing, let alone imaging one!! I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you, and your eagle eyes (not to mention expertise) , for helping to slowly improve my skills over this past year!!!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

A huge congratulations on your first snowy! The soft light and colors, the perch, the composition (doI really need to mention the subject); all perfection!! Just seeing one of these beauties would be amazing, let alone imaging one!! I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you, and your eagle eyes (not to mention expertise) , for helping to slowly improve my skills over this past year!!!

Thank you for the kind words and you are very welcome!

[Doug Brown]

Super image Axel!