A pile of Driftwood.

[dankearl]

With a Snowy Owl.
The BG is the South Jetty of the Columbia River where it enters the Pacific Ocean
on the Oregon Coast. A mile long pile of boulders, one off the longest jetties in the world.

1/1000, f7.1, iso500, 600mm, D800, Handheld

DSC_3204bp.jpg

[Robert Holguin]

Very nice shot.
I really like the background, exposed very well, and love the muted light.
I like the perch, but feel it competes with the owl. I think a vertical crop with a tad would help the viewer focus more on the owl.
Either way still a terrific shot.
Very well done.

[David Salem]

Like this shot allot. Owl is exposed well and full of detail. Great head on stare too. Have to agree with Robert about more of a vertical keeping the focus more on the owl. Well done

[Doug Schurman]

Hey Dan,

It is so nice to see the Snowies returning for this winter.

I like that the Owl is looking right toward you. Exposure looks good.

I think I would prefer a different angle to have more of a constant background. If you were able to get lower if could be all sky behind or if you were higher then the dark rocks would work well too. I just prefer not to see the two backgrounds together like that.

I just saw a Snowy up a Boundary Bay on Sunday. I can't wait to go out for some more shots.

[Randy Stout]

Dan:

The owl is lovely, sharp, well exposed, nice eye contact. I do agree with Doug about the background, at least to the extend of having the dividing line not so close to the top of the head. It almost feels like it is cropped too tight, the dark ridge acts as a visual frame for the owl.

A bit higher shooting angle would have been ideal for my tastes, but I suspect you didn't have the option.

Yes, some version of a vertical might be nice, but would have the same horizon effect.

I am sure you will get many more!

Cheers

Randy

[laurie golden]

Dan,

Exposure is perfect. I do like this photo with the jetty in the background, it shows his environment - natural but slightly modified by man. And the pile of driftwood is nice. I would not change anything.

[arash_hazeghi]

very cool, I like the pose and the driftwood might be a bit busy for a perch or BG but is a part of what you see when you photograph these birds. I got many frames last year with the driftwood.

[dankearl]

Thanks for the comments, I actually had much closer photos, but I liked the driftwood.
There are now two and possibly three Owls at the Jetty, if this keeps up it may be like Ocean Shores last winter except
a lot easier to get to, which may spoil the scene.