Snowy Owl

[Karl Egressy]

Sometimes you make plans, get up early and your brain just don't work.
I planned to take the MIV/300 combo for possible fligt shots and the 7D/500+1.4x for static shots.
I forgot about the 7D. While switching lenses and extenders back and forth, I lost most of the actions.
Here is one take off shot I did get, white on white.
The snow was not as nice yesterday, but it is snowing again this morning.
Thanks for looking.

Canon 1D MIV
CAnon 500 f4.0 L IS
Manual Exposure
ISO 800
1/3200 s
f5.6
Hand Held

[Randy Stout]

Karl:

I like the peekaboo pose here, exposure, composition, inclusion of environment to help tell the story.

I could see softening the foreground just a bit to reduce the contrast of grass and snow, but I like it as is.

Yes, I have forgotten useful bits as well, like memory cards!

Cheers

Randy

[Arthur Morris]

Nice pose and good EXP. I could do without the BKGR (with the ruts and crop stubble?) and would have loved to have seen both eyes or better yet, the bird staring at you. I am pretty sure that had you been sitting the BKGR would have been more pleasing.

[Marina Scarr]

This pose is really working for me, Karl, as is the comp that you chose for it. I personally find that the environment adds an element of interest to this image that I like, especially the diagonal lines. Would have preferred either more or less of the far eye, but still a very powerful pose. I think I am seeing a slight blue cast. I calibrated my monitor last night and just took your image into PS. It looks even better with a slight tweak in Color Balance.

[dankearl]

I honestly don't mind the BG with the field stubble at all.
Looks cold!
A fine flight pose and good job exposing it with all the white around.

[Karl Egressy]

Nice pose and good EXP. I could do without the BKGR (with the ruts and crop stubble?) and would have loved to have seen both eyes or better yet, the bird staring at you. I am pretty sure that had you been sitting the BKGR would have been more pleasing.

Thank you Artie. I was sitting and kneeling in the snow on 1th of January while shooting this bird.
Yesterday I would have been sitting in the mud more or less. New snow fell this morning, it will be better next time.

[Karl Egressy]

This pose is really working for me, Karl, as is the comp that you chose for it. I personally find that the environment adds an element of interest to this image that I like, especially the diagonal lines. Would have preferred either more or less of the far eye, but still a very powerful pose. I think I am seeing a slight blue cast. I calibrated my monitor last night and just took your image into PS. It looks even better with a slight tweak in Color Balance.

Thanks Marina. This version is a bit brighter and I removed all the blue in hue/saturation.

[Randy Stout]

Karl:

Here is a slight tweak of the background to soften it, but not remove the feel. I selected the bird, inverted that, and then blurred the BG to taste. You of course could season to your own tastes, but this might give you some ideas.

Cheers

Randy

[Marina Scarr]

I am really liking your RP, Karl. Next time you are adjusting for a color cast, you may wish to try using Color Balance. In this case you would use the blue/yellow slider in Color Balance and slide it toward the yellow away from the blue until the blues are gone.

[gail bisson]

A beautiful action shot Karl.
I like the composition and your repost and Randy's gentle blurring look great,
Gail

[Karl Egressy]

Thanks Randy. It looks better. What blur were you using; Gaussian or surface blur?

[Randy Stout]

Karl:

I used a tech. mentioned by Tony Whitehead on a recent post. I find it gives a bit more flexibility in the look than other techniques I have tried. Worth a peak.

http://www.tonywhitehead.com/wildlig...h-backgrounds/

Cheers

Randy

[Joe Senzatimore]

Loving the repost with the BG blurred.

[Karl Egressy]

Karl:

I used a tech. mentioned by Tony Whitehead on a recent post. I find it gives a bit more flexibility in the look than other techniques I have tried. Worth a peak.

http://www.tonywhitehead.com/wildlig...h-backgrounds/


Cheers

Randy

Thanks for the link, Randy. I don't have the software being mentioned but I should buy it eventually as everybody seem to like it.

[Arthur Morris]

Hey Karl, Two questions. Are these birds being baited? Could you have sat down?

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Absolutely love the pose and the placement in the frame. Beautifully composed image.
Before reading the comments, I too felt that it could go a bit brighter and your repost addresses that. Bg works for me.
Excellent work.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Awesome Karl, nice soft light and a cool pose and ha

[Karl Egressy]

Hey Karl, Two questions. Are these birds being baited? Could you have sat down?

Hi Artie,

I just sent you and email about the aforementioned questions.