Great Gray Owl on the Prowl

[Doug Brown]

Here's a nice theme shot of a GGO that I took 3 years ago (has it really already been 3 years???) on a trip to Canada with Marina Scarr and Daniel Cadieux. This owl was my favorite because of its charcoal gray plumage. It was seriously cold up there, but the trip was one I'll never forget!

Canon 1Dx, 500 mm, f/8, 1/2000, ISO 800, manual exposure, hand held

[Jim Crosswell]

Amazing image Doug! I like the IQ, complimentary BG, eye contact and perfect composition. That was one of two polar vortex years we had up here, both were incredibly cold.

[Doug Brown]

Here's a screenshot from my iPhone on our last day of photography. At least it was sunny!!!

[christopher galeski]

Nice image,sharp with good detail,like the incoming flight pose.TFS.

[keith mitchell]

Minus 23 now that is cold,you caught this magnificent Owl spot on,those eyes really pull the viewer into the frame,excellent work.

Keith.

[Jonathan Ashton]

The image is absolutely amazing and the weather - I can not really imagine how cold that is, we think its cold here when it's minus 5!

[Jim Crosswell]

The minus 23 is the temperature but note the wind chill factor of minus 41. That winter you could bring a pot of water outside and throw it in the air and it would turn into ice crystals, no water would hit the ground. Great fun for the kids!

[Michael Thompson]

Wow, it all came together here! low flying right towards you, great light, tack sharp! I see these in the winter in Minnesota, but it always seems to be dark, or snowing

[Stuart Philpott]

Doug it is such an amazing frame, the colour pallette so subdued but those eyes so vibrant, like Keith said they just pull one in. I also really like the sharpness of the owls greys set against the BG greys,
simply stunning

take care

Stu

[Doug Brown]

Here's a snapshot of the three of us from the trip. The native Canadian is the guy without gloves on his hands!

[Tim Foltz]

Doug, sweet head on shot. -21º is far to cold for me though.

-Tim

[Daniel Cadieux]

This owl was my favorite of the week, too, but I got nothing as good as this on it. The others did well for me though! High impact image, and I love the flared primaries.

...it's also pretty easy to guess which one lives in Florida LOL!

[Marina Scarr]

Love this image, and I remember this owl as well b/c its face was darker then the others. I like the hint of a snowy mound in the BG. It's so much fun to work up old images and find gems.

I also remember my fingers and toes being frozen but my face was fairly toasty since I was wearing a mask. I may be from FL, but I think I held up fairly well considering the crazy temperatures!

[Doug Brown]

Appreciate the comments everyone!

[Glenn Conlan]

Perfect theme shot Doug a definite wall hanger. Love the exposure and detail showing a intense stare jumping out at you, well done

[John Hackney]

Fantastic shot Doug.

[Satish Ranadive]

Gorgeous Incoming flight shot.
Regards,
Satish.

[Brian Desjardins]

Amazing photo !!! I also had to comment about the -23 c , lived in Quebec, Canada for over 30+ years , as Jim stated its the wind chill factor that's the killer, your happy when it snows !