Sunrise Snowy Owl

[John Whaley]

A Snowy Owl in the dunes at sunrise. 1/2000, f6.3, auto ISO 720, 500 f4 E + 1.4III, D850. Small crop and basic LR edits. Reduced yellow channel on the Owl, applied nr to bg and sharpened in PS. All feedback appreciated.

[Dorian Anderson]

I love how my eyes go straight to his, but I find that the multiple layers of blur are distracting.
It looks like it was shot with a deliberately slow shutter to get the wind in the grasses,
but that's not actually what's going on. So, I find it pretty but a bit confusing to my simple brain.

[John Whaley]

Thanks for the feedback Dorian but no multiple or even single layers of blur applied. The image is as captured. There was a low dune in front of the dune that the owl is perched on and the foreground grass is out of focus due to dof.

[dankearl]

What nice light...
I think a pano with a crop off the bottom to just above the light sand and just a tad off the top would
look awesome.

[Allen Sparks]

Hi John,
Nice light and good details on the owl. Love those eyes. As Dan states, I could see a version with more taken off the bottom. Nice frame.
Allen

[keith mitchell]

John I might just take a bit off the bottom but that apart I really do like the atmosphere you have captured and love the Owl itself,just my take.

Keith.

[John Whaley]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Here is a 5x7 crop.

[gail bisson]

I love the sense of movement in this image and the light.
I like your second crop better but would prefer this as more a a pano getting rid of the OOF stuff at the bottom.I would keep the OP and crop to just above your signature.
The more of the environment you can include the better (for my tastes anyway!)
Lovely frame!
Gail

[John Whaley]

Thanks Gail. That is easy. 16x10?

[Stu Bowie]

Hi John, gotta love these Snowy images. Great eye contact, lovely yellow eyes, and I like the wind swept grasses. Your repost in pane #9 rocks.

[Mike Poole]

Great light, fantastic subject - the last crop works best for me

Mike