Snowy Owl Gliding

[Diane Chenault]

Taken a few days ago in Ottawa, Canada. D300 200-400 f8 1/2500, manual metered, hand held, baited. Thanks Marc for all your help.

[Robert Amoruso]

Diane,

Beautiful bird and image. I find it a bit lacking in contrast and did a local contrast enhancement (USM 30 amount, 60 radius, 0 threshold). I also recropped it below. I like how you have the wing coming out of the upper left corner but would have preferred to see a bit more room there. If you cropped it like that you can go back and add some more room.

Great job catching this guy in flight. Sharp and good DOF.

[Bonnie Block]

Nicely done, Diane-- the little contrast boost makes it just right.

[Ted Busby]

I prefer the original; nice angle.
Well done Diane

[Mike Tracy]

Although Roberts edited version pops a little more for presentation the original better replicates the actual image as seen through the eye.

Nicely done Diane.

[Diane Chenault]

Thanks Robert for getting me started in the right direction. I liked the original, but liked the way my owl popped in your version, but not the BG. So I tried Robert O'Toole's Quick Mask method on the owl. I did crop some from the bottom too. I like the top. What do you think now?

[Vincent Grafhorst]

Your 3rd version is the best Diane, great photo, well executed.

[Jim Poor]

Very nicely done. I can't see the difference in the snow between the last two without pulling them down into a document side by side.

[Michael Borcherds]

3rd version here is brilliant - what an awesome bird & great capture - everything works for me here, congrats.

[Stu Bowie]

Superb comp, and have to agree the third version is the best. An amazing image, and well captured.

[Ted Busby]

Diane; Your "Improved" version is just that....Improved...Nice!

I like the slight crop from the original; and the Quick Mask worked nicely here, preventing the excessive blowing of the highlights.
The owl is set out nicely from the background; giving some added dimension. Composition is very good.

ps...Ordered the APTATS-1 CD...gotta give this tip a try..

[Pat Nighswander]

Beautiful shot....