Snowy Owl #2

[Melissa Groo]

Canon 1D Mark IV
500mm +1.4 TC
Gitzo/Wimberley

ISO 400
1/8000
f/5.6

Another one from my session with the juv male on Amherst Island in Ontario a week ago. I like this for the alert pose, direct gaze, widely open eyes, sweet light, and the view of that wicked talon in amongst all the fluffy whiteness.
Some recovery on whites, sharpening. Full frame.
Critiques and comments very much appreciated. Thanks for looking!

[Bill Dix]

Simply gorgeous. I love it for all the reasons you mentioned - maybe better than the previous post. Almost too large in the frame - you might have been good without the TC - but lovely just the way it is. Exquisite detail, right down to the fine feathers on the sides of the head. Exposure handled well. What a thrill to be this close to this handsome beast.

[Craig Kerr]

A beautiful owl image Melissa - Bill has said it all

[Doug Brown]

Sweet light and a nice pose. Love the talon peeking out! We never got a minute of sunlight in my time with the Snowies. I agree that the bird seems a little too large in the frame, and I'm not crazy about the grass in front of the bird.

[Sachin Saraf]

What a beauty Melissa..That light is magical and made all the difference here...you handled the exposure quite well and IMO the OOF grass in RH upper corner can be cloned.

[gail bisson]

This is lovely but I prefer the first one. Great light and IQ,
Gail

[Morkel Erasmus]

Exquisite light and angle - those eyes!
Well exposed too...

[arash_hazeghi]

very nice light and details! good HA. I would clone out the longer grass that runs diagonally through the tail

[Marina Scarr]

Love the pose and light, but feel it's a tad too large in the frame. Nice exposure and I love that talon peeking out! I too prefer Snowy #1.

[Carmelo Cannova]

Excellent capture. If it was mine I would clone the grass on the bird. Otherwise love it.

Carmelo

[Terry Olmsted]

Love it! Looks like a young bird. Those eyes being wide open really make it for me. Wonderful detail and great exposure/composition!
Terry

[Daniel Cadieux]

What a thrill Melissa, and you did quite well with it!! I like this image alot, but when compared with #1 other is much stronger compositionally IMO. Still an image I'd love in my files.........

[Robert Holguin]

Wonderful shot. Excellent light, whites are spot on, great detail, love the eyes, and I loke what seems to be a bloody beak and feathers.
Either image is stunning and would love them in my files.
Well done.

[Melissa Groo]

Thanks to all for taking the time to comment, much appreciated.

[Christopher Ciccone]

I've been going back and forth between the two SNOWs that you've posted trying to decide which is my favorite (not that I have to pick one) and I think that I like the first post just a little bit more, and only because the OOF grass in the foreground of this one I find just a bit distracting. The IQ and detail on both are fantastic.