Snowy #2: Rain Rain Go Away

[Doug Brown]

Arash and I spent Friday afternoon in a significant downpour with 3 Snowy Owls. The weather definitely kept the locals away, but since our stay was so short we braved the elements (rain, wind, and cold). Our reward was some great images of an incredible species of bird. And to be honest, I like photographing when the weather gets a little ugly. Rain gives your images a little something extra, and as Don Nelson pointed out in my first Snowy thread, the absence of directionality of light allows you to explore all 360 degrees around your subject.



Canon 1D Mark IV, 600mm, f/5.6, 1/500, ISO 800, manual exposure, tripod

[Mital Patel]

one great great image this is. superb setting here.

[Andrew Merwin]

A great image Doug. I like the BG, perch, raindrops & the wet look of the ow. TFS

[RakeshDhareshwar]

Lovely wet look of the owl and the two toned BG adds a lot !! The rain drops being spaced quite apart do not add much though . I would clone them if it were mine .

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Doug, I agree that subdued light can have the desired effects, especially helping on exposing whites, and not having shadows. I really like the angled tree trunk perch, eye contact, and the layered BG. Im fine with the rain droplets, as it shows the conditions you described and experienced.

Are these snowy's tolerant with you guys, or are they fairly skittish, flying off and returning. I ask that, as it is evident that with the direct eye contact in the few images posted, they are surely aware of you guys.

[Don Nelson]

Beautiful image. I like the perch and especially the exposed talons.

[arash_hazeghi]

this one was my favorite owl! great job, it was COLD there ;) also like the rain drops

[Sachin Saraf]

Doug, this is fabulous image and braving elements paid off...Excellent exposure, beautiful bird and perch, loved the rain drops in BG...and you composed this one nicely..

[Dumay de Boulle]

Lovely stuff, love the comp and BG...The eyes are mesmerizing!

[Kiran Poonacha]

Great setting here..

[gail bisson]

I really like the placement of the owl in the image. Very nice. As always, terrific IQ and lovely perch and environment. You and Arash will have a difficult time choosing the "ONE" for the wall,

Gail

[Michael Liskay]

Loving the wet look Doug! Nice meeting you at Ocean Shores (hey, BTW, clean out your PM box!!)

best

Mike

[yogesh_puranik]

another terrific image superb IQ environment and settings..you guys had a memorial day..

[Karl Egressy]

A very different and great looking Snowy Owl picture, Doug.
All of our Snowys left for now, probably all flew South for the time being.

[dankearl]

Very Nice Doug, better than the first.
This Owl has more brown on it than most I have seen.
Really beautiful.

[Randy Stout]

Doug:

I like the framing. Could obviously work as a vertical too, but I think the looser framing works to give more of a sense of the environment/weather.

The wet plumage makes him look rather sad.

Those great eyes really pop.


Cheers

Randy

[Josh Clark]

I like this Doug. The rain was worth it, seems to saturate the colors more of the owl. Makes him look even whiter. I like the exposed talons as well.

[Sandesh R.Dhareshwar]

Doug the exposure for the snowy Owl is perfect the details are excellent and settings brilliant

[Robert Holguin]

Wow!!! What an excellent image. Love the wet look of the owl, excellent detail, and I really like the comp.
Well done.