Snowy Owl Lift Off

[Michael Liskay]

A few weeks back I was fortunate to have a fellow BPN member talk me into getting up at 2:30AM, driving 4hrs, dragging a bunch of gear for 1+ mi along the beach to photograph Snowy Owl, which have irrupted onto the NW coast. These birds were a lifer for me and hence extra special. I know that there are a gazillion SO images going around this year but I humbly submit this image as my initial post. I look forward to participation in this forum and learning from the many experts here!!

[Sachin Saraf]

Michael welcome to BPN! I am no expert but this is a great start from you...excellent take off pose, beautiful perch but IQ seems to be low.
I will suggest, you should post the EXIF and if you were shooting with tripod and what you did in PP etc. which will help masters here to help you better.

Looking forward to more from you.

[Michael Liskay]

I followed the directions here in terms of size on the vertical and total KB allowed. I have a 16 x 20 version of this same image hanging on my wall and the IQ is excellent. This image was also chosen as a "Photo of the Day" on the Image Resource site. So I don't know what else I can do. Besides darkening the sky a bit and lightening up the shadow on the bird's right side, I really had to do very little processing. Maybe the way I downsized using an Action dohicky that I always use to post images??? Anyway, thanks for looking and your comments.

[Doug Brown]

I recognize this image and the story behind it! Good to see you posting here Michael! Love the takeoff pose! Snowies sure do look nice against a blue sky. Having seen this photo in person, I would have to say that image quality has suffered a bit in this post, likely due to JPEG compression. The file size is only 160 KB, but you can post up to 250 KB (along with 800 pixels tall and 1024 pixels wide). Also there's an art to processing files for web presentation in general and BPN in particular; it takes a little time to get your workflow dialed in. Feel free to contact me if I can be of more assistance (I am happy to help you reprocess the image).

[gail bisson]

Welcome to BPN
Lovely first post and what a bird to start off with. I like the take off pose and do agree that something wonky has happened in your web image. Can you tell us your exif data and what you did in PP so we can help solve the issue.
Good composition and dynamic pose. Might try to lighten the ( bird's) left eye a bit. You will learn a ton here1
gail

[Michael Liskay]

I recognize this image and the story behind it! Good to see you posting here Michael! Love the takeoff pose! Snowies sure do look nice against a blue sky. Having seen this photo in person, I would have to say that image quality has suffered a bit in this post, likely due to JPEG compression. The file size is only 160 KB, but you can post up to 250 KB (along with 800 pixels tall and 1024 pixels wide). Also there's an art to processing files for web presentation in general and BPN in particular; it takes a little time to get your workflow dialed in. Feel free to contact me if I can be of more assistance (I am happy to help you reprocess the image).

Yeah, now I am noticing like macro blocking in the sky. Hmm will try again and may have to take you up in your offer

[Michael Liskay]

Gail

I much sppreciate your looking and your comments. I notice that my Tif version that I printed from looks great. Jog not so much and downsized even worse. I have some work to do.

[Karl Egressy]

Grea pose and perfect timing, Michael. I also like the perch. it looks like a huge tooth.

[Michael Liskay]

I followed the directions here in terms of size on the vertical and total KB allowed. I have a 16 x 20 version of this same image hanging on my wall and the IQ is excellent. This image was also chosen as a "Photo of the Day" on the Image Resource site. So I don't know what else I can do. Besides darkening the sky a bit and lightening up the shadow on the bird's right side, I really had to do very little processing. Maybe the way I downsized using an Action dohicky that I always use to post images??? Anyway, thanks for looking and your comments.

Let's see how this one works. I posted this same file on FM about a month ago. EXIF: Canon 1D Mk IV, EF 500 f/4 + 1.4X TC, ISO 640, f/8, 1/4000, -0.33EV. Processed mainly in Aperture using Nik Software plugins (I think).

[gail bisson]

The repost is a HUGE improvement in IQ and sharpness. I am almost happy except I still would like to see the left eye lightened a bit.Thanks for including the EXIF. We are all obsessed with having that info with every post! I like Karl's observation that the perch looks like a giant tooth,
Gail

[Don Nelson]

Mike
It was a good trip back in early December! Glad you could come along.
Your repost is signifantly improved over the original.
Regards
Don

[Sachin Saraf]

The re post has significant improvement...

[dankearl]

Great photo, Michael.
The repost looks great to me.
As a fellow Oregonian, I am jealous you guys knew where to go!
A fantastic first post here.

[arash_hazeghi]

repost is great Mike! it was great meeting you last week!

[Michael Liskay]

The repost is a HUGE improvement in IQ and sharpness. I am almost happy except I still would like to see the left eye lightened a bit.Thanks for including the EXIF. We are all obsessed with having that info with every post! I like Karl's observation that the perch looks like a giant tooth,
Gail

Gail

I appreciate you looking again! And I promise I will lighten that left eye! :D

Mike

[Michael Liskay]

Mike
It was a good trip back in early December! Glad you could come along.
Your repost is signifantly improved over the original.
Regards
Don

Don

Again, I really appreciate you making me get up early!!

Mike

[Michael Liskay]

Great photo, Michael.
The repost looks great to me.
As a fellow Oregonian, I am jealous you guys knew where to go!
A fantastic first post here.

Dan

Thanks for looking and the kind word fellow Oregonian!!

Mike

[Michael Liskay]

repost is great Mike! it was great meeting you last week!

Arash

Likewise, was a pleasure meeting you last week and thanks for checking out my first image post!

Mike

[Mital Patel]

Michael everythings been said.
i would only say.

best timed shot and best positioned for superb light and excellent freeze.

cheers

[Michael Liskay]

The repost is a HUGE improvement in IQ and sharpness. I am almost happy except I still would like to see the left eye lightened a bit.Thanks for including the EXIF. We are all obsessed with having that info with every post! I like Karl's observation that the perch looks like a giant tooth,
Gail

Gail

Lightened up that left eye some. I think that this is better.

Thanks for the suggestion!!

Mike

[gail bisson]

Aaah... now I am happy!! One for the wall,
Gail

[Michael Liskay]

Grea pose and perfect timing, Michael. I also like the perch. it looks like a huge tooth.

Yes, I was struck by that also having had a good deal of dental work done over the years!

Thanks for looking Karl

Mike