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The Snowy Owl


The Snowy Owl
Photo Information
Copyright: Asbed Iskedjian (CeltickRanger) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1805 W: 65 N: 4810] (15122)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-12-06
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon Coolpix P60, NiKKOR 5X OPTICAL ZOOM VR
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/640 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Small bird, big World [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-12-06 16:02
Viewed: 732
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
hello friends, today i went in Basses-Laurentides
at the north of Montréal, for the Snowy Owl,
first i saw it very very far in a agriculture field,
i asked the farmer if i can go to the field,
he told me « no problem » and told me its been
5 years that they have the Snowy Owl over there

so i walked on the snow in the field, i was something
around 20 meters from the Snowy Owl that he took his flight,
i was with my point & shoot, i shot the images but off focus,
it was a very bad luminosity, after that i went back to the car

then, there they where other photographers, they told
he went to the field of the other road, they took they car
and they went, few minutes later i did the samething,
i went to the other road, i was driving when i saw
the Snowy Owl coming and land, i stopped the car,
i went to the fist house and farmer, asked permission
to go on the field for the Snowy Owl, he told me
« No Problem you can go anytime when you want »
and he add « they are 5 Snowy Owls in the region »

the Snowy Owl was in the field, in ground, it was not far,
i was the only photographer there the others where far
in that road, i walked on the snow, then the Snowy Owl
take his flight and he went perch on that branch

i am telling all that story for one thing, the following,

so he perched on that branch, i walked to him,
i did a first shot from far, just after MY HANDS
START TO SHAKE, very badly, i said myself
« just relax Asbed, just relax », my hands where shaking,

i stopped for few seconds to not shake, and then
i walked to the Snowy Owl, i stopped, did a first shot,
i did a second shot, it is this one that i am posting,

and then the Snowy Owl took me by surprize,
i was waiting that he will flight in opposite side,
he took his flight but not in opposite side,
he came directly over me, yes friends i was afraid,
« j'ai eu peur », he came to me but he passed
and continu his flight, i shooted at that moment
that he is looking to me, but my image is not in focus
it is the reason i decided to not publish and post it

this is my 2008-2009 season's first Snowy Owl,
i am sure i will do other shots too in coming weeks
and months until the end of february

photo shot with my point & shoot digital camera
Nikon Coolpix P60, my D-SLR like bridge style camera
Fujifilm FinePix S6000fd was with me by i did not use it

i gived blur to the background to remove noise,
i gived Levels, and then i gived sharpening,
worked with Photoshop, ImageReady and Fireworks

i decided to add this image on Bob's (eqshannon)
« Small bird, big World » theme

Merci

Asbed
jaycee, pekkavalo1, Evelynn, boreocypriensis, gracious, Argus, Alex99, uleko, maurydv, marhowie, eqshannon has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Argus: l'Harfang des NeigesCeltickRanger 1 12-07 12:46
To jaycee: merci JaneCeltickRanger 2 12-06 17:29
To Evelynn: thanks EvelynnCeltickRanger 1 12-06 17:07
To pekkavalo1: thanks PekkaCeltickRanger 1 12-06 16:36
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2008-12-06 16:27]
  • [+]

Hi Friend,

I love your picture but I love your story even more! First, I think it's so nice that you ask the farmers' permission - I wonder how many people do that. Second, I'm sure I would react the same way you did and be too scared to take that close-up shot. I wish you had put it in the workshop. This Snowy Owl is adorable smiling up in the tree. You were so lucky to get such a clear shot. Colors and details are terrific. Nice blue sky - was it very cold today?

Jane

Hi Asbed,
Very good capture of Snowy Owl, this magnificant bird. Like you describe there is always something very spooky about owls, they seem to be on top of the situation. A pity you could not use your better camera. I can see the conditions were not good but quite good result.
TFS
Pekka

Now, now.... calm down... you did a great job! I am getting a little miffed because I can't tell you how much I would love to shoot a snowy owl in the wild!!! I would probably drop the camera or forget the lens cap or something. I love the bent branch and the classic pose. "Yahoo! for You!"

TFS
Evelynn ; )

Hi Asbed, wonderful catch of this beautiful snowy owl on the peak of a tree in a fine composition.
TFS and have a nice Sunday my friend!
Cheers,

Bayram

Hello Asbed,
Great capture of this lovely owl, excellent
composition and pov, great natural surroundings,
beautiful colros and contrast ver good sharpness and depth
of field, well done.
TFS
anfgela

  • Great 
  • RP1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 163 W: 1 N: 119] (2404)
  • [2008-12-06 19:31]

Salut Asbed,
Très chanceux d'avoir pu prendre cette belle photo.
Il n'as pas l'aire très intimidé par ta caméras.
TFS
Roger

Bonjour Asbed,
Very good shot of this Snowy Owl even with this sort of weather!
good sharpness, colour and details
well done
merci
Tony

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3813 W: 190 N: 11346] (34981)
  • [2008-12-07 1:12]
  • [+]

Hello Asbed,
A fine capture of a female Snowy Owl taken from a great POV in a bare tree top with good sharpness against a blue sky.
You are lucky that this wonderful species is relatively common in Canada compared to Europe.
TFS this beauty,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3584 W: 143 N: 5669] (18531)
  • [2008-12-07 1:48]

Hi Asbed.
In spite of huge distance to owl you managed to create a very nice picture. Both tree branch pattern and white beauty are looked wonderfully. Nice composition and exposure of the image. Well done.
Alexei.
P.S. I have met the owl only once in a life among the dense bushes. You are luckier photographer.

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2991 W: 162 N: 949] (2787)
  • [2008-12-07 2:02]

Hello Asbed,
I well understand your excitement when spotting this beautiful Owl! I've only seen it once. Your capture is lovely and shows the Owl clearly on a nice tree and against the blue sky. Very nice indeed and I enjoyed reading your note too!
Many thanks and best wishes, Ulla

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 545 W: 0 N: 735] (3213)
  • [2008-12-07 3:16]

Hi Asbed
very nice composition
well done.

Ciao Asbed,
bellissima cattura di gufo delle nevi, sono un po' invidioso che potete ammirare questo bellissimo rapace notturno, ottimi POV e composizione ambientata con lo sguardo intenso del gufo, buona definizione, i colori sono belli e naturali.
TFS.
Maurizio

Hello Asbed,
Good comp, detail, and POV, this guy is looking at the camera guy too :)
Thanks for the story behind the shot, and how you went about getting this one..
TFS,
Howard

This certainly gives the owl a much different appearance...It fits much more into the environmental type of shot and this is closer to the types of birds I see as one singer said "From a Distance" :-) Nicely positioned in the photo frame.

Bob

Ciao Asbed, great capture of lovely snowy owl with good details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hello Asbed

A wonderful capture,I am glad to hear the snowy owl is back in Mirabel.
I am searching the telephone poles everyday hoping that the local owls have returned too.As of yet I have not seen them.
You have managed very good eye contact here.
Well placed in a natural setting.
TFS

Wolf

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