<< Previous Next >>

The look


The look
Photo Information
Copyright: Helene Provencher (chouette) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 0 N: 843] (3000)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-01-28
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel, Canon EF300mm 4/L IS
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/2500 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Birds and Animals in the Snow, Snowy Owls (Bubo scandiacus) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-03-19 18:10
Viewed: 2557
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 46
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Another in flight shot of the snowy owl :-D
I know the background is not terrific (white on white) but I especially like this capture because of the powerful look.

Tell me what you think about!
Thanks for viewing and comments


Description: The Snowy Owl is a large, diurnal white Owl that has a rounded head, yellow eyes and black bill. The feet are heavily feathered. A distinctive white Owl, their overall plumage is variably barred or speckled with thin, black, horizontal bars or spots. Females and juveniles are more heavily marked than males - adult males may be almost pure white, although they have up to three tail bands. Adult females are distinctly barred throughout, and have from four to six tail bands. Immatures are very heavily barred throughout, and dark spotting may codominate or dominate the overall plumage. Intensity of dark spotting varies with the sex of the immatures, females being the darkest. Juveniles are uniformly brown with scattered white tips of down.

Size: Length 51-68.5 cm (20-27") average female 66cm (26" inches), male 59cm (23")
Wingspan 137-164cm (54-65")
Weight 1134-2000g (40-70oz) average female 1707g (60oz), male 1612g (57oz)

Hunting & Food: Most hunting is done in the "sit and wait" style. These Owls are highly diurnal, although they may hunt at night as well. Prey are captured on the ground, in the air, or snatched off the surface of water bodies. When taking snowshoe hares, a Snowy Owl will sink its talons into the back and backflap until the hare is exhausted. The Owl will then breaks its neck with its beak. Snowy Owls have been known to raid traplines for trapped animals and bait, and will learn to follow traplines regularly. They also snatch fish with their talons. Small prey up to small hares are swallowed whole, while larger prey are carried away and torn into large chunks. Small young are fed boneless and furless pieces. Large prey are carried of in the Owl's talons, with prey like lemmings being carried in the beak.
Snowy Owls are mainly dependent on lemmings and voles throughout most of their Arctic and wintering range. When these prey are scarce they are an opportunistic feeder and will take a wide range of small mammals and birds. Some mammal prey include mice, hares, muskrats, marmots, squirrels, rabbits, prairie dogs, rats, moles, and entrapped furbearers. Birds include ptarmigan, ducks, geese, shorebirds, Ring-necked Pheasants, grouse, American coots, grebes, gulls, songbirds, and Short-eared Owls. Snowy Owls will also take fish and carrion.
Snowy Owls produce large, rough-looking cylindrical pellets with numerous bones, feathers, and fur showing. They are usually expelled at traditional roosting sites and large numbers of pellets can be found in one spot.



Crop, levels, contrast, USM, framed, resized.

Speed: 1/2500 f/7.1
ISO 400
Focal Length: 300mm
Hand held
jeanpaul, scottevers7, goutham_ramesh, pvs, wkshelton, gelor, nardophoto, wallhalla15, Luc, marhowie has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To jossim: Bonjour Josephchouette 1 03-21 21:53
To manyee: Hello Manyeechouette 1 03-21 21:46
To ddg: Bonjour Didierchouette 1 03-21 21:45
To ldsouza: Thank you!chouette 1 03-21 21:43
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • hibou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 216 W: 1 N: 329] (1617)
  • [2006-03-19 18:18]

Bonjour Hélène,
Belle capture. Le blanc sur blanc de l'arrière plan comme vous dites, démontre bien la couleur de l'oiseau ... Certes il serait mieux d'avoir un ciel bleu mais en effet ... le sujet est "LE Look". merci de partager. Donald

Bonjour Hélène
Cette photo est vraiment magnifique.Je rêve au jour ou je pourai en prendre une d'aussi bonne qualitée . Les couleurs et les détails sont supers.Beau Moment que ce regard qui te fixe durand que tu le prends en photo.
Au revoir et merci....JP

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1575 W: 5 N: 2181] (12252)
  • [2006-03-19 20:41]
  • [+]

Belle prise Helene!

Le regard est perçant et les détails bon. Pas facile d'avoir un contraste entre le sujet et l'environnement. Je suis allé hier à un endroit que l'on ma conseillé pour en prendre un en photo mais malheusement après trois heures je n'ai rien vue.

Merci pour l'envoie!


joseph

Helene,
I am so envious!! how do you get shots of owls .. I cant find any .. :(
As you said, the background of something other than white would have been better, but you got your DOF perfectly, he is entirely in focus, love the camber of his fore wing .. beautiful!!! The feathers of the far wing are also in focus .. well done!!!!
TFS,
Liezel

Hi Helene,
A great shot. To get him flying by and have him look over right into the camera is amazing. Nice sharp detail, and he is frozen perfectly. Nice work!
Scott

Hi ,

Great picture, The eyes of the bird is superb!!. You have really done well to shown the details with this kindda BG
Great Composition, colors, DOF and very good POV
TFS
Goutham R

Hello Helene,
thank for nice photo. Good dynamics, expressive eyes. I like it a lot.
Best wishes,
Elena

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1168 W: 261 N: 3035] (13835)
  • [2006-03-20 1:41]

Hi helene,

A very good capture of this snowy owl,sometimes you don't have the possibilty to choose your BG,I like the look in his eyes,well done and TFS,

Paul

I love that look as well.
How is he flying straight with his head turned that way?
A fantastic shot. TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 855 W: 23 N: 942] (5111)
  • [2006-03-20 4:08]
  • [+]

Helen bonjour, super dans la serie "chouette" !!! Je ne savais pas que ces oiseaux là se deplacaient si facilement en plein jour!! Votre photo est magnifique, comme toujours, mes felicitations Didier.

Hi Elene,
bellissima foto colta al volo! Grazie per averla condivisa.

Hi Helene,
What a shot, I love the owl looking right at you perfect timming. The colors are great to produce this photo with all the white and to be so clear that is just excellent. TFS Kyle

  • Great 
  • gelor Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 126 W: 3 N: 12] (523)
  • [2006-03-20 10:36]

Bonjour Hélène,
Très beau sujet. Quelle chance de pouvoir photographier cet oiseau. L'autre en vol est également superbe. Félicitations.
Gérard

This is a wonderful shot, Helene!!!

  • Great 
  • zeca Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 373 W: 14 N: 538] (2881)
  • [2006-03-20 23:00]

What a wonderful shot, Helene! I will add it like one of my favourites! I love this birds and your capture is amazing. The owl is looking to you and that eyes colour contrast is perfect. TFS! Regards!
Zeca

This is a great action shot. Good timing. I think he likes the camera. The pose is perfect. Well done.

Excellent details and sharpness, great composition and great colours. Fantastic work! Well done, Helene. TFS.
Gr.
Heinz

  • Great 
  • TPAKT Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 114 W: 23 N: 19] (87)
  • [2006-03-21 14:22]

Privet Helene.
This yellow-eyed owl likely has very much interested in the photographer. Very tender photo.

Well captured Helene,
Good clear and sharp detail. Good colours, composition and good handling of the exposure.
Thanks for posting, have a great week.

Hi Helene,
Another excellent take of this wonderful owl..

You just keep showin' off your showy-snowy ;-)

Very well done.

Nice detail considering exposure problems to overcome, well done.

Excellent how you recieved eye contact from this beautiful snow owl, the piercing yellow eyes really draw you into the picture. :)

  • Great 
  • gazo Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 74 W: 0 N: 13] (88)
  • [2007-01-28 0:47]

Fantastique photo en action.
Ce harfang vous a repéré... :)

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF