DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 
Challenge Entries

 
You are viewing 1st place.
2nd
Portfolio Images
This image is not part of a public portfolio.
Low Owl
1st PlaceLow Owl
snaffles


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Anagram (Standard Editing)
Camera: Nikon D7100
Lens: Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
Location: VERY near Chateau Snaffles
Date: Feb 2, 2021
Aperture: 5.6
ISO: 1000
Shutter: 1/750
Date Uploaded: Feb 4, 2021

 This barred owl turned up yesterday, barely 30 ft from my kitchen window. They're hanging out by my compost bin, hunting for the rodents that raid it on a regular basis. Stayed in the immediate area basically all day, barely even noticed when I walked by it on my way out to the woodshed. This shot is literally at eye level. I did get a couple shots when they were on the ground, but at the time I was still shooting through the screen so the pics weren't that sharp.

I could have gone with a slower shutter speed and maybe a slightly lower ISO, but it was an overcast day with a slightly backlit owl. Ah well.

pp: Shot NEF, crop, adjust exposure, brightness/contrast, vibrance, HSL, dodge, inpainting, resize, NIK denoise, NIK output sharpen.

Post-challenge...YAY!!! So glad the owl did so well and is now in my top 5 :-) Considering that it hung around for about 3 hrs, despite me slowly opening the kitchen window and shooting through the screen, to slowly pushing the screen out of the way so I could get clear shots, I was really impressed with how calm it was.

Neat...Thanks much for the congrats, but actually I'm in Canada. True, same continent as the US, but definitely not the same country! :-)

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 37
Avg (all users): 7.0667
Avg (participants): 7.1765
Avg (non-participants): 6.9231
Views since voting: 1109
Views during voting: 65
Votes: 30
Comments: 15
Favorites: 2 (view)

Please log in or register to add your comments!

AuthorThread
Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i
Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM
 02/24/2021 07:35:16 PM
Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-7D Mark II
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
 02/23/2021 02:31:33 PM
Sweet capture, wtg on the blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
 02/22/2021 07:02:39 PM
Congratulations!!!!
I love this image it is just so special in every way.
OUTSTANDING
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony Alpha a7R III
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 FG HSM Art
 02/22/2021 04:10:04 PM
HE looks so tired and with plenty of thoughts in his had.. .. owls are very humans in there expressions. great image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/22/2021 11:01:08 AM
Congratulations Susan. I knew this was the blue as soon as I saw it. This would be a winner in almost any challenge. And whatever processing choices you made during development of the image, the final outcome is what counts and the mood you chose to present is perfect. Needs nothing, unless you say so.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony Alpha a7R III
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L II
 02/22/2021 09:25:58 AM
Congratulation Coach Susan. Superb composition
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D700
Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8
 02/22/2021 09:21:31 AM
Such a beautiful image, Susan. Many congrats on your Blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D7000
Nikon AF-S DX 18-105 f/3.5-5.6 ED VR
 02/22/2021 06:00:04 AM
Congrats on the blue, Susan. I love this shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon Canon 1d x Mark II
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 FG HSM Art
 02/22/2021 04:30:42 AM
Ha sorry, I forgot you were in Canada, lucky you :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon Canon 1d x Mark II
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 FG HSM Art
 02/22/2021 12:17:44 AM
What an amazing shot. I didn’t vote on this challenge. This looks like a painting. Amazing to be able to get this bird in your front yard, that’s the thing about living over there in America you get some pretty beautiful birds, and you don’t even need to leave your home.

Congratulations on your blue, you are doing quite well this year :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Nikon D7000
Nikon AF-S DX 18-105 f/3.5-5.6 ED VR
 02/21/2021 11:18:46 PM
Gorgeous picture, and your anagram matches the mood. Top shot. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D Mark IV
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L II
 02/21/2021 04:43:31 PM
nicely executed and having the soft touch in the image gives an extra boost to the image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
 02/15/2021 07:25:27 PM
This is absolutely my most favorite owl image I can ever remember seeing.
This is a 15 on a scale of 1 t0 10.. I bet you get the blue, this is superb.
So amazing, so beautiful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon Z8
Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8
 02/15/2021 12:47:59 PM
Oh, so lucky to be able to capture this! Beautiful owl and he looks resigned to the weather.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony Alpha a6700
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
 02/15/2021 09:22:12 AM
I would apply a levels correction to it to get a bit more contrast, not too much, otherwise you loose the atmosphere, but enough to enhance colours and depth.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Theme: Classic / Light / Dark
Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2026 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 10/12/2026 11:11:06 AM EDT.