I showed this to a DPC member after editing and they pointed me to an entry by Ecce Signum from earlier this year. I must have missed it at the time - a great shot and I am glad it was compared to it.
Editing: Adjustment of Levels, WB, Hue/Saturation/ Selective colors, noise ninja, cropping, dodge and burn, selective blur to remove noise in in feathers and mouth (shot at higher ISO because this was a hand held shot in lower light), minor clone in eyes, resize for web, and some USM and hue/sat adjustments post resize.
[Dec. 2nd, 2008 02:53:54 PM]
She is not stuffed....
[Dec. 5th, 2008 01:37:18 PM]
Well, come to think of it, I can't tell if she is stuffed or not...I don't know when her last meal was...
Post Challenge: Thanks for all the awesome comments and those 6 favs during voting. I really never thought this was a 7.395 scoring image - I figured it would be in the mid to upper 6s...I guess people love owls!
Oh, and yes it is a bit pixelated due to reducing the size and saving it for web. The full res image is clean as a whistle!
A small advertisement....IF you are ever in Vermont, try and make a stop at the Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences (VINS). VINS has a raptor recover center where the eagle and this snowy owl live. It is worth the stop - and if you call ahead, they are really gracious hosts.
Statistics
Place: 1 out of 417 Avg (all users): 7.3951 Avg (commenters): 8.8947 Avg (participants): 7.3578 Avg (non-participants): 7.4717 Views since voting: 9935 Views during voting: 328 Votes: 162 Comments: 70 Favorites: 38 (view)
Congratulations on your blue ribbon. I new this one had to be a ribbon winner, outstanding image from the beautiful colours to the softness of the feathers.
I just love Snowy Owls. I had a chance to try to shoot one while I shot the Peregrine Falcon for Wildlife. That experience makes your picture more impressive. A) The Owl just wouldn't look at me, so the head on view is great. B) They have so much fluff it's easy for the pic to quickly turn into an abstract of an eye here and a beak there among a mass of white. Great job!
Congratulations on your double win! Both very impressive shots, taking ribbons in very competitive challenges. This guy's eyes really follow you around the home page. Lovely colors, great composition, and great production values.
Wow. Outstanding detail, lighting, and composition! Congratulations with a superb image and the blue! Didn't get around to voting the FS, but would have been my top pick.
peter, huge congrats!! Wonderful to see you on the front page, not once, but twice! Must have been an exciting week, and I'm sure your mouse finger is sore from hitting the update button so many times!
way to go PETE! cruised the site and see you here on the front page! WOOHOO!!!
Beauty too! still shaking my head at two 2's..ahh the public :)
congratulations Pete, way deserved and very well done!
A
Hey Peter, Congrats on the Blue. I thought I recognized this beauty from VINS but wasnt totally sure enough to leave a comment as I am sure there are others out there. Truely a remarkable image. Congrats once again.
hey peter .. when i looked thru the challenge just before rollover (i didnt vote) this photograph of yours was the one that i thought would give me a run for my money .. & i only thought way because of the surprisingly good score i was getting .. !! .. anyhooo .. i really cant verbalize how impressive i think this is .. perfect in every way .. i wish i could get that amazing sharpness that you have achieved .. the nearly 3D look .. that bird looks like its just about to jump out'v my monitor ..
CONGRATULATIONS ON SOMETHING MORE THAN BRILLIANT& A PB .. :)..
Excellent in all respects! Congrats to you again!
Gotta love that old Nikkor glass. The 105 f2.5 is one of the more common and inexpensive of the older Ai lenses, and still one of the best ever.
It was a day for the books, that day that Carl finally said "O RLY?" To Albert one last time.
Just try it, Albert had warned, I dare you. Just say it ONE MORE TIME.
O RLY?
Feathers flew, blood was spilled, and in the end they carted Albert off in a straight jacket. YES RLY! YES RLY, YOU BET YOUR OWLY ASS RLY! he screamed repeatedly as they dragged him off.
If this isn't picture perfect, nothing is. I gave it a 10 only because I couldn't give it a 12. Excellent photo. No matter what your final score is, you should be quite proud of this photo :)
Owl with Attitude
Add photograph to your favorites
Add photographer to your favorites
Photographer found comment helpful.
