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Owl with Attitude
1st PlaceOwl with Attitude
bassbone


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Free Study 2008-11 (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Nikon D300
Lens: Nikon MF 105mm f/2.5 AIS
Location: VINS Quechee, Vermont
Date: Nov 8, 2008
Galleries: Nature, Animals
Date Uploaded: Nov 11, 2008

 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: 9321
Views during voting: 328
Votes: 162
Comments: 70
Favorites: 37 (view)

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AuthorThread
 07/31/2012 08:28:58 AM
Awesome shot, added to faves
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2011 12:05:46 PM
Filling the frame was a great choice...the eyes are mesmerizing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/06/2009 07:59:02 PM
Going into my favorites!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2009 11:06:23 AM
An absolutely spectacular photograph.
Outstanding detail, lighting, and composition here.
Congratulations on your first place win!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/14/2008 11:20:24 PM
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.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/12/2008 02:07:13 PM
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!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/11/2008 11:34:47 PM
Congratulations, a beautiful shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/11/2008 01:18:53 AM
Two ribbons for two freestudies. WOW...good week huh? Congrats on both the ribbons...the images are amazing!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/10/2008 03:58:12 PM
you are definitively a bird specialist!! grast rpcessing work!! congrats on the ribbon!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/10/2008 11:43:40 AM
Way to go--good week, eh? :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/10/2008 12:06:17 AM
This is a hell of a job. The detail is stunning, and the open mouth makes the picture. Arguably the best owl shot ever posted to DPC.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/09/2008 08:17:28 PM
Very nice! Congrats on the blue Peter. What an incredible week for the bassbone! So cool.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/09/2008 04:46:46 PM
What is about owls? No matter. This is well deserved. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/09/2008 01:21:27 PM
Peter, congrats on another blue. This is so beautiful! The detail is just amazing!! Nice job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/09/2008 07:29:46 AM
Congrats on a well deserved ribbon Peter! Fantastic shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 09:30:38 PM
Ha! If you open both yours and his and click between them real quick, the owl moves toward you :) Awesome shot and very nice processing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 08:09:10 PM
Jesus! It scary me! Amazing image and well deserved Blue
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 06:40:26 PM
That's just spectacular.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 03:41:34 PM
Good job! Great detail.

I am still laughing at the "stuffed" comment.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 01:00:19 PM
An absolutely spectacular capture. Congratulations on your first place win!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 12:43:35 PM
CONGRATS!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 12:14:30 PM
Congrats on the ribbon, Peter, this shot is just stunning.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 12:00:57 PM
Whoo Hooooo Peter - this is fantastic & so well deserving of the BLUE !!! Happy for you :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 11:07:44 AM
Peter, this is an amazing shot! Congrats on 2 ribbons in the same week, and one of them a masters, Wow!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 10:12:03 AM
Peter, WOW!!!!!!!! I am busting with pride for you! Two ribbons in the most impressive challenges of all time! YOU are AMAZING! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 09:35:31 AM
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.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 09:19:22 AM
You have had a very successful year. Keep up the good work!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 09:00:37 AM
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.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 08:58:59 AM
Peter, amazing! A ribbon for both of your free study shots! Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 08:34:28 AM
Peter, congrats on the blue!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 08:16:25 AM
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!

very well deserved!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 07:53:51 AM
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
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 06:29:54 AM
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.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 06:29:41 AM
Congratulation Peter. Awesome shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 05:18:44 AM
Wow - two front pagers. Way to go man!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 05:02:55 AM
This snapshot hurt my eyes! to bad can't see the whole face!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 04:21:08 AM
Wow! What a wonderful thing to wake up to, Peter. Congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 03:37:22 AM
Ooooh look at you in the pretty blue! Quite an achievement and a really incredible photo! Congrats, Peter!

Message edited by author 2008-12-08 03:39:48.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 01:44:03 AM
Fabulous image Congrats on your Blue
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 01:31:41 AM
I also thought this might have been one of Andi's shots!!
Great shot,with wonderful detail.
A very well deserved blue ribbon:-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 12:56:47 AM
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 .. :)..
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 12:54:17 AM
This is probably the best owl picture I've ever seen. Great work, Peter and congrats on the blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 12:47:40 AM
Peter, congratulations on the BLUE!!! Great job with the editing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 12:42:15 AM
WOW! That's quite a stare! :)

Blue in a free study AND your new personal best. Congrats!

Message edited by author 2008-12-08 00:42:46.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 12:15:59 AM
WOW...congrats on the BLUE in a very strong FS...well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 12:15:12 AM
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.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 12:14:00 AM
Congrats on Blue!! without a doubt well deserved.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 12:05:34 AM
HA - I knew it!! Congrats on your blue!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
12/07/2008 10:30:02 PM
Fantastic capture!!! I forsee a ribbon in your future!! Had to come back and bump you up to a 10 - this just rocks!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/07/2008 09:30:53 PM
OMG!! Way WAy too cool..
This is the Best Yet!!! Have never seen Snowy looking as intense as he is here.. Simply Fantastic!!!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/07/2008 02:49:29 PM
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.

It's never pretty when someone finally snaps.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/07/2008 01:25:24 PM
Wow - great owl photo! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/06/2008 05:51:02 PM
Yellow eyes grab attention, complimented by the red mouth, while the detail preserved in the feathers gives the eye lots to explore. Very well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/05/2008 11:27:36 PM
Owls always make the top 10. And this is a good one. Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/05/2008 11:02:25 AM
Wow, now that is in your face!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/05/2008 10:11:52 AM
Wow, this is really in your face, love the detail and focus
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/05/2008 09:46:09 AM
Whoa! I jumped a little there. This is a very cool picture! And a little funny because he reminds me of a muppet while his mouth is open.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/04/2008 06:19:09 PM
Perfect - spot on exposure, perfect focus, great crop and a real cool expression on this little guy's face. Brilliant. Ribbon winner for sure.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/04/2008 10:25:27 AM
Excellent processing. Love the details. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/04/2008 06:25:02 AM
So symmetrical it looks mirrored about the central axis - a 10 from me; fabulous.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/03/2008 08:51:35 PM
I love how the feathers on either side of his beak get pushed out when he opens it. Great detail and interesting expression.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/03/2008 05:45:53 PM
Wonderful. Brilliant detail. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/03/2008 04:55:48 PM
Outstanding detail and great closeup.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/03/2008 01:14:44 PM
Wow, so beautiful, so National Geographic. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/02/2008 11:53:07 PM
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 :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/02/2008 09:34:36 PM
Wonderful. All of it. The color... the focus... the expression... the crop... all of it. (not voting yet)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/02/2008 02:52:35 PM
Great shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/02/2008 08:17:33 AM
this looks very much like a stuffed owl, the reflections in the eyes seem to be windows. Is oversharpened, too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/02/2008 05:43:57 AM
wow...this should do well, the detail is amazing...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2008 02:09:26 AM
Very good photo technically, I've seen it before on DPC, or at least this style of photo. STill though 7 from me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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