Watching. First Snowfall
Great Grey Owl in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains - this big guy had a wingspan of more than 48". There were two in the area which explains why it was...
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Great Grey Owl in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains - this big guy had a wingspan of more than 48". There were two in the area which explains why it was focused on a nearby tree.
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Nov, 2015Views
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Awards
Contest Finalist in Beautiful Owls Photo Contest
Featured
Amateur Winner Show Snowflakes Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Show Snowflakes Photo Contest
Staff Winter Selection 2015
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
Outstanding Creativity
All Star
Superior Skill
Genius
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Impressed
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Behind The Lens
Location
Watching. First Snowfall. This photo of a Great Grey Owl was taken in the Canadian foothills of the Rocky Mountains, about 50 miles northwest of Sundre, Alberta. I had an opportunity to travel the back country wilderness with a hunter who was familiar with the area.Time
My first photo of a Great Grey Owl in the wild was taken at 4:43pm on Nov 13, 2015. It was overcast and cold and had just started to snow very heavily. We were settling into a blind for the end of the day and I went to take relieve myself; walking about a hundred feet into the trees. A very large, very silent shape flew over me into a clearing ahead and I didn't have my camera! I rushed back to grab some gear and when I returned the owl was still perched on a large dead tree. I was surprised that it stayed still – and very focused on the trees above and to my left as I moved in and shot continuously.Lighting
The light was very low due to cloudy, overcast conditions. I didn't have a flash or tripod so was adjusting for a variety of exposures and that's what gave some nice motion to the snowflakes. I loved the way the first snowflakes landed on the bird and tree to enhance the blended camouflage effect.Equipment
I was using a borrowed Canon 5DS R and a rented long lens for testing. I also had a tripod and remote release however in my rush to get back to the owl's location that was left in the blind. Camera: Canon EOS 5DS R Lens: Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM Aperture: f/5.6; ISO: 500; Shutter Speed: 1/50; Focal Length: 400mmInspiration
I have always been inspired by this quote: “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” - John Muir. I went on this day trip to challenge myself and expected to get wild Whitetail/Mule deer shots – maybe coyotes or moose if lucky. Photographed only two deer in 10 hours but instead I found a rare, beautiful bird in a wilderness setting with snow fall - timed perfectly. So often I have found this to be the case – having a camera ready for the unexpected will provide more than you seek. You need to just get out there for the opportunity.Editing
Shot in RAW and processed with minor sharpening/color adjustments and cropping in Adobe Lightroom.In my camera bag
The equipment I have in my bag is more economical gear than what I had borrowed and rented for this trip. I love my Canon 70D and have since purchased an older model of the Canon 100-400mm lens on Kijiji for $900. I always carry a Canon 50mm prime and a Sigma wide angle 10-20mm for the landscape opportunities. I have used an aluminum tripod and monopod but have actually missed shots trying to setup on the move so I frequently leave that out for wildlife unless I am in a blind.Feedback
Be prepared for the unexpected. It doesn't always go as planned. From the moment you start on a trail, have the camera on, lens cap off and telephoto adjusted for distance. Take a moment to stop and listen – and be ready for that special shot.
