Persistence Pays Off
(click on images to view them full size)
I had a second shot.
A snowy owl by the side of the grid road. (EXIF data f6.3, 840mm, 1/3200s, ISO640, +0.3EV)
I was lucky enough to have a second shot at photographing snowy owls this year after doing a return road trip with Kory’s mum, Anne. She’s such a great co-pilot and the eight hour drive goes by so quickly with our entertaining chats. One of the perks of coming to see her is the ability to do snowy owl photoshoots at this time of year.
Juvenile male snowy owl taking off towards a setting sun. (EXIF data f6.3, 840mm, 1/3200s, ISO2800, +0.7EV)
When I tried before Christmas I wasn’t very successful due to weather issues (snowy owl blog post), but I did get to see a lot of amazing wildlife and landscape scenes. It was not a disappointment at all as I’ve come to learn to manage expectations and not count on things like birds, weather or even my abilities coming through when and how I want them to. I try to enjoy the time that I spend looking for these amazing owls and if I get any images that excite me then I’m happy.
Well this return trip delivered and then some!
Female snowy owl taking off and flying directly towards my location. (EXIF data f6.3, 1/3200s, 840mm, ISO800, +0.7EV)
Scouting snowy owls
I have found that the best way to find snowy owls is to head to a location where I think they will be and then stop and defocus my eyes - scanning the area and looking for what doesn’t seem to belong - a white blob or a dark patch usually indicates either a male (white blob) or female (dark patch). Once I start to see them it becomes easier to spot them and I can usually see them quite easily.
If they are close to the side of the road I stop a good distance away and observe them so as not to stress the owls. Having a strong telephoto lens really helps or a good pair of binoculars - as they have definite tell signs for behaviour. An owl that is sitting all puffed up is usually going to be staying in that position for some time - they are relaxed, resting and puffing up to stay warm.
Snowy owl with neck extended as he bobs his head up and down trying to get a better fix on what he’s looking at. (EXIF data f6.3, 1/3200s, 840mm, ISO1600, +0.7EV)
Once you start to see them grooming their feathers it’s good to hang out for a bit as it can mean they are about to move, but it can just as easily mean they’re ready to settle in for a nap. Bobbing up and down indicates that they are looking at something - owls have fixed eyes and they use this bobbing gesture to get a better fix on something they are viewing. It could be prey or an observer/photographer in which case it is best to move on rather than stress the bird further.
The biggest tell for flight is pooping - birds in general will poop just before take off. They also tend to take off into the wind and land into the wind, so this should be helpful for determining which direction they will head. Also snowy owls are more active at dusk when they are hunting.
It should be noted that being native to remote arctic locations makes information on snowy owls a bit thin. These birds are believed to be on the decline and are listed as vulnerable, so it is an ethical practice not to share locations of birds - otherwise they may get harassed by people wanting to see/photograph them and getting too close or not observing and respecting signs of a stressed bird. I stay in my car and use it as a blind when photographing snowy owls - it seems to allow me to photograph them without stressing the owls.
A snowy owl in her element - the wild snow blown expanse of prairie fields. (EXIF data f6.3, 1/2000s, ISO64, 400mm, +1.0EV)
Once I see a snowy owl I tend not to stay in the location for an extended period of time as I don’t want to stress the bird with my presence. It is also the reason that I use a telephoto lens, so that I don’t need to get within close proximity of the bird to photograph it. Once I start to photograph and learn about different birds and wildlife species conservation and their wellbeing becomes a very real consideration and I am conscious that getting a great image isn’t worth causing distress to a bird or animal. I much prefer them to act as though I’m not even there - that is the sign of a successful photoshoot.
Patience and repetition
I have found that it takes time and patience to find snowy owls and photograph them. Quite often when I see them they are so far away that at best I will get an environmental image. Occasionally I happen upon them close to the side of the road and it is a real treat to be able to observe them in their natural habitat. I am happiest when I see a bird that is ignoring me and going about its normal routine as this means I’m not impacting its behaviour.
Female snowy owl in flight. (EXIF data f7.1, 840mm, 1/4000s, ISO 640, +0.7EV)
I have had the privilege of photographing snowy owls in flight and several times they have serendipitously flown directly towards my vehicle as they were hunting which indicated they did not see me as a threat.
I have found that having great patience pays off with impactful images because owls are not good at taking direction and as they are usually in farmer’s fields it is not possible to reposition myself for a better angle or light direction. Sometimes I just luck out and get the right positioning such as this backlit flight image. These moments when magic occurs make the waiting very worthwhile.
Sharing the experience
Golden hour with the owls. (EXIF data f6.3, 840mm, 1/3200s, ISO1250, +0.7EV)
It is interesting for me to hear stories about these owls from locals who have lived in the area for decades. It is clear that the sighting frequency has decreased and that the location of sightings has changed over time. It appears that they were much more common on roads that are now busy highways which indicates how our behaviours and daily habits can impact these birds.
I have occasionally taken Anne (my mother-in-law) with me to look for snowy owls - she is a great co-pilot as I’ve mentioned. It is a treat for me to share the experience and to know that we have a mutual admiration and respect for these raptors.
Conditions change so quickly here in the winter with sunshine one day followed by foggy and overcast and then a snow day. This trip we were not able to get out as the weather turned to high winds and blowing snow - not great for driving or locating very white birds! Maybe next time.
What I take away from this experience
I once had a photographer I respect a great deal indicate that he was not a fan of bird photography as it can be very technical and rather sterile (i.e., a bird on a stick or very documentary), however after viewing a selection of my images he said that I am not a bird photographer (I know I stopped breathing for a moment too), but rather a I photograph bird poetry - a very high compliment indeed.
When I go out to photograph birds or animals it is not about capturing a portrait or a documentary image, but rather about expressing what I’m feeling in that moment. When I can express the connection or emotions that I feel, I come away with an image I’m excited about and proud to share.
These owls are full of mystery and magic for me - they are illusive as they hide in plain sight and being able to spend time with them and capture some of their spirit makes the time and distance that I put into these photoshoots more than worthwhile.
Also, I have updated my snowy owl gallery with new images, so be sure to head over for a look.
Is there somewhere that you like to visit that transports you to somewhere or something special? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below or feel free to reach out to me directly by clicking on the Connect With Me button.
A male snowy owl spreading his wings on take off - a majestic sight in the golden rays of sunset. (EXIF data f6.3, 840mm, 1/3200s, ISO2800, +0.7EV)
I hope you’ll come back soon, share a cuppa, relax and enjoy more of my musings.
