Featured Snowy Owl Flying Low

Last winter the guide on my snowy owl trip showed me a photo he'd captured of a bird flying so low it was just skimming the ground. It was an awesome shot and set a goal for me for the trip. It's fairly typical behavior but like most things a guy has to be in the right spot at the right time. And then not screw it up. I did manage to capture a couple of low flyers over the course of the week. Here's one of them. How cold was it? Check out the hoarfrost on the bird's breast feathers.

The shot needed a good bit of processing to pull out the feather detail and I just got around to reworking it.

D500/AF-S 80-400@330mm, handheld
1/1600s, f5.6, ISO800

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Thanks, Nick. Ghostly indeed. Hard enough to see the bird in those conditions and keep it in the VF. It's a testament to how well AF works that the camera was able to lock on and track.

Thanks, Bob. Typically they approach a meter or so off the ground then dip lower as they approach their prey. At first I wondered at the technique thinking it would make it more difficult for them to target. But upon reflection I realized it makes it even harder for a mouse/vole to see them coming. Being so low to the ground the prey can see up to spot high flying birds but has a very limited horizon.

Thanks, Louis. I'm still trying to convince my interior decorator/business manager of the artistic attributes. She's not fond of the white on white.

Yes IMO the eyes make or break a snowy shot.

Thanks, Allan. I'm pleased with the angle etc but would have preferred to have captured the wingtips. Bird was moving really fast. One thing about them that surprised me was the speed.

Thanks, Randy.

 

Thanks for the comment. Shot near Casselman, Ontario.

 

Thanks for the kind comments, Eric. Hopefully you get an opportunity before too long. Very fun birds.

 

Not so unique. Looks about the same as a histogram from a shot of a whitecard  

Thanks, Dossy.

Thanks for commenting, Phil.

Thanks, Glenn. Glad you enjoyed it.

 

Thanks for commenting, guys. Glad you enjoyed the image.