New Years Baby - Snowy Owl
New Years Day presented me with this young Snowy Owl, probably 6-8 months old.
Cheers,
Mike
Up And At 'Em - Snowy Owl
I like the combination of action, pose, and the two distinct layers of scenery colours with a hint of a third sky layer in this photo.
Cheers,
Mike
Get Off My Back - Snowy Owl
These looking-back-over-the-shoulder shots are always interesting with Snowy Owls.
Cheers,
Mike
Total Concentration - Snowy Owl
The details of the adult Snowy's flawless inner wing feathers are easily visible when coming in at that defining moment of landing. It helps when the whites are not blown out as happens when taken with a harsh noon sun.
Cheers,
Mike
I Hope I Make It - Snowy Owl
I just love the dynamic action here.
I left the very early cool morning light as it was.
Cheers,
Mike
Joyeux Noël - Merry Christmas - Xrystos Narodyvsija
Avec une pensée spéciale pour Pierre Roy, chez qui j'ai pris cette photo il y a plusieurs années.
Mike
Where Are My Feet? - Snowy Owl
My Snowy Owl photos are not always flight shots.
This impish-looking Snowy looks like he just popped out of the snow. He apparently landed in deep snow without disturbing it at all!
A few tiny annoying white reflective specks removed here and there from the photo. His right side of the face and eye dodged a bit to reduce shadow.
My wrecked knees where in too much pain for me to kneel or lie down to grab this handheld shot more at the bird's level - but, it's better than nothing.
Cheers,
Mike
Branch Connection Established - Snowy Owl
The dynamic reach, poses and natural beauty offered by these birds never cease to enthral me.
And yes, they somehow do manage to perch on even the smallest of branches!
The usual Canon 5D III with 500mm lens handheld.
A few annoying branch twigs cloned away.
Cheers,
Mike
Ultimate Contact - Snowy Owl
My usual Canon 5D III with 500mm lens handheld.
Cheers,
Mike
Crisp Cold Day Takeoff - Snowy Owl
Taken earlier in the day, the light is less extreme as compared to my previous late-afternoon Snowy Owl photo, and therefore much less saturated. If this image gives you the impression of a very cold day, well let me confirm to you that it was indeed very cold!
Taken with my 500mm lens handheld , as usual.
Cheers,
Mike
Coming In For a Rough Landing - Snowy Owl
Taken in a late afternoon light which explains the saturated colours. Full-frame with no crop taken with my 500mm lens, handheld as usual. A couple of tiny thin vegetation twigs cloned away.
Cheers,
Mike
Postscript: Photo reloaded after I removed some tiny sensor dust bunnies from the sky that I missed last night.
Dispute at Dusk - Snowy Owls
I've always wanted to capture a scene like this - Snowys are usually solitary when wintering south of the Arctic, and fiercely defend their territory. A photog friend of mine had two successful opportunities in the past while I was with him, but I never got the shot and had to suffer his gloating.
Finally, I was my turn . . . but!
This grab-shot taken at the end of the day while limping back to my vehicle, camera not at the ready, very unexpected, very short time frame, setting sun behind a light cloud cover rendering the photo blue, too close for my 500mm lens for the other frames taken and lack of sharpness in the image. But at least this one is full-frame with no crop.
But I figure this is as close as I'll ever get to such a scene, so although not perfect, I am still posting it anyway onto my site. Not too bad if you look at it a bit away from the screen :-)
Cheers,
Mike
Late Afternoon Departure - Male Snowy Owl
White Snow Ghost - Male Snowy Owl
Due to a bright sunny day, I was able to profit by using my 500L f4 lens at 1/1600 @ f16, ISO 400 for some good depth of field.
Cheers,
Mike
Give Me A High Five - Snowy Owl
You don't always have to keep your shots horizontal!
Cheers,
Mike
Participation in a collective art exhibit - Participation à une exposition d’art collective
Snowy Owl 8-Point Landing
Snowy Owls have four pointy claws on each foot, three forward and one behind, for a total of eight, ergo the title "Snowy Owl 8-Point Landing".
Cheers,
Mike
Tandem Greater Snow Geese
The fall Greater Snow Geese migration run has come to an end in my region, but not without some great photo opportunities.
Cheers,
Mike
Canada Geese Train For the Olympics!
This is another of a whole series of Canada Geese early morning take offs that I shot this autumn. I say this autumn, because a winter-like storm hit us overnight and this morning here in Quebec City.
I do enjoy the light early in the morning, as well as the solitude.
I suspect the geese will no longer be with us as they head out for their wintering grounds down south.
Cheers,
Mike
Leaving Her Mark - Mallard Duck
Always on the lookout for something different, this female Mallard duck doesn't disappoint.
Taken just after sunrise, this duck is bathed in a warm-coloured light as she flies past me with her wing tracing a hint of a line in the water. Some days, even with the old knees in pain, it is worth getting up early on a cold morning to get shots like this!
Taken with a Canon 5D Mark III and a 500mm L f/4 lens. The 5D III has superb low-light, low or no noise capabilities.
Cheers,
Mike
Rocket Duck
It never ceases to amaze me the different types of poses the ducks come up with, even after all these years of photographing them!
In the company of good friends this morning.
Cheers,
Mike
Happy Explosive Burst Of Energy
My old knees are limiting me more and more in my photo-adventure sessions, but if we sit around in a convenient place long enough, something interesting is sure to develop.
Mallard ducks seem to always have a perpetual smile, and this guy is no exception as he takes off on a windy day and cloudy day.
Ducks were my first beloved subjets when I started photographing birds.
Cheers,
Mike
Pitter Patter, Let's Get at 'Er
Pitter Patter, Let's Get at 'Er!
Canada Geese on the move to their morning feeding grounds.
In my usual 8 x 16 format.
Cheers,
Mike
Mass Hysteria - Greater Snow Geese
One of nature's and Quebec's premier Fall spectacles - Greater Snow Geese on their migration run.
Cheers,
Mike
Canada Geese On The Go
Again, with my morning light which I like, autumn colours and a touch of reflection on the water.
Cheers,
Mike
Canada Geese at Dawn - Bernaches à l'aube
I just love the light on this one!
The background was despeckled for noise which puts a little bit more emphasis on the birds.
Mike
Morning Escapade - Female Wood Duck
This female Wood Duck was caught on the fly in an early morning beam of sidelight.
Cheers,
Mike
Severe Emission Control Failure
Look out below!!
Cheers,
Mike
Autumn Wood Duck On The Fly
Again, the combo of a colourful male Wood Duck and autumn-coloured background makes for a great partnership.
Cheers,
Mike
Strange Bird Spotted - Drôle d'oiseau au Base de pleine aire
This morning's duck photo session was brought to a halt with the arrival of this strange-looking bird hovering nearby their watering hole.
A detachment of Quebec's provincial police arrived to practice repelling from a helicopter. We were lucky that our duck session was over and that we had the opportunity to observe the practice from front row seats.
Cheers,
Mike
Harfang au crépuscule - demande spéciale
Ceci est une commande spéciale pour celui qui m'a écrit: "awaille...poste des harfangs...." :-)
Tiens twé!!
Mike
Autumn Wood Duck
The colourful male Wood Duck is a beauty to behold on its own, but when added to autumn's vivid colours, you get a winning combo.
Cheers,
Mike
Bernaches à go-go - Canada Geese On The Run
Dawn Departure - Canada Geese
Those early morning scenes and extreme light is to die for!
Cheers,
Mike
Multicoloured Madness - Canada Geese On The Run
Autumn Dusk Delight - Greater Snow Geese
In autumn, there are no white Greater Snow Geese before dusk when the warm golden glow of the setting sun reflects off them.
Cheers,
Mike
"There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs" Ansel Adams