Image of the Month
The Great Gray
Owl
This months image is the result of good old
perseverance!
This past June I spent a few days up in Yellowstone
National Park to get some images of the young elk and pronghorn calves. While out driving
the loop, I approached a familiar area in the park where I always find myself scanning the
trees for the Great Gray Owl. I had been told that this is an area where they are
known to nest but I'd yet to find one in this truly beautiful setting. I was beginning to
doubt my ability to find them in the wild but it seemed like everyone else in the park I
ran across had seen them. I realized that all the nature photographers I admire have all
taken hundreds of images of this beautiful animal and that just added to my
determination.
I happened to meet up with a photographer that had
recently seen her and gave me an approximate location. I immediately scouted out the
location and saw only traces of her presence, feathers left behind in a tree.
My last morning there, I thought I'd go back and look one
last time. As luck would have it there were a few elk in the general area causing
quite a distraction so I quickly grabbed the 600f4 and unnoticeably headed up the tree
line in a light rain to look one last time. As I approached the tree where I had seen the
feathers the day before I saw the back side of the Great Gray! I was so excited that I had
to stop for a second and double check the camera; camera on, film on number one, 1.4X
converter on. I had no idea if she would flush on me as soon as I came out into the open
so I was going to be ready.
I approached her very slowly and she seemed more interested
in the sound of the forest than of my presence. I finally found the Great Gray Owl - what
a beautiful animal! She was very patient with me, moving four times but always staying out
in the open allowing me to shoot off 9 rolls of film.
I hope that I never loose the feeling that I experienced
when I caught the first glimpse of the Great Gray Owl, the excitement of finding her and
capturing a few moments on film. It's what keeps me coming back.
Good Shooting!
Nikon F5, Nikon 600f4.0/1.4X Lens, Gitzo
G1548 tripod w/ Arca Swiss B-2, Agfa RSX100 film.
