In my previous article I mentioned I’m waiting for what is promised to be Nikon’s very first, very professional mirrorless camera: the Z9. Why am I still waiting and why didn’t I switch already to the current Nikon Z-series mirrorless cameras? Or (worse), why didn’t I switch completely to another brand like Sony or Canon? (although Canon, like Nikon was also very late in developing this new technology…)
There was no such thing as automatic focus, or ‘autofocus’ when I started learning about photography using my first SLR camera, the Minolta X-500. In those days it would have been nearly impossible to capture this shot. Or better said: completely impossible…
When a Snowy Owl takes flight it is usually not pointing straight at its prey, which is not needed anyway as it can turn its head by up to 270 degrees. What has to follow however, is the inevitable turn in the air to change the angle of flight towards breakfast/lunch/dinner. This is another one of those key moments a photographer hopes to capture…
After a Snowy Owl has raised its wings and jumps up for take-off, it pushes them again downward for the initial lift. What’s remarkable about these birds is that they never leave sight of their prey during the whole process of take-off until the end of their flight. They are supported by their ability to turn their heads by up to 270 degrees, which is not only useful but also quite needed as they cannot rotate their eyes. These are firmly stuck in their eye sockets; in fact owls do not even have eye balls as such!
It has been over five years since I visited Canada to see Snowy Owls. It was in February, and I recall the relative small amount of snow in the fields where these animals hunt for small rodents. And I remember asking myself at the time if the lack of snow was perhaps in any way related to reports about our planet warming up…
If you’re at the right place (e.g. Canada) and time (e.g. winter) you may spot a Snowy Owl checking out its surroundings, waiting for prey to show up…
This one has been way overdue… A couple of years back I was in Canada shooting what is my in opinion one of the most beautiful birds in nature: Snowy Owls. And looking back at my images recently, I figured the most impressive ones deserve a separate page on my blog…
