Barn Owl Incoming

Barn Owls are nocturnal, rarely venturing out in the daytime, and I have only seen them in daylight once. On that day, I photographed them from the side of the road. It was overcast and I knew the direction of the sun wouldn’t affect the shot.

I decided to venture into the thick, overgrown grassland and hid behind the tall blades. I doubted the owls would come close, but the change in perspective appealed to me. I waited, shrouded in green. I sighted the owl upon approach and couldn’t believe it was heading directly towards me and staying on course. I snapped several shots and had to duck on the last, as the owl flew directly overhead. It took me a moment to catch my breath. She literally took it away.

Barn Owl, San Simeon, CA, 2013

Canon 1DX, Canon 600mm F/4, Canon 2x III teleconverter, f/8, 1/2000s, ISO 3200, RRS tripod