In November and December in Alberta we are usually fortunate to have migrating Snowy Owls move through the province as the move down from the Artic (and if we are really lucky wintering).

One of the less fortunate parts, at least for photographers, is that they are often perched high up on telephone posts. This makes for not the best angles, and also not the most “natural” setting for wildlife…telephone posts and wires don’t make for the best images.

I was beyond pumped when I came across this snowy owl perched in a tree, could it have been a nicer tree, with less branches in the way, sure…but the fact that for the first time I was able to photograph a snowy owl in a tree was awesome. This image was captured just as the owl was getting ready to take off, probably for the solitude of a high telephone pole.

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Taken: December 20, 2014

Location: East of Calgary, Alberta

Camera: Canon 5D Mark III

Lens: Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM

Focal Length: 700mm

Aperture: f/6.3

ISO: 200

Exposure: 1/2500