Ring-necked Pheasant male in snow in Davis County, UtahRing-necked Pheasant male in snow – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 500, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

Winter in Utah often presents opportunities to photograph birds with snowy white background and foreground which remind me of the clean white canvases I used to stare at when deciding what I wanted to paint on them only with photography I don’t have to splash color on a canvas, the birds do that. Male Ring-necked Pheasants add a vivid splash of color against a field of white at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, I photographed this male a few days ago as it foraged in the snow.

Ring-necked Pheasant female in snow in northern UtahRing-necked Pheasant female in snow – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1600, ISO 500, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

Even the female Ring-necked Pheasants add a splash of color in a field of white which isn’t as vivid as the bold colors of the males but in a subtle way and their plumage patterns provide a lovely contrast from the whiteness of the landscape.

I wouldn’t exactly call these images “minimalist” but the field of white snow does put all the focus on the birds.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Ring-necked Pheasant photos plus facts and information about this species.