Snow is supposed to start falling around 10 a.m. where I live in northern Utah. It might be the first significant snowfall of this winter down in the valley. This snowstorm is supposed to last until some time on Sunday.
Ring-billed Gull on snow – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 1000, +2.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Photographing birds and wildlife in the snow is something that might intimidate other people. As for me, I love the challenges the snow can present.
I appreciate how the white, fluffy stuff can give me a blank canvas behind and in front of my subjects.
Creating high-key images can almost become addicting for me during this time of the year.
I had a great time doing exactly that with a Ring-billed Gull who was eating snow on a cold winter morning a few years ago.
Ring-necked Pheasant hen running through snow – Nikon D300, f5.6, 1/3200, ISO 640, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Setting the correct exposure compensation for snowy scenes is critical. Under exposing snow can make it look gray and dirty.
Getting it right?
Makes the whole image work and people who view the images can almost feel chilled while they are viewing a bird or animal in the fluffy white stuff.
Dark-eyed Junco with a snowflake on its shoulder – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 6400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Whether I photograph in great light or poor light, with snow, I know I can create compelling, appealing images of the subjects I find in the field.
Or…
Even those I see outside my living room window, like this Dark-eyed Junco with a perfect snowflake on his shoulder at my feeder a few years ago.
I need to get my shepherd’s hook back so I can feed the birds in the yard again and photograph them from inside my living room during the worst of the winter weather ahead. That simple shepherd’s hook is important to me; my dear friend Billy Fenimore gave it to me as a token of his appreciation for my help on his personal website.
Since his passing last year, I’ve thought about Billy often and admired what a great friend he always was to me and others. Billy was always supportive and he appreciated my support of him – the way the best of friends should be. Friends build each other up and Billy did exactly that. I miss Billy, our talks, and simply hearing his friendly voice on the other end of my phone.
Great Blue Heron shaking on a snowy and foggy day – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 800, +1.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
In the Great Basin, specifically in the marshes surrounding the Great Salt Lake, fog often shows up during the winter when there is snow on the ground. I’m not the least bit bothered by fog because I know that great images can be created despite it.
I adored photographing this Great Blue Heron shaking it feathers in dense fog at Bear River MBR.
Was it a challenge?
Yes, it sure was! It was also a great deal of fun and I love the way the photos I took turned out too.
Snow, fog, and low light during the winter is a challenge in the field when it comes to bird photography. I like challenges. No, I love them!
So, Mother Nature, bring on the snow!
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my bird images in their galleries.
What riveting shots! All of them are spectacular but I gotta say the Junco and Blue Heron pics really lit me up. How you kept the Heron so distinct from the snow without losing the detail is simply amazing. Thanks Mia.
Looking forward to more snowy beauties like these shots! That GBH is really something, as is the perfect snowflake on the junco! I miss being in an area with snow (although I admit to not missing the shoveling or the ice-factor). There’s something incredibly magical about it.
Marty, after last year’s record breaking snow amounts, I am not looking forward to blowing, shoveling, and scraping it all by myself. I hope that this year it won’t occupy so much of my time. But I do love the white fluffy stuff. I also like living where I don’t have to deal with it for months on end.
Wonderful shots. I love both snow and fog. We are getting big multi flakes right now. I went out to see if the towhees would cooperate, nope!
The birds “Pop” against the snowy backdrop! The color is so nice!
Thanks Mia!
The birds “Pop” against the snowy backdrop! The color is so nice!
Thanks Mia!
I have been following for a while, never commenting just lurking. I thought this was one of your best publications, both photographic and story telling. Thanks. Tec
Beautiful wintry photos! Thanks for posting these images.
Stunning! I had to get myself a blanket to warm up again 🙂
The heron shot is so ghostly! Love the snowy images and your enthusiastic insights Mia.
Enjoy the snow!
Mia,
I enjoyed this post. I like the challenge of photographing birds in the snow too. My favorite capture was of a White-tailed Ptarmigan at Loveland Pass in CO. The most difficult part was actually seeing the bird. Even so, I am beginning the drive to Alamo, TX in a few minutes. I will spend two months there to AVOID the snow and ice in CO.
David, be safe and enjoy Texas this winter!!