I went back to Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge hoping I might see the same Barred Owl again. This time the fog was gone, and the bird gave me a much closer chance.
Wildlife Notes
A few days earlier, I had photographed this owl in fog along the S-curve of the auto-tour route west of the four-corners intersection. On this return visit, I found the owl in the same general area, but in much better position for a close portrait.
The owl was perched low by the road, but at first it sat on the east side, which was not the best angle for the light or the shot I wanted. I stayed put and waited. After nearly an hour, the bird flew across to the west side and landed in sunlight. That move made the image.
Barred Owl Close-Up in Better Light
What stood out most was how different the same bird looked in better light and at a closer distance. In the foggy encounter, the mood was strong but the owl stayed deeper in the timber and farther away. In this follow-up, I had a cleaner view of the face, eyes, and feather detail. That is often the difference patience makes in wildlife photography.
If you want the earlier part of this story, see my previous post, Barred Owl On A Foggy Morning.
Photography Notes
I made this photo from my truck after waiting for the owl to shift into a better spot. The light improved when the bird moved to the west side of the road, and that gave me the close-up I had hoped for. The setup was simple and steady, which helped at a slow shutter speed.
Camera settings:
- Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
- Lens: Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM
- Focal length: 500 mm
- Aperture: f/5.6
- Shutter speed: 1/200
- ISO: 2000
- Exposure compensation: -1/3
- Support: Bean bag draped over truck window
- Date and time: April 25, 2020, 7:49 A.M.
The bean bag support let me stay ready without moving around too much. At 500mm and 1/200 second, that extra stability mattered. The higher ISO was a fair trade for keeping enough shutter speed to hold detail in a quiet roadside situation.
Final Thoughts
This was a good reminder that wildlife photography often rewards patience more than movement. I had already seen this owl once in poor conditions, so coming back to the same spot felt worth the effort.
This time, the bird gave me a better chance. All I had to do was wait for the right side of the road, the right light, and one short flight.