I parked along the auto tour road to watch a Water Moccasin when a Barred Owl flew into a tree across from me. The owl studied me for a moment, then focused its attention on the flooded timber beneath the tree. The snake disappeared as soon as the owl landed, which made me wonder if it was the reason the owl chose this spot.
I photographed this Barred Owl on July 12, 2018, at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. The bird was perched in flooded timber near the Miner’s Cove area. Miner’s Cove sits just west of the four-corners intersection, making it an easy spot to watch for owls hunting over shallow water.
I have photographed Barred Owls in this same area before. One was standing on a broken limb rising out of the water, and another time I photographed a pair of Barred Owl fledglings nearby. This stretch of flooded timber consistently attracts owls and offers excellent opportunities to observe their behavior.
How I Got The Shot
I rested my camera on a bean bag draped over the open window of my pickup. Shooting from the vehicle allowed me to stay steady while keeping disturbance to a minimum. The owl remained in the area for several minutes, giving me time to work different compositions.
The early morning sun was just beginning to filter through the trees. At first, I worried the owl would stay too dark against the shaded background. I waited, watched the light improve, and kept shooting until enough light reached the bird to bring out feather detail.
Camera Settings for This Barred Owl Photo
I used a Fujifilm X-T3 paired with a Canon EF 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6L IS II lens and a Fringer EF-FX Pro adapter. These settings balanced low light with enough shutter speed to stay sharp.
- Aperture: f7.1
- Shutter speed: 1/210 sec.
- ISO: 800
- Focal Length: 400 mm
Flooded timber can create challenging light and contrast, but it also adds depth and atmosphere. Waiting for the right moment made the difference between a dark silhouette and a detailed portrait.