Lee's Photoblog
Arctic Visitor
Posted by Lee (Fort Frances Ontario, Canada) on 9 April 2009 in Animal & Insect and Portfolio.
The snowy owl has got to be my most favorite of the owls. I think its colour,especially the male is the most purest of whites. It is usually a resident of the arctic tundra. On occasion we get to see them here in the winter months. When food is scarce or snow cover is exceptionally deep in the arctic they will migrate south in search of food. This particular bird I think is an immature adult, based on its colouring. Snowy owls are active by day or night. This one appeared to be just resting and lazing.
This photo was featured for March 2009 on my Natural Events Calendar for the area.
Thank you for visiting my site. I consider myself to be lucky living where I do. Everyday I wake up to a wealth of interesting visual scenarios. Most of my pictures are Wildlife and Nature taken from around the area. The area specifically being Fort Frances Ontario on beautiful Rainy Lake. Feel free to comment on what you see. I look forward to hearing from you. If you like what you see, please rate it. Better yet, bookmark the site and drop back often. I will be posting daily.
All images are copyrighted by Lee Oelke Photography. They cannot be reproduced, electronically, or by printing without my written consent. Should you be interested in any of my images, please contact me.
@Didier DE ZAN: Thank you
Photosanity from Folsom, United States
Beautiful, what detail and I agree, pristine white!
9 Apr 2009 5:27am
@Photosanity: Thank you very much. They are beautiful.
Lydie & Roland from BESANCON, France
Really fantas - fantastic Lee ! How lucky you are to see such nice animals...
9 Apr 2009 5:37am
@Lydie & Roland: Yes I agree. Thank you.
@Hidalgo: Many thanks.
@mats: It does look like there is a grin there. Thanks Mats.
"Marie" :-) from perth, Australia
What a great sight, amazing. Love your narrative too. This is the cutest of owls. I hope this makes tomorrows spotligh.t. 5 stars from me. Superb photo Lee
9 Apr 2009 6:06am
@"Marie" :-): Thank you Marie.
Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand
Yes it worked!!!!! lol! Oh how I love the snowey owl and what a great capture:-) I just wast to give him a big snuggle:-)
9 Apr 2009 6:17am
@Linerberry: They do look soft and cuddly. Thanks Liners.
@eva: Thank you.
JanW from Rotterdam, Netherlands
Great shot of the owl, but great shot of the snow too. Super!!
9 Apr 2009 7:25am
@JanW: Thank you for the compliment.
@Elena Kotrotsou: Thanks Elena
Veronique from Sarrouilles, France
wow !!! and how did you manage to get so close ? what kind of lens do you have ?
9 Apr 2009 9:14am
@Veronique: It is not quite as close as it looks. I have some very strong lenses. This was a 400mm telephoto. Then the shot was cropped.
@Baby Sis: They are beautiful aren't they. Thank you.
Rakesh Vanamali from Ooty, India
Great capture! Very well done! I'm amazed that U got so close!
9 Apr 2009 10:37am
@Rakesh Vanamali: Thank you.
dogilicious from Millerstown, PA, United States
This is absolutely beautiful. Nicely captured.
9 Apr 2009 11:54am
@dogilicious: Thank you for the compliment.
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
Oh WOW, so detailed, so incredibly beautiful, bravo Lee, this is first class !
9 Apr 2009 11:59am
@Lorraine: Thanks Lorraine. I appreciate it.
@Eleftheria: Thank you.
Viewfinder from Bradenton, FL, United States
If I could print this in green, it would display the >>envy<< which I feel at your being able to take a shot of an owl like this in real life, real time. It's a terrific portrait of this bird.
9 Apr 2009 1:10pm
@Viewfinder: I have to say thank you very much. I have to say I live in the best part of our country. There is never any lack of photographic possibilities. Thank you again.
Tracy from La Selva Beach, United States
What a gift to see this beautiful animal, and to have gotten such a great shot of him!
9 Apr 2009 1:12pm
@Tracy: Thank you tracy. I consider myself lucky and priveleged every day.
The Big Guy from Regina, Canada
The Snowy Owl is a magnificent bird and you've taken a great shot of one. However I'd like to see more Great Horned Owls because that means summer is here. Tired of winter!!! It also amazes me how close you get to wildlife. Even if you are cropping there is still so much detail. Well done.
9 Apr 2009 1:24pm
@The Big Guy: I hear you. Winter has been around to long this year. I do not intenionally try to stalk animals. Most or my shots are candid encounters. I do spend a fair amount of time out and exploring. A lot of the time I come back with shots that do not make the grade. You only get to see the ones I consider viewable.
@john4jack: Thank you
Ajay from Pune, India
I also love that black and white colours of the owl. The shot is very well framed.
9 Apr 2009 2:26pm
@Ajay: Thank you Ajay.
Lesley from Lincoln, United States
Wow, oh wow!! This is a five star shot, if I ever saw one! My goodness, what a beautiful creature and so well captured. Definitely one to be proud of, Lee. Hope it gets featured on Aminus3's spotlight! It certainly deserves to be.
9 Apr 2009 4:07pm
@Lesley: Thank you for the kind words Lesley. I am quite proud of it. I am very pleased to know that my photos are appreciated.
wickedful from Vancouver, Canada
I love it! I've always had a soft spot for owls and this shot is just fantastic!
9 Apr 2009 4:39pm
@wickedful: Owls do seem to fasinate people, including myself. Thank you for the compliment. Please visit again.
@lydia: Thank you
@Giovanni: Thank you very much.
zOOm from Paris, France
She is lovely... ! What an elegant bird... feathers must be so soft... great shot and great lens ! Lucky you ! ;-)
9 Apr 2009 6:05pm
@zOOm: Yes Florence I do feel lucky. Thank you for the praises and compliment.
Hema Iyer from Bangalore, India
This is a rare sight to see. Fantastic capture, Lee.
9 Apr 2009 6:22pm
@Hema Iyer: They are not always around here. I consider it to be a lucky day when I encounter these owls, Or any owls for that matter. Thank you for the compliment Hema.
@Veronelle: Thank you ever so much.
Ca†≈ from Ouchy, Switzerland
I love this one.
A very nice bird in front of a very good photographer...
9 Apr 2009 9:05pm
@Ca†≈: Your words are to kind. Thank you.
Denise from Perry, United States
Unbelievable shot, I think I need to talk my husband to vacation in your area in the next few years..... I think it must be the most beautful land in the world full of all God's creatures....
9 Apr 2009 9:37pm
@Denise: We do have a wonderful area. Rainy Lake is beautiful. Thank you ever so much.
@zecarlos: Thank you
Evelyne Dubos from Le Mans, France
What a wonderful capture, his plumage his splendid. Love a lot !!
9 Apr 2009 10:10pm
@Evelyne Dubos: Thank you very much.
jamesy from christchurch, New Zealand
fabulous Lee I love it. My 12 yr old son says its too cool to be true. 5 stars from me
9 Apr 2009 10:13pm
@jamesy: Thank you Debbie. Trust me, seeing is believing. No tampering here. They are beautiful.
LauraS from United States
Nicely framed in his environment, he blends right in, but your caught him just right.
9 Apr 2009 11:15pm
@LauraS: Thank you Laura.
Brian Chen from Seattle, United States
What a beautiful shot. I would love to have a visit from that owl, its gorgeous.
10 Apr 2009 12:56am
@Brian Chen: Thank you Brian. The male is almost perfectly white. For that matter any owl is beautiful.
@Heather: Thank you Heather.
Kathe from Marquette, Michigan, United States
Awesome! I wonder if this fella is related to the one here. ;^)
I like your capture of this gorgeous creature much better than mine!
10 Apr 2009 3:28am
@Kathe: Thanks for the compliment. We'll never know for sure, will we.
Diane Schuller from Hythe, Canada
exceptionally close and great detail. I'm amazed how close you can get
10 Apr 2009 2:03pm
@Diane Schuller: Thanks Diane.
Vinman from Clacton-on-Sea, United Kingdom
Very nice shot Lee. I love owls, they're probably my favourite bird. Never seen one sitting in the snow before!
10 Apr 2009 9:32pm
@Vinman: Thank you. Usually they are in trees. I'm not sure why this one was on the ground. And it seemed to be content and resting.
MMC Photos from THE COLONY, United States
Ah, thanks for the comment on my Diamond Head photo, this is my most favorite bird. I was in a scrimshaw phase for awhile and did many snowy owls, I also did a pen and ink you would love. Keep it up! Michelle
12 Apr 2009 4:43am
@MMC Photos: Thanks Michelle. I'd be interested in seeing you pen and ink.
@Magda: Thank you very much.
@Ernest: It does appear to be grinning. Thank you for the visit. Please drop by again.
shallowregret from Kongsberg, Norway
very impressive, both the bird and the photo
14 Apr 2009 5:42pm
@shallowregret: Thank you very much.
@Ricardo: Thank you very much.
