Around here you only have to worry about it in winter.
Yesterday morning was a bust. After days on end of being stuck at home for various reasons the early morning forecast and weather radar/satellite looked good so in the predawn darkness I headed for Bear River MBR to look for birds. It takes me over an hour to get there and my plan was to arrive at sunrise. For reasons I’ve described before, very early morning is my favorite time to photograph birds.
During the drive in the near-darkness the moon was bright and the skies were obviously clear so I had high hopes for good light and at least some degree of success.
But this is what greeted me at the refuge at (theoretical) sunrise – thick fog. In many places it was much thicker than this. On very cold mornings in winter (shortly before this photo was taken I saw 6° F.) fog is common in many of my birding haunts that are close to the Great Salt Lake, in part because of their relatively low elevation. During my time on the refuge I saw a pretty decent number of raptors and because of the intense cold some of them were even ‘sticky’ but in the thick fog I had little chance for photos I like
The three photos below document my failure. Be forewarned – the best photo I took yesterday was of the annual pass to Antelope Island and the causeway sitting on my dusty dashboard in the photo above.
A Barn Owl hunkered down in the phrags.
A Rough-legged Hawk in flight.
A frosty Northern Harrier contemplating the fog and cold.
It looked like the fog was beginning to clear out at just about the time I left the refuge and headed for home. This time of year it’s a gamble. I prefer the light soon after dawn but fog typically doesn’t show up on the weather radar/satellite so I have to head for my destination and take my chances when I get there. In winter when it’s very cold I may have to change my ways and resign myself to shooting later in the day when fog has cleared out?
So why am I posting these lousy photos? After so many days of posting mostly older photos to my blog because I haven’t been out shooting for so long I wanted my readers to know that I really am trying…
Ron
Notes:
- I don’t necessarily reject photos taken in fog. I actually like them sometimes for the mood they can provide and the documentation of the harsh conditions birds have to put up with. But for my tastes the fog yesterday morning was just too thick.
- The one high point of yesterday morning was a brief but enjoyable visit with my friend April Olson (who often comments here). We don’t get to see each other often enough, especially these days. And April got some pretty nice photos of a different Barn Owl in a different area that wasn’t so foggy.
“The fog comes like a big fat cat,
And sits on everything just like that.”
(I’m really sorry, Mr. Sandburg.)
Perspective is everything. If I had captured a Barn Owl image, fog or not, I’d be over the moon! They’re mighty rare around here.
As we mentioned the other day, getting out there is the important thing. That fog could have lifted and provided an opportunity for some special shots. Instead, we are reminded that if perfect photography was easy, you wouldn’t be the only one doing it!
Now I need more coffee to warm up after looking at all that icy stuff.
The Barn Owl looks like it’s wearing a fleecy balaklava.
These are all very theatrical – I can just hear the set and lighting designers saying “Well, we can get that ghostly effect by putting the birds behind a scrim…”
And I was worried about the juncos in our yard, pecking away at their birdseed buffet, contending with just a little snow!
This time of year it can be pretty tough out on the refuges, Carolyn. And many of the birds have to contend with hunters too.
Eerily beautiful. Almost Dickensian — which is perfect for this time of the year. Glad you were able to get out and at least scratch the photographer’s itch and glad you got the chance to catch up in person with April.
Thanks on both counts, Marty.
The barn owl shot is cool (no pun intended.) I say that because it made me shiver–talk about atmospheric! And how they can really be so hidden. Nice that you caught up with April. I almost feel like saying, “You should say hi for me” because I “know” her from her posts. LOLOLOL
Hey, April – Arwen said to say hi.
Very funny, fella.
I like the fog shots. It was fun to see you and Mia. When you passed me on the road I was taking photos of the atmospheric situation and hoar frost. I wasn’t sure it was you till I saw the plates. I texted Mia to ask about the loop and decided to stay on Forrest Street where the fog was burning off. I did take the auto loop as you were leaving after we chatted. I saw birds in the fog but the fog was thick. I took a few photos I have not processed yet. I will say since I am shooting in manual and gotten faster at it, manual is the way to go in the fog. I tried one other lens the auto focus works on and it struggled to lock on in the pea soup. I am going to try Antelope Island tomorrow morning, if the weather holds.
April, I appreciate your report on what the auto loop was like after we left. It causes me to have less regret about not having taken it again.
I was fuming all the way home about what you told me about that jerk in the red Dodge pickup. Pisses me off just to think about it.
Sorry, I didn’t mean to give you food to ponder over negatively. Most of my experiences are good, but that stray one or two make me worry about mankind.
Thank you.
I can see why they didn’t meet your exacting standards, but as others have said they have a beauty all of their own. And how I feel for those that cannot hunker down in a car and ignore it…
Fog is almost a given here in winter. Thick fog. Follow the road marking fog – without the benefit of birds to mesmerise me.
EC, driving in fog in traffic is one of my least favorite things in life!
Like the rest of your crew – I like seeing a day in the life. Love your documentary photos.
Thanks, Kathleen.
The fog may have frustrated your efforts or perhaps, more accurately your desires but at least you arrived home with your sense of humour still intact; “eating my camera” indeed. 😁😁😁😉
Granny Pat, that “eating my camera” bit might have been a bit of a stretch but not by much.
Ron! These photos are just wonderful! Fortitude, perseverance, tenacity…admirable qualities in birds, and in humans. Thanks. Kate Schilling
Thank you, Kate. I’m glad you like them. I guess I kinda do too when I think about it.
I love seeing a dose of reality in your photos – these are great! (and it reminds me why I choose to live in the south!) Thanks for braving the elements and sharing.
Thank you, David.
Like the photos even if they weren’t what you had in mind! 😉 At least you didn’t have the fog going to and from…. Barn Owl looks miserable…..we have it good by comparison. I’m with you on traffic!
“At least you didn’t have the fog going to and from”
That’s a very good point, Judy, I’ve driven on I-15 in thick fog and it sure as hell isn’t fun.
I know you are disappointed yet I love these photos. They have a wonderful ghostly quality that is breathtaking and they show what the birds are having to deal with on a very cold, foggy morning. Also, they show what conditions you have to deal with to get the shot! I feel so bad for the Barn Owl. It looks miserable. And seeing the Rough-Legged Hawk flying in that soup is heart stopping. Thank you so much for posting these pictures.
Thank you, Melanie. Whenever Barn Owls are out and about in daytime it’s almost a given that they’re “miserable”. They only hunt in daylight when it’s very cold with snow on the ground, conditions that make nocturnal hunting extremely difficult for them. And the cold makes them need even more food than usual.
Both the Barn Owl and the Northern Harrier look miserable and so vulnerable. Were you in your truck when you took these photos … I hope!!
Yes, I was in my pickup. Thankfully.
I have to ask, wouldn’t it be easier to take pictures at sunset? Isn’t the light about the same? I always think this because I am not a “morning person.”
Ken
Ken, Yes, evening light can be just as appealing as early morning light, or nearly so. But around here, for the places I go shooting, that often means driving home in nightmarish freeway traffic which I refuse to do. I don’t do traffic well. Or with grace…
Besides, I AM a morning person.
I knowwhat you mean about the fog and photos, but the poet in me really likes the moodiness of fog, the frost that sticks to the vegetation, the way that owl looks like a spirit. Glad you shared your pics anyway.
“Glad you shared your pics anyway.”
Good! Thanks, Kathleen.
Wow! That was really some fog! After driving all that way so early in the morning, I would have been inclined to wait it out and take my chances with the light. Just my Monday-morning quarterbacking.
Justine, in hindsight I probably should have.
Really neat photos through the fog to illustrate your adventure. Very rarely have I ever run into fog like that here. I really like the hunkered down Barn Owl and Harrier. Both would have problems trying to hunt until that cleared up. From the looks of how think that fog is you probably made a good decision to head home.
“you probably made a good decision to head home”
I’m having second thoughts about that decision, Everett. In the winter the sun is so low in the southern sky the light is still pretty decent later in the morning so after the fog cleared out I might have had some pretty good luck.
The road is clear.
You have your pass.
Your photos convey how really #^%>€<! cold it is.
Hopefully, you had coffee and a donut.
A bad day out photographing is better than the best day at…well, we’re retired so not what to compare that to.
And I’m with Susan. I like them and, as you often say, they’re good for documentary purposes.
Thanks for trying.
“Hopefully, you had coffee and a donut”
Lyle, on days I go shooting that’s a given. Absolutely a given.
I only remember forgetting my chocolate donut one time (I left it sitting on my table saw in my garage). By about 10 AM that morning I was seriously considering eating my camera.
I also enjoy these photos. It clearly illustrates how tough life can be for these beautiful birds. Thanks!
Thank you, Judy.
It’s something we humans don’t think about much, birds hunkering down in miserable weather . . . . thanks for the reality check!
Reality check indeed!
I’m just gonna say that they may not meet your criteria, but I kinda like them. They have a very emotive quality and really convey the wintry cold and gloom.
Thanks, Sue. I don’t reject photos taken in the fog out of hand, I actually like them sometimes. But for my tastes the fog was just too thick yesterday.