It was a sunny Friday morning, and I had taken the day off work with one goal in mind: to photograph a little owl.
I have been a hobby photographer for over 20 years and had studied photography at university, but in the last three years, I had fallen in love with wildlife photography. I have dedicated all my photography to this passion, and it is an activity I absolutely love.
I arrived at my location, a small farmland area in Lancashire, early in the morning. I knew that the little owl was a reclusive bird and that sightings were rare, so I had prepared myself for a long wait. I set up my equipment and waited patiently, my eyes scanning the hedgerows and trees for any sign of the owl.
In the morning, I caught a glimpse of the owl in the distance, but it was too far away for a photograph. I knew that I had to be patient and determined if I wanted to get the shot I was after. I settled in for the long wait, knowing that the golden hour, the time just before sunset when the light is warm and soft, would be the perfect time to photograph the owl.
As the day passed, I watched as the sun slowly made its way across the sky, casting long shadows across the forest floor. I waited and waited, my eyes scanning the trees for any sign of the owl. It was getting late in the day, and I was beginning to think that my efforts would be in vain. But I didn’t give up hope, I knew that wildlife photography is about dedication, determination, and patience.
Finally, as the sun was setting, I saw the owl perched in a tree right in front of me. It was perfect, the light was just right, and the owl was perfectly framed by the tree branches. I quickly raised my camera and snapped the photo. The owl didn’t stay long but I got my shot and it was worth the 10 hours wait, the dedication, determination and patience all paid off.
The photograph turned out beautifully, capturing the grace and beauty of the little owl in the warm golden light of the setting sun. That moment was a testament to the dedication and patience required to be a wildlife photographer. It reminded me of why I loved this type of photography so much, the rush of adrenaline and the satisfaction of capturing a rare and beautiful moment in nature.
Wildlife photography is a challenging and rewarding endeavor, but it requires dedication, determination, and patience. The patience to wait for the perfect moment, the determination to persevere through difficult conditions and the dedication to the craft.
It’s about being in the right place at the right time, but it’s also about being prepared to wait and to be ready when that moment arrives. That’s what makes it all worth it, the beauty and the rarity of that perfect moment and the ability to capture it with a photograph.