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Posted by Ballpark Frank (66.58.238.35) on 10:55:28 07/13/12
In Reply to: The end of the episode posted by Granite Head
Granite Head,
I am very appreciative of your having taken the time to share this experience with us.
For the benefit of those reading this wonderful trip report, who have little or no experience observing or photographing great grays, I want to frame just how special your photo-opp was, based on my experience and that of others I am familiar with.
It wasn't until after the 1988 Fires that I started seriously pursuing great gray owls in Yellowstone, in hopes of getting decent photos. I had noticed pros and serious amateurs congregating in certain areas known as great gray territory. Ironically, I never photographed one of these amazing critters in one of those spots, until one autumn in the early 1990s, when one particular owl started hanging out on a low snag in a meadow, close to the road, across from Indian Creek campground. It was a sight, with dozens of the long lens people, elbow to elbow, lined up in an arc between the snag and the road. This show went on for days. I was shooting a 500mm EDIF lens in that era, and joined the assemblage one afternoon.
In that same era, I discovered another owl territory between Tower and Mt. Washburn. I invested many hours, attempting to photograph that owl, with very limited success.
More recently, in the spring of 2005 or 2006, if I'm not mistaken, we had a Loonion activity, where we wandered west, across the power line right-of-way, just south of LeHardy Rapids, and had the company of a great gray in a small meadow for maybe 5 minutes or so.
In all these experiences and many others, I NEVER witnessed a successful hunt at anything resembling close range. In my experience, great gray owls "usually" stick to the crepuscular habits. Once in a rare while, you will find one particular owl that makes itself available to photographers in broad daylight. Granite Head just happened to be present, and equipped, for one of those special circumstances. I'm sure there were other folks present that did not get the kind of high quality images that Granite Head came away with. That has to do with PREPARATION combining with OPPORTUNITY to produce success. Military leaders frequently speak of that combination being the components of what some call "luck".
Granite Head, I am so glad that you and Kevin were out cruising that road, at that time, and were able to bring back such striking photographic evidence of what you observed. Well done!
Ballpark
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