Capturing Wildlife: The Story Behind the Image

“Barred Owl in The Rain”

Originally written by Nelli Savelieva for Viewbug Blog post in December 2024.

Where did you take this photo?

This photo was taken in one of Ontario's Conservation areas, close to Lake Ontario.

What time of day?

Imagine it’s late afternoon, and a steady rain begins to fall. You're weary and hungry after hours of scouting three other spots with nothing promising to show for it. You think, "One last location, then we’ll head home." Turning the final corner, you spot a peculiar shape on a pine tree. Hopeful, you lift your camera—only to realize it’s just a cluster of pine cones. As you lower your camera with a sigh, you glance across the trail—and freeze. You can hardly believe your eyes. You’re frozen in place, heart pounding. Just two meters away, sitting openly and serenely, is the most breathtaking sight—a Barred Owl.

Is there anything worth sharing about lighting?

It was a rainy day, which created ideal conditions for photography. The overcast sky acted as a massive softbox, diffusing the sunlight and providing even illumination on the owl. The raindrops clinging to the branches added more interest and drama to the scene.

What equipment did you use? (Camera, lens, tripod, flash, other?)

This shot was taken handheld with a Canon R5 and a 100-500mm lens.

What inspired you to take this photo?

As a wildlife photographer, my days are a mix of exploring new trails to find animals and birds or staying home to process my shots. On that particular rainy day, a friend joined me for a hike. The highlight was spotting a Barred Owl so close to the trail and low to the ground—an unforgettable moment.

Did you do any post-processing?

I captured this photo using a high ISO of 8000, so I applied denoising in ACR, fine-tuned the white balance, exposure, and contrast, and added light sharpening. To bring out the intricate feather details, I used Nik Collection 7 Color Efex.

What equipment do you normally have in your bag?

I usually have two cameras in my bag: Canon R5 and R6. R5 attached to a 100-500mm lens which is my working horse. I love the lightness of this combination, it allows me to hike with the camera in my hands and react fast if the opportunity arises. The other camera goes with a 24-105mm F4 lens which is the perfect jack-of-all-trades lens.

Any advice for others trying to capture something similar?

Be patient and stay quiet as you explore the areas near your home—there’s more wildlife in urban settings than you might expect. Sunrise and sunset are ideal times to head out, as animals are most active and the lighting is magical. Cloudy days are also fantastic, offering soft, diffused light and the chance to shoot all day.