Bird Photo Competition 4 2012 : Entry Number 300

Judges Comment

This stunning snowy owl is nicely arranged against a blue sky, with yellow flowers to match its eyes.

Photographers Comment

I spent two weeks in northern Alaska photographing snowy owls. I noticed that this owl, when coming in to its nest, always landed upwind. Since the sun never sets I just positioned my blind further upwind where I could get her coming in over the artic poppies. I spent three days in my blind. For two hours each day, the sun lined up perfectly. Luckily, on the third day, I got this shot. John Hendrickson