For the longest time I had been chasing owls through the forests around Asheville, North Carolina. Any wildlife photographer will tell you that owls are some of the most elusive creatures you will ever try to photograph. They move like ghosts through the trees, silent, patient, and perfectly camouflaged. Finding them is not about luck. It is about learning their habits, their habitats, and understanding where they choose to live.
And to be honest, it has been a learning curve for me.
There were plenty of mornings when I stepped into the woods before sunrise, camera in hand, hopeful and ready. I would hear the haunting calls echo through the forest, knowing an owl was somewhere nearby. But no matter how carefully I searched, I never saw one. Not once. Not ever. Just their voices drifting through the trees.
Then my friend Rey Costello stepped in. Rey, shared something that changed everything. He helped me locate a great horned owl nest not far from my home in Asheville.
The moment I found it, I was locked in.
Early one morning over the weekend, before the sun had fully climbed above the mountains, I headed out quietly with my camera. As the first light of day began to filter through the trees, there she was, the mother great horned owl, sitting watchfully on her nest.
I slowly framed the shot, steady and patient. Then the light hit just right, illuminating those powerful yellow eyes.
Click.
In that moment, it felt like all those empty mornings in the woods had been worth it. Just a glimpse of God's artistry painted across the forest.
And I am grateful to be able to share it with you.
