Landing Gear Published

Published in More Of Our Canada Magazine - March 2010 Issue

Braving The Cold...With Stephen Oachs

When Stephen Oachs contacted me late 2009 to ask about owl photography in Ontario....I jumped at the chance to show him around and shoot with a photographer that I have admired for years.

It was an interesting week with lots of challenges. I learned many things during his trip:

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1) I've got the worst sense of direction....ever!

2) My GPS unit hates me. For that story...you can read Stephen's story http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephenoachs/4312196233/

3) Don't ever tell a coffee-drinker that there's not enough time to stop for his morning coffee. (unless you want him to turn into someone you've seen in a horror flick.)

4) Setting up a bird blind, by the lake, on a windy day, in the worst part of the winter....is NOT a good idea. But it DOES make for some funny memories.

5) Be Flexible. When you get slammed with rain and the Owls are in hiding....go somewhere else. Sometimes when things aren't planned, the best things happen.

6) When someone tells you they don't snore, verify with the person's "better half".

7) When YOU tell someone you don't snore, make sure you take away their iphone or other recording device. It's easy for them to get out of bed, stand over you in the dark and gather "evidence".

8) Keep yourself organized. It's embarrassing when you try to break into your own car to retrieve your keys....and then you find them in a coat pocket.

9) When you're enjoying a nice meal and getting to know your new partner, make sure that you don't leave your headlights on.

10) Make sure you're up to date on your tetanus shot. Photography can be a bloody business ;)

Nature's Best Photography Feature

A big thank you to Charles Freligh from Nature's Best Photography for asking me to do a feature on Saw-Whet Owls for their "Photographers In The Field".

http://naturesbestblog.com/2010/02/17/photographers-in-the-field-megan-lorenz-saw-whet-owls/

I've been doing lots of Owl Photography this season, and it's something that I'm very passionate about. There's been alot of talk lately about the welfare of Owls in our area and I think the first step in protecting them....is to educate people on the challenges they face and how they can help minimize human interference. Each type of Owl faces different challenges.

A large number of Saw-Whets won't survive their first winter for various reasons: lack of food, weather,human disturbance and predators. To help increase their odds, keep in mind the following:

• They need to conserve their energy during the day.


• If you find one...make as little noise as possible. Let them sleep.


• Owl "hotspots" are visited by lots of people every day. Limit your time with the Owls.


• More than a few people observing an Owl at one time could adversely affect the Owl.


• Don't break branches. This disturbs them and makes them more vunerable to predators.


• Find a good spot to shoot from and don't move around.


• If you accidentally disturb an Owl and flush it from it's roosting tree...do not try and follow it.


• When threatened, they elongate their body in order to appear like a tree branch, often bringing one wing around to the front of their body.


• Leave if you see those signs and behaviour.


• Don't use a flash when it's getting dark. This causes temporary night-blindness and will make them vunerable to predators.


• Consider finding a Raptor Rehab Centre to photograph Saw-Whets. The birds they use in their photo sessions are habituated to humans which reduces the stress on the birds and allows you to photograph them for longer.
  

Don't Bug The Pug - The Camera Store

Watch for my photo "I'm Not Going Anywhere In This Stupid Sweater" on The Camera Store's new reusable bags!

Who's Watching Who? Wild Barred Owls in Brighton, Ontario.

Spent a fantastic day with a few friends last week to go see the Barred Owls in Brighton, Ontario.

We left nice and early and arrived to find that the first snowfall of the area had hit the night before. Perfect!



I spotted the first Barred Owl in a marshy area about 10 feet off the road. We took some shots but the lighting was terrible and lots of branches in the way. Then she flushed from her perch and flew back into an area with wonderful light and beautiful surroundings. After photographing her for a while, she appeared tired and that was our cue to leave her in peace and head off to lunch.



When we came back to the park we searched for more of the Owls and came across the same one again. She spend some time hunting and actually caught a vole about 5 feet in front of us, which was thrilling to watch. She took it back into the woods about 20 feet and I followed, getting some shots of her swallowing the vole.

It had been a long day without much sleep the night before, so we packed up and got into the truck to leave. And the Owl flew out of the woods and landed in a tree right beside the truck. So we unpacked, got the tripods extended again and continued shooting.



The whole day I thought we were watching her, but it would seem like the photographers were the ones being stalked and watched.

Photolife Magazine

Photolife Magazine "Funny Faces" Contest Winner for December/2009

Algonquin Outfitters Summer Contest

I was notified today that I won 2nd Place in the Algonquin Outfitters Summer Photo Contest, Algonquin is a special place for me and I always wish I could spend more time there. I plan on taking a few longer trips in 2010. I was also thrilled when I was asked to be one of the judges for the winter contest. I look forward to seeing all the wonderful entries.


Algonquin Outfitters Summer Photo Contest - 2nd Place