While hiking around Grand Teton National Park looking for moose, I travel light. 

Since my average hike usually ends up taking around 4 miles, I carry one camera body and lens: the Nikon D500 with either the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 lens or the Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6.  Which lens gets to go with me depends on the time of day and available light.

On this particular afternoon, I started late so took the more light sensitive f/2.8 lens with me.  Especially on the cropped D500 body, that provides me with the equivalent full frame field of view of 105-300mm: perfect for photographing moose at a safe distance and being able to include some scenery (if it's worthwhile to include).

Now, you'd think that an animal as large as a moose can be easily spotted in a forest.  You'd be wrong unfortunately ... As soon as a moose beds down, he literally blends in so well that you can walk within a short distance and never even know he's there!

But enough about moose ... while hiking through the forest, I spotted 'something' sitting on a branch about 100 yards away. Usually when that happens, it turns out be nothing, perhaps a tree stump or something similar, and I could tell it definitely wasn't a moose!  Upon investigation, it turned out to be a great horned owl!

In the moment, I wished I had brought my (heavy) 600mm f/4 lens with me of course, but I like how this image turned out by including lots of nice scenery and fall foliage around the bird.

I love the colors and how the owl pops in a Fine Art Print. 

Check it out in my Etsy shop by clicking here.