WILLOW GROUSE WITH NORWAY NATURE

 Sunrise over Røyrvik mountains

D3s, 600 4,0, f6,3, 1/1000, -1,67, ISO 640

Many of you are probably familiar with Norway Nature and Ole Martin Dahle`s / Eagleman`s complex photography facilities with golden eagles, whitetailed eagles, goshawks and "much-much more-photography" in Flatanger (check out : www.norway-nature.com). Personally I am a frequent visitor to Ole Martin`s place, and this time Eagleman had the idea for a new experiment and needed a "crash test dummy" for a test trip. Luckily he phoned me.  I had photographers Vidar Gran & Bent Olsen to join the group,...and took off for a 3 days experiment in the remote alpine and sub alpine wilderness of Røyrvik & Lierne just south of Børgefjell National Park, Mid Norway.  

The experiment was initially called "Grouse in winter plumage in snowy landscape",- and : yes, we had grouse, and : yes, we had snow, LOTS of snow ! They had 2,3 m of snow on flat ground up there in mid March !!... and the snowbanks along the local roads, sometimes being more than 3 m high, actually posed a photography problem for us. The locals call mid-summer eve "Bærrflekk dagan", meaning : "the mid summer days were you can expect to see some bare spots without snow". 

The willow grouse is a relatively shy bird and cannot be approached by foot for proper photograpy, so the idea was to "shoot" from the car along the local roads, which (except from the snow banks).. worked perfectly. We had cloudy weather with little, but soft light and repeated showers of heavy snow. Very photogenic !!

The company ? Dynamite !! I am still wiping away tears of laughter !!

A great experience Eagleman ! ... so next time you need a "crash test dummy" : Call me !!

    

 D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/400, -0,67, , ISO 1250

 D3s, 600 4,0, f5,0, 1/320, +1,67, ISO 1250

 D3s, 600 4,0, f640, +1,0, ISO 1250

 D3s, 600 4,0, f7,1, 1/2000, +0,67, ISO 800

D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/2000, +1,0, ISO 1250 

D3s, 600 4,0, f7,1, 1/500, +1,+, ISO 1000 

D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/1600, +1,0, ISO 1250 

 D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/1600, +1,0, ISO 800

 Mr & Mrs

D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/1250, +1,0, ISO 1000

 Stout (røyskatt) from Erlend Resells place by Tunnsjøen

D3s, 600 4,0, f6,3, 1/1250, ISO 1000

 D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/800, ISO 500

These guys are usually not seen in the air !!

D3s, 200-400 4,0, f6,3, 1/1250, +0,67, ISO 1000

D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/1250, +1,33, ISO 1250