Jackonsonville, Florida-based photographer Graham McGeorge takes expressive images of owls camouflaged within trees.
During the day, these nocturnal creatures roost in tree cavities or holes made by woodpeckers, and come out at night to prey.
McGeorge stakes out local forests and swamps to get up-close to his feathered subjects, waiting patiently for as long as it takes to get the perfect shot. Speaking to My Modern Met, he said he is against baiting owls as it is harmful to their health, stating that he relies on “patience, a keen eye and a good ear.”
He captures the birds nestled in trees, their eyes closed and snoozing away, or peeking out inquisitively from their safe havens.
The images featured are of eastern screech owls living in the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia. His picture of an owl cleverly disguised against a tree trunk even won him the Merit Prize in the 2013 National Geographic Traveler Contest.
McGeorge loves to photograph baby owls, as “their expressions are priceless and guaranteed to touch your heart.”
Scroll down to view some of his photographs, and check out more of his nature photography at his website.
[via My Modern Met, images via Graham McGeorge]