Sometimes I'll see some blossom which I think would look perfect to perch a wren on, or I'll spot a rock that I think I could sit a perergrine on, or even some farm machinery for a barn owl.
When I see something suitable, I photograph it and then file it away in my studio ready to fit with a subject at a later date.
Last week was the perfect chance to find snowy backgrounds and so I headed off to the Derwent River to catch the mist coming off the water.
I deliberately shot the photograph below of the reflections in the water out of focus, to give me a soft-coloured background.
I think it should make a good background for a flying barn owl, like this one in Barn Owl on the Lookout.
Although I usually paint from photographs, I painted this one straight out of my head after a day at Fair Burn Ings.
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