Photograph the Canadian ghost in winter landscapes
With guideBrutus Östling
We have set a maximum limit of 7 participants because if we are too many, it becomes crowded for photo positions in certain situations. Some photographers may get a worse position.
The timing is chosen to get the maximum number of snowy owls.
This was a dream wish that was fulfilled eleven years ago. "The Ghost" was something I had only heard about. The Ghost is what the local population in the agricultural areas outside Ottawa and north of Toronto called the snowy owl, and especially the male snowy owl. In 2014 I got to photograph snowy owls in a wintry snow landscape, a landscape that in summertime is productive agricultural fields. No less than 40 snowy owls were found within a diameter of just a couple of miles.
And it was when the almost completely white-colored male snowy owl appeared out of nowhere in the snow flurry that I really understood how well the nickname fit. From a white mist, suddenly only a pair of glowing eyes approaching could be seen.
The snowy owls overwinter in this area a few hours' drive from Ottawa and Montreal. Mostly they are female snowy owls, but the males tend to show up sometimes. In 2014 I got three opportunities to photograph male snowy owls during the five days I was here. They stayed for a few hours, then were chased away by the females.
Do you also want to experience the chance to get really good pictures of the Canadian ghost? Sometimes at maybe just ten meters distance. Take the opportunity to book this trip entirely dedicated to snowy owls. A once in a lifetime opportunity.
The snowy owl is one of the more spectacular species we have, this applies to both birdwatchers and bird photographers. It breeds circumpolar in the northern hemisphere - the distribution area forms a circle that goes around the entire Arctic region.
Some of the few snowy owls that breed in the northern part of Scandinavia are said to make their way to the Kola Peninsula in winter, where thanks to the Gulf Stream it is ice-free. In Canada, snowy owls move south and many snowy owls spend winters in agricultural areas around Ottawa-Montreal.
Our guide will take us around to the places where we can surely find the snowy owls. He has obtained permits for us to be on private land - right to roam is not a global right, so the guide pays the farmers.
We will photograph snowy owls for five full days. It hunts when there is photo light, that is during the day. It is also not particularly shy, we will be able to photograph the owls at a comfortable distance. And we will most likely get very varied pictures. Snowy owls flying over snow-covered expanses, sitting on farm posts, snow-covered stones, in trees or on barn roofs. Sometimes there are several, then it's about boldness and then usually one or two of them - if there are more than two - will probably be chased away after a while.
You who have listened to lectures I give or perhaps read my handbook know that I usually say that snow and ice are very forgiving from the photographer's perspective. It's as if someone has covered all the disturbing details in the landscape while the snow functions as a giant reflector that lights up the snowy owls and makes the portrait light a bit softer.
It is naturally primarily the snowy owls that we will prioritize. But if other interesting species show up, we can also set aside some time for that. Sometimes, for example, a great grey owl can show up, which I experience as "leaner" or slimmer here than at home, but other things can also show up.
However: we travel to these lands for the snowy owls and we will probably be fully occupied with these.
All photographs © Brutus Östling
We reserve the right for any spelling or other obvious errors in the presentation. PLEASE GET IN TOUCH IF SOMETHING SEEMS CRAZY!
Of course, it cannot be guaranteed that there are snowy owls, but they have been found here every year for over fifteen years. In early January we can find out if they are there as usual.
Clear pricing. Small groups. Focus on the images.
6 Feb – 13 Feb 2027
Early bird price
3,620 EUR
per person
Normally 3,960 EUR
Save 340 EUR
13 Feb – 20 Feb 2027
Standard price
3,960 EUR
per person
Booking deposit
370 EUR
Travel guarantee included
Small group with personal guidance
Planned for the right light, place and pace
You’ll get confirmation and next steps by email.
The trip begins and ends at Montreal airport.
Day 1: We meet at Montreal airport in the afternoon/evening Saturday February 13, 2027 and drive our two rental cars to a private house we rented by the riverbank in Montreal. Here we spend the first night. / We have added this night to guard against both flight delays and give us a chance to receive baggage that has been delayed. We want to have clothes and other things we need with us.
Day 2: We eat breakfast in the private house we rented. If everyone has received their bags, we drive out to the hotel where we will stay for the rest of the week. We have time to wait for and collect delayed baggage or look around the surroundings and possibly buy the clothes we need. In the evening, a brief review before the photography.
Day 3-7: We set out early to photograph the snowy owls. We photograph all day with a couple of hours lunch break. In the evening review and photo editing for everyone.
Day 8: We eat breakfast at the hotel and check the surroundings for a few hours for other things to photograph. Around 12 o'clock we drive towards Montreal and in the evening we take our respective flights home.
Times and more are preliminary and may change due to various circumstances.
Canada
Photograph Great Grey Owls, Snowy Owls and wolves in Canada's vast winter landscapes.
Behind the scenes
Selected insight into how this tour is made: the guides, positions, safety decisions, and field judgement behind the images.
Lokalkännedom som fotografer förstår
Vi väljer lokala guider som förstår både djur och fotografering. De hjälper oss placera gruppen rätt i förhållande till ljus, bakgrund, avstånd och objektiv.
Guiden vet när vi ska röra oss, vänta eller byta position.
Avståndet anpassas efter objektiv och motiv, inte bara efter hur nära man kan komma.
Vi slipper guida guiden och kan lägga all fokus på bilden.
I fält
Resultatet
Tour leader
Brutus Östling
Number of participants
Min 5 / Max 7
Included in the price
Transport to and from Montreal airport. Share in double room, breakfast or breakfast package.
All guiding and driving on site included.
Accommodation
We stay at a middle-class hotel near the activities.
Not included in the price
Return flight to Montreal. Meals excl. breakfast. Insurance and other private matters. Don't forget cancellation protection.
Single room with discounted supplement
2,500 SEK. (the first night in Montreal may not be guaranteed, but for the rest of the week)
Camera equipment
As we will primarily photograph birds and animals, telephoto lenses or telezooms are primarily required, 600 mm is a minimum. To increase focal length, one can in certain situations use teleconverters. A camera body with crop format seemingly transforms 600 mm to 900-960 mm which is very good. With a full format body, one should have a 1.4x converter if the longest lens has a focal length of 400-500 mm.
A telezoom is very good to have. A wide-angle zoom is not necessary, a normal zoom is sufficient for landscapes etc. Tripod to be able to hold the equipment when, for example, waiting for snowy owls to fly from a branch or similar. More about equipment in the info we send out to all participants.
Clothes
The temperature varies from usually minus 5-10 to minus 20-25; sometimes it can be minus –30° C. And if the wind picks up, proper clothes are needed. Here both layers and warm/wind-resistant jackets and pants apply. Warm lined boots. More in the info that is sent out in good time to all participants. We don't walk particularly long distances.
Accessibility
Limited, requires ability to walk in snow and get in and out of bus independently. No long walks though.
Visa/Passport
Swedish citizens need a passport. When checking in for flights, a passport is required. In these times, everyone must keep track of special rules, and we will naturally check everything extra carefully and inform as much as we can.
*Payment terms
The payment terms deviate from our general travel terms.
The registration fee is 5,000 SEK. Registration fee is never refunded upon cancellation. By June 15, 2026 at the latest, an additional 10,000 SEK is paid. Upon cancellation after June 15, 2026, neither this amount nor the registration fee is refunded. Should the 10,000 not have been paid on time, Fokus has the right to demand this payment if cancellation occurs after this date.
By November 6, 2026 at the latest, the remainder of the trip price is paid.
Note: If cancellation occurs after November 6, 2026, nothing of the trip price is refunded. This applies even if payment has not been made according to the schedule above. Fokus has the right to collect the entire amount of the trip even if payments have not been made on time.
We encourage everyone to have cancellation protection, this protects against illness and similar.
The price is calculated based on a dollar rate of 9.47 SEK (June 16, 2025).
Since Nets that sends payment links for cards right now doesn't work as it did before, we have temporarily removed the possibility to pay with debit and credit cards. At most one traveler in a hundred has used cards but we regret that this doesn't work right now. See further reporting on these problems in news media. We may be able to arrange a possibility for card payment, but then we must compensate for the costs this may entail for us, which could be between 0.75% and 1.5% of the actual payment amount.
Extra travel terms for this trip:
Our price is calculated based on at least 5 participants. With fewer participants than five, the price increases by 4,000 SEK per booked traveler with four participants, by 5,000 SEK with only three participants. This is part of the booking rules for this trip. Applies regardless of the price at which the trip was booked. (On the other hand, it means that Fokus does everything not to cancel the trip.)
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Insurance
In collaboration with Europeiska ERV, we offer a complement to your home insurance and cancellation protection. All to make you as secure as possible on your trip. [Read more about what the insurance covers and
Good to know
Interest is strong and seats are filling quickly. Early booking gives the best options.
See current availability and prices in the booking form above
