OPENING UP GIANT REED (PHRAGMITES AUSTRALIS) The sun finally breaks through

The sun finally breaks through the afternoon storm clouds that dropped 3-5 inches of snow giving off reflections of a couple oak trees and a box elder tree along the South Fork Kishwaukee River in Northern Illinois

A red-tailed hawk soars overhead as it increases its altitude by catching heat thermals while looking for prey below at Wildflower Park

They are typically located around water sources and will perch for a short period and flutter to the next perch

The soft lighting illuminates this beautiful scene with the freshly fallen snow having a patterned effect on the lake

To help me balance out the exposure of this scene I used a 2 stop neutral density filter

OPENING UP GIANT REED (PHRAGMITES AUSTRALIS) The sun finally breaks throughAfter an early morning snow storm, late afternoon clouds break apart revealing the suns warmth along the South Fork Kishwaukee River in Northern Illinois.(613 112)