I went into the Utah mountains in winter hoping to photograph a Northern Pygmy Owl in its natural habitat. When I found one perched on a branch, my goal was to capture the owl with the winter conditions clearly visible around it. Getting the photograph was difficult. The owl was on a steep hillside, and the cold and falling snow made it challenging to stay in position and keep working. Large snowflakes were falling heavily, and I wasn't sure I would be able to get the photograph I had come for. Then the conditions came together. The Northern Pygmy Owl remained perched on the branch while large snowflakes collected around it, making the snowfall an obvious part of the scene. I was able to capture the owl sitting quietly in the middle of the snow storm, with the winter conditions visible on and around the bird.