 |
Photo of the Month Archives - 2001 |
 |
|
|
|
So, we're standing at the edge of a pond photographing the best bull we'd seen in three days. Not a giant, but a handsome bull none the less. Hunting season had started the day before and the Moose knew it, so they were moving to locations where they weren't hunted which is why this bull probably appeared. But with that in mind, you have to realize that the big bulls are going to be nervous at the least, on guard as it were. In other words, you needed to use some common sense which is a prerequisite for all wildlife photography!
This photographer had all the answers; what did we know with our "waiting for them to come to us" approach. SO, dressed in his red shirt (don't hunters wear red during hunting season?), armed with his 70-210 zoom, he heads off through the forest to get close to the bull. Can you guess what happened next? Damn, is sounded like an army, army of one, going through the forest towards that bull. And if the sound wasn't bad enough there was that red shirt! Well, the bull heard and saw that coming at him so he simply turned around and melted away in the forest behind him. And with that, obviously our shooting of the bull was over with as well. The point? I would really love to grab some photographers, shake the heck out of them and then ask, "just what is in there" (referring to between the ears)? I am always amazed at how much money folks spend on photography, gear, travel and the like and then once they get to where they are going to shoot, they end up shooting themselves in the foot. Common sense, be it wildlife photography, life in general or whatever, goes a long ways in achieving success. All I can say is at least the guy was using proper handholding technique so he captured a sharp butt shot of the bull leaving! Bighorn Sheep
Using basic biology is the best way to safely and successfully photograph wildlife and there is nothing more basic than sex. When bighorn sheep start their rut in the very beginning, all they do really is assemble in ever bigger ram groups. We were privileged to see such a union and the tension was so thick in the air you could see it. It was during this time that our presence went totally unnoticed and moving the fifteen feet off the road and physically get close to the rams was no problem. The rest as they say, was history! I've been encouraging photographers for nearly two decades that they can do the same thing I'm doing with the same success. This is completely true, but there is a responsibility on your part to understand the techniques I use to capture images. Photographically, there is lots of room for individual expression and still come up with the right answer in the form of "the" photograph. But biologically, there is typically only one right answer and that's the one that protects the welfare of the subject while you capture the image. For example, you can't be so ignorant and see an image I've captured of a coastal Alaskan Grizzly Bear that I've been studying for four years and assume you can use the same technique on a Grizzly Bear found in the lower 48. Just like you can't read a one paragraph Tip of the Month and take that as all the information you need. It's no more than that, a tip. You've got to use your head which I know you can do! Use the images I present to inspire you and the tips a means to the end, but not the entire path. There's so much more out there than I can present you, thanks goodness! Photo captured by D1H, 400f2.8 on Lexar 512 12x digital film. Grizzly Bear
On one occasion, he laid on his back, playing with a stick for an hour. On another occasion he sat on the bank of the creek just staring off into the creek hoping a salmon would just land in his lap. On a number of occasions, he would sit in the stream waiting for a salmon to smack him in the face! He provides hours and days of entertainment as he went about the lazy days of fall. In this photo, he just laid in the creek to keep cool as he watched the mass of salmon swim past and the spawned to fall by the side. Oh, he did catch his salmon, those that were already spawned and not as fast. His fishing technique not yet perfected, this bear took the easy route to feeding. Of course, with the incredible over abundance of salmon and lack of other grizzly competition, he was under no pressure to eat all he could as fast as he could and with that pressure behind him, he could just sit back and enjoy the shorter days of fall! Photo captured by D1H, 400f2.8 on Lexar digital film. I Think Tommy Just Ripped One!
A month ago, we were at the boy's uncle's house and when we're there, the one place we have to visit is the Prairie Dog Town. Now since I hadn't photographed them digitally, I was more than happy to allocate time to one of my favorite places. The town was particularly fun this trip, because my boys were having a great time blasting away; the photography was that grand! Even better was listening to my boys commentaries as they watched life unfold in their viewfinders. When we got back home, we looked at each others images and compared them. When this image came up on the computer screen, the three of us looked at each other and said, "who farted?" You know what they say, like father like son! Photo captured by: D1, 600f4 AF-S w/TC-14e on Lexar digital film. I Don't Know Mom...
For many, many years I've seen the Dall Sheep high up the hill in Denali Nat'l Park, but I've never had the time to work them. For years I've seen the sheep on Windy Point, literally right on Hwy. #1 on Turnagain, but again they were too high for my limited time. And when the sheep were down low, it was only one or two lonely ewes with light less than satisfactory for photography. It wasn't until I meet a very well informed nature photographer did I find out the "secret" which I'm going to share with you! Photographing Dall Sheep in Alaska is no more difficult than getting up early and being at Windy Point by 6am. Oops, I let out the secret again to great photography. Windy Point which is perhaps 30 minutes out of Anchorage on Hwy. #1 towards Portage is well known for Dall Sheep, it's the 6am thing that makes all the difference. Now if Nick hadn't been so open about helping, I and now you wouldn't know this secret! While the photo of the month might seem to be about a week old Dall Sheep lamb, it really comes down to being able to ask for help, knowing you need help in the first place and then smart enough to use the help you're provided. Whether you're just starting out or some top pro, asking when needed and answering when asked can make all the difference in your success. It's kinda like the lamb about to take that blind leap of faith because mom did so. Wildlife photographers could learn a lot from that little lamb! Photo captured by D1, 600f4 AF-S w/TC-14e on Lexar digital film. Out Playing?
Photo captured by D1, 80-400VR on Lexar media 320MB WB/sun-3 Sure Thing
While the congregations of birds seems fewer and fewer as the years go by, their cooperation seems to get greater and greater! Sunrise and sunsets were killer, both of us filling flashcard after flashcard which totalled out to about 45 rolls each. Above is a small group of Short-billed Dowitcher that we found shortly after sunrise. The mirror still water, the low light and the pattern of the flock made for great photography! Photo captured by D1, 600f4AF-S w/TC-14e on Lexar 320 12x digital film, Sun -3 Out the Window
That's the case with this White-breasted Nuthatch caught in this pose; It held it for nearly 25 minutes! That was plenty of time to grab the right lens, grab the right angle and shoot! This classic pose is normally hard to capture as they are always on the move foraging. But when there is a predator, the foraging comes to a stop. And just to demonstrate how lazy I was this day, I had my camera set up next to my desk and was shooting out my window. So I was answering emails with one hand and shooting with the other. Ah, life if good! Photo captured by D1, 400f2.8AFS w/TC-14e on Lexar 320 12x digital film, Cloud -3 High Noon
It was High Noon, the light as bright as you're going to find in California's Central Valley. My son and I were playing cards when one of the researchers froze on the grid! My son said, "I wonder what Dan sees?" With that I stood up and turned around to look. He waved me over which meant to grab my camera and run. I got over there and he said, "I few years ago, I would have been nuts to call you over for a squirrel, but I felt sorry for you since you've been skunked this trip." And with that, the first squirrel I was able to get in the viewfinder in a week started to perform. About the size of your fist, they are not really shy critters even given a little space. That's why I was shooting with the 600f4 plus wanting to isolate him from the background the best I could with minimum DOF. Now the noon sun was another matter. Check on the Tip of the Month to see how I dealt with that. As for the squirrels, we only saw five the entire week. I have grave concerns about our natural heritage and the direction preservation is heading. Please, get involved with your cameras and make a difference! Photo captured by D1, 600fAF-S Lexar 320 12x digital film. Cloud -3 Rain
Now, I've photographed Western and Mountain Bluebird a lot, but I'd never photographed Eastern Bluebirds. When I saw a male bopping around at Mason Neck State Park, the challenge was on for me. I did my usual, used basic biology to get close. Being that it's spring, I looked for the female knowing that the male at one point or another seek her out as well. Sure enough, the one female I locked onto had two male suitors. In the damp rain, gray skies I followed the bluebirds about, working the situation the best I could. On one occasion the female perched on a Redbud so I hustled over to get the shot. Just as I focused on her, a male came over and presented her with a worm. Isn't love just grand! Even in the rain, you can find images even with a shutter speed of 1/26! Photo captured by D1, 600f4 AF-S w/TC-14e on Lexar 256MB 12x at cloud -3
|
| Home | BT
Journal | WRP
Trading Post | Moose's
Camera Bag | Digital
Photography | Wildlife
Photography | Landscape
Photography General Photography Tips | Workshops & Classes | Moose's Gallery | Moose Blog | Environmental Issues | Links | About Moose | Contact Info |
|
Text & Images Copyright © 2007
Moose Peterson/WRP, All Rights Reserved. Design © 2007 Digital Imaging Group |
|
It was an incredible week!
It was my first exposure to New England color, Maine specifically, and man
it was gorgeous! The amazing thing to me was the fall color was over and
it was still mind spinning, knock your down, take your breath away, photographically
expensive color! And the funny thing was, I was in Maine to photograph Moose,
not the color.
I had told my group these pieces of trivia and said
we were going to let the bulls come to us, rather than go through the forest,
stepping on all the twigs, branches and debris which would eventually drive
the nervous bull away. We had a number of hours photographing this particular
nice bull, it was really quite enjoyable until Rambo should up!
It's
fall and as I'm write this it's snowing. The leaves are falling, the colors
are alive and there's love in the air! Well, a precursor of love. The rut
is on for most big game mammals in North America. Some big game mammals
like Moose in the northern most part of the continent might be done with
rut, some big game in the south are not even started, but in the middle,
it's hot and heavy!
This four year old
grizzly bear for a short time, ruled the roost. Then, confrontations with
other older bears and wiser fisherman who didn't share their catch, finally
drove the bear to cool his heals. With the bear realizing that life would
go on without his trying to stir the pot, he turned to being as cute and
silly as a puppy.
2001
has been incredibly good to me! I'm spending more time than ever in the
field shooting, and loving every minute of it! For the last two months I've
been doubly blessed as my boys have been shooting with me, so the rewards
and fun have been doubled!
At
least that's what I read in this week old Dall Sheep lamb's face as it watched
mom easily sail down the face of the cliff. This past weekend, I had an
amazing 90 minutes photographing 60+ Dall Sheep comprised of 3 rams, 14
rams and the rest ewes. Where was this magical place to photograph Dall
Sheep in Alaska?
There
is one relief each winter for me photographically, that is knowing that
when everything else disappears, the wintering shorebirds will be present!
I'm just back from shooting at one of my favorite locales, Palo Alto Baylands
with my good friend David and man, were we richly rewarded for our time!
There
are days when even I don't won't go go out, I want the world to come to
be. Luckily I have lots of bird feeders and lots of birds that feed at them.
Even luckier, I have a Sharp-shinned Hawk and Nothern Pygmy Owl hunting
my birds. When these predators show up, all the birds "freeze" so as to
not get eaten.
Three days had gone by, a species once very common
many years past, even a pest at times getting into our camp, had skunked
me at every turn. Then again, it's an endangered species and they are not
supposed to be easy to find. But this was the fewest San Joaquin Antelope
Squirrels any of us could remember.
On
a very damp, cold and dark morning on the bank of the Potomac, I gathered
with a group of photographers. The challenge, besides staying dry, was finding
the small subjects just fillings the forest with choruses of song. Blue-gray
Gnatcatcher, Chipping Sparrow, all sorts of warblers, all very small subjects
to go after even with a 600mm lens! But I like challenges!