A morning with friends

It was a frustrating start to grouse photography season this AM. We headed out early enough but there was a fire going. At first we thought it was a control burn but after going in the light of day after shooting, we weren’t sure if it wasn’t a campfire gone wild. Whatever the case, the fire burnt a nest locale from last year and caused a gate to be locked so we had to back track putting  us out in the sage late. Being late meant we couldn’t work the lek but we lucked out that a lone male came out to us. It was cold, warmed up to 26 by the time we left but you can see the frost on the back of this male.

The grouse are on the lek for perhaps, if you’re really lucky, 90mins after sunrise before flying off. I shot out the side of Jake’s truck, a whole new set up so ended up shooting handheld all morning. Gotta slight hand cramp but at least images are sharp. Off to the garage to make a rig for shooting out the back tomorrow morning. I was able to make a quick video to give you a better sense of it all. Hope to have better opps later with better tape. You will have to turn up your volume, couldn’t talk loudly and it’s shaky, holding the video in one hand, 600 in the other, video suffered.

You go out and make it a great weekend with your camera in hand!

Photos captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film