Yes, I am all mirrorless, been so for over a year and love it! This is a common question of late most likely because all that gorgeous DSLR gear is available used and killer prices (great way to get into photography!) What’s the main reason I’m all mirrorless? It’s split between the ease of shooting video and the reduction of gear / weight. I totally go with, less is more and KISS and mirrorless does that for me and my visual storytelling. What to learn more about why I have selected the gear I have and settings I use, head to Moose’s Gear Locker where I have that info for all my current gear and, all my gear of the past.

Staying up with gear updates is something photographers are marvels at doing. But I’ve come to find not so much when it comes to critters. And lets be honest here, keeping up with biological updates / changes is at best, a snore. Unless you’re a bit off like I am and find this information fascinating. And in this particular case keeping up with this provides WRP possible business avenues but more importantly avenues for environmental education with the public awareness.

The Greater Sage Grouse is an amazing bird that is in trouble. The Gunnison subspecies is pretty well know but not the Bi-State Sage Grouse which I just learned about today. I have spent hundreds of hours with this bird over the decades and that is very much a part of my Camera Bag, subject knowledge. It’s like our first teacher who taught how to write would say. “You write about a subject, you have to know about the subject!” This is so true for wildlife photography. So who knew, the Bi-State Sage Grouse?

Cold temp haven’t been so cold, yet, but now seems to be a good time to post my annual glove post. This Glove Review is to help you find the right gloves for your photography. Many years ago my friends started to talk about their gloves in levels, a system I have come to embrace with the higher the number, the heavier the glove for the colder the ambient air conditions. Levels 1 – 4. (I have an entire 90min class on being prepared for winter photography over at KelbyOne for much more in-depth discussion). Here’s the thing, my gloves from 2023 are still in great shape so, I’ve not gone looking for new ones. There is one I have tried, liked and not purchase I want to pass along to you. They are the Vallerret Milford Photography Glove which feel great, are fingertipless and have a waterproof mitten cover you can quickly install over them. Quite brilliant, wish I needed them this year as I really like them!

The gloves and mittens you see here, I take them ALL with me whenever I think it’s going to be cold. And when I go out shooting, I have them ALL with me to keep my hands warm according to temperatures. When the wind comes up, you put on Level 1, when there is wind and cold, Level 2 and when it’s really, really cold, Level 3 and since I’m the only crazy one who owns the mittens (besides my wife Sharon), I have a Level 4 (see below). And there are times when I will wear a Level 1 under my Level 4 so I guess we could call that a Level 5. Bottom line is pretty darn simple, you think you’re going to need gloves, have Level 1 through Level 3 with you IN THE FIELD so you can enjoy the great shooting at hand. Here are my recommendations for Level 1 through 3 gloves for this year.

Gloves A (Level 1) are the all-important windstoppers with this year making the switch to the Manzella Men’s Lightweight Gore-Tex Infinium Glove. Gloves B (Level 2) are what I wear most often, the SEALSKINZ Men’s Waterproof Dragon Eye Gloves. The first glove ( A ) is when it’s just starting to get cold. This next glove SEALSKINZ Men’s Waterproof Dragon Eye Gloves ( B ) is what I wear probably the most of all of these. The SEALSKINZ Men’s Waterproof Dragon Eye Gloves simply rock with lots of warmth and flexibility. They have three layers, a non-slip liner, and a special cut, and are waterproof! These are the gloves I always have in my jacket and they take care of my hands for the majority of my shooting. When going to extremes like when the air temp hovers around zero or lower, I turn to ice climber gloves or Level 3. I was pleased the pair I got last year (Gloves C ) the DAKINE Titan Insulated Gloves which are not available this year. When you click on the link, you will find this year’s model on the REI site. They do look bulky but I found them to work really well. They keep the digits warm, and permit basic operation and the ability to push some buttons. You can push all the buttons on the camera body. You can even run a video camera with them.

My favorite though are ones my family gave me years ago for ultimate in cold weather protection. These gloves mittens I love to shoot with! Actually, they are custom made trapper mittens that are strictly for cold weather use.

How cold? Well, at 12degrees my hands were almost uncomfortably warm, not perspiring but almost too much warmth. Working in places like Yellowstone or the Arctic in the winter, these mittens are so perfect. Yeah, I can squeeze off the shutter, no, can’t work any other feature on the body. No, can’t buy these at REI. They are a two-layer mitten, a heavy wool removable liner, and outer Beaver fur. I just can’t wait to get out in the cold and put them to use! Thanks, family!

The key here is, no one glove does it all. I hope this helps you keep shooting in the worst weather which often yields, the best photography!