Feb 28, 2019 | Wildlife Photography
Common Gallinule
captured by D5 / 800mm
We see the same things over and over again to the point that we don’t give them a second thought. It’s only when there is something unique about that common sight do we stop and think about them. At the beginning of my career, to say I was focused on just the glamorous species is an understatement. Those common critters I saw but didn’t point my glass at them. Thankfully, very early on in my career, it was graphically pointed out to me that most focus on the glamorous as well. There was money to be made shooting the common since nobody was. That’s when I realized that if I shot the common in an uncommon way, there would be even more money to be made. I like making money from my images. I share this very basic and simple concept with everyone I shoot with for many reasons, the main one being the photographic challenge in making the uncommon out of the common. Case in point …
Last week, we had a kinda unexciting day shooting as the temps hovered about 90 in Florida. Critters don’t like that heat any more than we do. At the very last light of the day, we came upon a couple of Common Gallinules. As their name implies, they are common and like most photographers, I tend to pass them up in ordinary light. But in this case, not only was there very sweet light just kissing the bird, but also the world around it. The dark shadow cast on the water let the ripples light up while permitting us to see underneath to its feet. Shooting with the D5 / 800mm and it’s 1.25x, I was able to isolate the Gallinule, feets and ripple in the darkness behind it to make the photo. If there is a trick to this whole thing, it’s to recognize that common item in those times when you’re seeing it in a new way. Then bring your camera on that subject and share that unqiue moment. Or as I remind those shooting with me continually, make the uncommon from the common.
Feb 26, 2019 | Wildlife Photography
“Do I need a polarizer?” This is a really common question that truly has no right or wrong answer. It’s truly up to you and the story you want to tell and how you want to tell it. This question rarely if ever come up when photographing critters though which kinda surprises me. This is because when photographing critters, there are many times when a polarizer can dramatically make a difference. Here’s a recent example of that, this Black-bellied Whistling Duck in a pond full of lily pads. If you look at the two photos, you can see how the polarizer removed from the majority of the pads the reflected gray skies. If you look at the duck’s bill, you can see where some the reflection was removed from it as well. The overall photograph has a “richer” look to it just from using the polarizer. So why not use it all the time then?
Black-bellied Whistling Duck
captured by D5 / 800mm / no polarizer
The first issue is the polarizer isn’t a cure-all. If you look, not every lily pad has the reflection removed. That’s because the physics of it is, they don’t all face the same direction so don’t all polarize the same at the same time. You have to rotate the polarizer to maximize the effect to your taste. Next, some think they are expensive. I was shooting the D5 / 800mm / 52mm drop-in polarizer which is $199. It’s an essential tool to me. Lastly, it does suck up a stop of light which sometimes we can’t afford to lose. Added to that is I typically at +.03 exposure comp to “dull” the color saturation of the polarizer. It can make a difference, your option is whether it’s a tool for your story or not.
Feb 22, 2019 | Wildlife Photography
Laughing Gull
captured by Z6 / 800mm
on tripod
These two photographs were literally taken just a minute apart. The top image was taken from a top of my Gitzo 5562SGT / Zenelli Carbon Fiber Gimbal Head with the Z6 / 800mm and the bottom photo the same gear on a panning plate. I shot with the gear on the tripod then literally laid flat, in front of the tripod took the second shot.
Laughing Gull
captured by Z6 / 800mm
on panning plate
The tripod shot is just a “gull” photo but as soon as the camera hits the sand, it’s now much more. The only difference though it’s a big one is the background. This post is really no more than to once again emphasize how important background is and how little we have to do as photographers to make a big impact in our storytelling.
Feb 18, 2019 | Wildlife Photography
Lambing season is just around the corner but before they can drop lambs, there is that birds and the bees thing first. That starts about this time of year for Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep. For a majority of the year, the rams and the ewes are in separate bands, not really hanging with each other that much. That all changes once the winter snows have forced them all downslope, using the same foraging areas and the ewes come into season.
When you’re able to be accepted by a band, they go about their business totally ignoring you. That’s simply the best as their biology is so fascinating. The rams scent the air by doing what’s called a lip curl (as the name suggests, they curl their upper lip to catch the scent). Once they get a scent from a ewe possibly in season, it’s off to the races. It’s a tad too early right now so the Rams had all their advances rejected but that didn’t stop them. And wherever the ewes went, the rams soon followed. I’ll leave that piece of biology without any social comment :-)
I had the Z6 / 180-400VR either hand-held or on a RC-8860 tripod cause we didn’t have to really move much to work them (more of that story on the Podcast). With all the activity, being able to quickly react was important in getting the photo. I think this last photo pretty much sums it all up for the rams and the ewes. I think they were both asking, the sent is in the air?!
Feb 12, 2019 | Wildlife Photography
I headed to Wyoming for Moose and Bighorn Sheep. We didn’t’ see a Moose (just some sign), saw a ton of Bighorn Sheep (which were fabulous) and were totally surprised by the ton of Mule Deer we saw. They got their name from those big ears and their large size and though common in the west, seeing big bucks is not common. Getting glass on them is even rarer so spending a week with them finding big boys every time we went looking was down right, bloody amazing!
The East Fork had hundreds of Mule Deer in herds of twenty or so, a few bucks and the rest does. While some of them would move off when we pulled up, the vast majority just looked at us as if we were nuts. Now the fact the majority of the time it was snowing and temps starting at Zero and going down from there, they might have been right. And while some of them might tolerate our getting out of the vehicle, they totally ignored us if we stayed in. Shooting hand-held with the Z6 / 180-400VR I was able to pretty easily make shots of bucks I’ve only dreamt of for decades!
That’s because bucks I’ve seen in California are always from the rear as they ran away. Spending time with Mule Deer just going about their business was a simple joy. The bucks were more interested in each other and where the does were walking to then those “silly” photographers shooting out of a car. They pay attention not so much by turning and looking, but by pivoting them big ears around and listening. And there’s kinda the trick in making the photograph, the direction of the ears. The middle photography, you can see the ears turned. That just might put off some viewers and not suck them in. I do know that there is one reason why I want to go back to the East Fork and that those amazing Mule Deer!
Feb 7, 2019 | Wildlife Photography
I’m up in the Windy’s for the first time after them being on my list for decades. They simply have not disappointed! There are only one big game species I’m after we’ve not seen in two days so far. The one we’ve spent the most time with is Rocky Mtn Bighorn sheep. We’ve gotten into a band of ewes and rams (these are ewes) that have been fabulous! As you can see, they’ve actually gotten bored with our presence, falling asleep as we shoot. You could say, they are feelin pretty sheepish!
Note: Once again, the Z6 / 180-400VR has turned out to be a great rig with its incredible flexibility!
