Grass Isolation

Aug 27, 2015 | Wildlife Photography

A vast majority of the time, photographers seek in their photographs to clearly see all of their subject. This is especially true for critters. There are some really, really good reason for this. When grass is in the photograph though, there is a tendency to want to make it go away. That single blade of grass going through the subjects face for some photographers is a disaster! When it comes to telling the story though, the grass is in the photo because that’s where the critter lives. The grass is part of their story. So then in telling the story of the subject, where it lives and dealing with the grass, you need to have a strategy that permits you to accomplish that all that doesn’t include a lawn mower. What I have to suggest might sound crazy, but here are two images to support my thought.

There are three key components in my formula for working with critters in grass. The long lens, minimum DoF and highnoon light. I started using this formula in the beginning of my career when working with the San Joaquin Kit Fox, a house cat size endangered critter that lives in California’s vanishing grasslands. The long lens is kinda key as it permits visual isolation with the subject being small in the frame while still being prominent. Why is this important? That blade of grass in front of the face fades away when the subject doesn’t fill the frame. At the same time, we need to show the grass because without it the critter has no home. In these times of vanishing habitat, that is really essential in the storytelling. At the same time, that long lens (these African images taken a couple of weeks ago were taken with 800mm w/TC-1.25e on the D4s) when shot wide open, creates a ban of focus that is very narrow. The vertical lines of the grass in the foreground and background disappear and that’s really important because the mind’s eye latches onto vertical lines. Lastly, the highnoon light sets the scene and creates the mood for the grass. You might notice in these photos, the light is side lighting and I in particular like that when shooting critters in grass. The bottomline is, you can’t help but see the subject even though they are immersed in a sea of grass. It’s telling their story and that needs to be the goal of your photography.

The Worst Weather …

Aug 21, 2015 | Wildlife Photography

The Saddle-billed Stork was near the top of my list for birds on the Maasai Mara I wanted to see. Others had seen this four foot beauty, we had not. Near the end of our trip, they were on the edge of the marsh so off we headed to the locale. The skies were getting darker and darker as we drove in their direction. We had had a number of afternoon thunderstorms, this was sizing up to be a doozie! We were just pulling around to where they were and it started to sprinkle. I had the MP-1 V2 in my lap cause the rain started to get harder and the tarp roof of the Landi was starting to leak all over. We got up to the Saddle-billed Storks within shooting range just as the sky let loose. I’m talking a Noah event here! It was time to shoot!!!

The rain is running down between my back and the seat. My left leg and arse are soaked but my lap and gear is dry. I have the Df / 300 PF cranking away as the Stork closest to us was fishing in the rain, very successfully I might add. It was popping them down like M&Ms. It was pouring like a firehouse gone wild and the action was still happening. I would put on and off the TC-17II as the Stork would move away and come closer, rain didn’t matter. All I can say is, some of the best photography comes in the worst weather. The Stork, he just looked down my lens barrel like he was saying … “Seriously?”

The tremendous down pour lasted perhaps twenty minutes and something told me to hold tight so we did. With all that moisture, the dry Mara started to come to life, the colors especially the greens glowed. The Storks moved out into the taller marsh habitat and took advantage of what the down pour had brought out to munch. This is one of my favorite shots from the shoot. The colors, the lines, the colors, the hint of water and the Stork, they all came together (just Df / 300 PF). Then the Stork not forgetting where he started, strolled back over to the hole where it was porking down on fish and went back to it. We backed up the Landie to get this last shot (TC-17II attached) and now that we were “stuck” in the newly formed mud, our attention went to getting free and out. The Maasai Mara brought many, many great adventures and this is just one of them. And it just goes to show, the worst weather …

Just Find the Birds

Aug 17, 2015 | Wildlife Photography

Sharon & I the moment we hit Africa were in a bird mood. Why? Well the Big Five for example are mammals all look for and most of the time, find during their safari (a Swahilli word for Journey). And some of the classic birds like the Little Bee-eater above or Lilac-breasted Roller are often seen, but the rest of the birds tend to get overshadowed. And something told Sharon and I that focusing in on the birds would reward us in the long run. Not that we knew anything special, it was just something in our gut. As it turned out, we learned something important going this route.

The vast majority of the time, birds or mammals, I was shooting with the D4s / 800mm with its 1.25x. This was out and often riding in the Zenelli on the tripod, at the ready for those quick moments with birds. Back to following the birds. As it turned out, when you go off on a game drive with birds being your focus, you find them. We saw 101 species and photographed 69 of them. We saw some very rare and some very common and both, the goal was to bring their life in the Mara home in the photos. And in the process of focusing in on the birds, we saw 30 different mammal species and photographed 26 of them! But if you focus in on the mammals, you only see a few of the birds and that’s a loss. While the mammals are a diverse group of critters, the birds are all over the map of diversity! All the pieces of the puzzle on the Mara need to be focused in on, all their stories told. We’re so glad we paid so much attention to the birds, they gave us lots of stories still to tell. Just find the birds

The Marsh Pride

Aug 17, 2015 | Wildlife Photography

Without even trying, our ten days at the Maasai Mara became a lion fest. Of the 23k files images I came home with, 6500 of them were of the the Marsh Pride. This famous pride with its own TV program and numerous books is unique for many reasons. One of the interesting ones is the fact they don’t seek shade when they sleep, the only lions to do such, anywhere. We saw them a lot, from making six kills, ranging over large range of land and as their name implies, at the marsh a lot. We have so many stories to go with all those images, but the story behind this image is a favorite of mine. It sums up the Mara, the Marsh Pride and the success basic biology can bring to a photograph.

It was literally our last drive of our stay. We had a spectacular sunrise with part of the Marsh Pride so didn’t expect anything the rest of the morning. That’s how it normally works, you don’t get more than one great opp in a shoot. We were out looking, shooting and simply enjoying the beauty that is Africa. Then our amazing guide Duncan scanning the grasslands spots another part of the Marsh Pride. It was hanging up by the “airport” when it got up with that stance that said they saw something of interest. To the untrained eye, you might take their actions as simply strolling. With their first few steps, Duncan said hold on and down the dirt road we bounced. Soon we could see with our naked eyes what Duncan had seen through the bins. Then it seemed we were going to go right past the pride. Then it seemed we were not even going to stop for them. At this point, other vehicles were following us, it was obvious from Duncan’s driving something was up. Then, not too far from the dirt runway, Duncan turned to the left, crossed another road and stopped. He just looked off towards the ridge and not to much longer, we saw the pride. I had the Df / 300PF on my lap and ready. Duncan said, “They are going to walk right down the road.” How he knew that from a mile away is beyond me but sure enough, as you can see, a few minutes later they were walking right down the lens barrel.

You can’t help at first to think of them as just large pussy cats. Then you see the efficiency of a hunt as they all play their role and there is no doubt they are the top predator of the plains. Then you see their greeting as they move about and you think once again, they are just big cats. We will always treasure our ten days with the Marsh Pride, look forward to getting back to see how they survive the test of time. Their biology is fascinating, the individuals intriguing and their life on the marsh is better than on TV. There are many joys in wildlife photography, none more so then being let in the world of your subject if just for ten days to see what their world is like. It will be forever in our hearts!