Jan 10, 2011 | Landscape Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/Delhi Sands fly 0008.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
There is one aspect of my work that I really, truly hate. Jake & I headed down to the desert to do a little scouting & then R&R shooting. In route we went through Banning Pass, just north of Palm Springs. What seems like a lifetime ago, I did quite a bit of work in that area. One of those projects was to photograph this endangered critter, the Delhi Sands Flower Loving Fly. At the time, only 1 photo of this critter existed so F&W needed one for the public record. This is the only critter in my entire career that nearly killed me, but that’s another story. Another project was for this other critter the endangered Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard. This is a fascinating critter that made a fool of me but it was so much fun to photograph it. Why am I blogging these photos that are 20 & 24yrs old and what is I hate about my work?
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/Coachella Vly Fringe-toed 0034.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
We were driving down I10 and I was looking at the amazing amount of development that has occurred in the area. It has been perhaps seven or eight years since I traveled down this section of I10 and it was incredibly depressing (pointed out a canyon we fought three years to preserve but lost, Jake just said, “That’s a lot of houses!” Then we drove past the sites where I photographed these endangered critters. What I saw was pavement and cement, there was no more sand, no more critters. The one site the building that had been built was closed up and abandoned. The location developed for a business that already went out of business? It’s really hard to go past a location and think of all that was there, what I photographed now all under blacktop. It’s probably just me but what society does just for money really fries me at times! I just don’t get it. I also know on the flip side some say, “It’s just a fly and a lizard, get over it.” I just hope some day some alien race doesn’t come to earth with the same attitude. “It’s just some humans, get over it.” I hate this aspect of my work.
Dec 29, 2010 | Landscape Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP48331.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
The winds built up pretty fast and brought the storm in and over pretty darn fast. That means it will go through the are quickly. It also means photos opps will be short and sweet.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP48391.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
So as the last holes in the clouds closed up, I dashed to capture those beams coming down on the landscape. I say dashed when actually I just drove quickly. Because all the photos in this post and the last were taken from the seat of the truck. I never even got out to shoot, just rolled down the window. It’s fun to explore and shoot when the images come this easily.
Photos captured by D3x, 24-120VR2 on Lexar UDMA digital film
Dec 29, 2010 | Landscape Photography
With 12′ in the front meadow, a new storm rolls into the area. After chores are done prior to the 24hrs blow we headed out with the camera to take in the front. Weather as moves through the light always plays on the Sierra and the B&W photos are just about everywhere you turn.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP48471.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
You can actually see the front’s leading edge here, pretty dramatic. They are predicting 2-3 feet in 24hrs from this storm and then minus zero temps. Just the way I like it.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP48561.swf, 402, 600 [/swf]
What you can’t see are the winds which at this point are mild and just signal a storm coming in. They’re forecasting gusts up to 100mph and that’s not so good. That makes all this gorgeous snow into a rel hazard for those who don’t stay inside where it’s safe. It will be a crazy day, can’t wait!
Photos captured by D3x, 24-120VR2 on Lexar UDMA digital film
Dec 28, 2010 | Landscape Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DLCJPTT0013.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
I’m really loving the “new” friends from around the globe Captured is bringing to our door. As folks read the book more, they’re exploring the website more (which is great!) and they always seem to end up on the Int’l Tour page. Then they go searching for the wildlife tours (and there isn’t any presently). And then comes the email.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DLCJPTO0061.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
With our Japan tour coming up soon, it’s the one being asked about the most (I believe it’s full, you’ll have to contact M&M for details). The common question is, “What’s is it about Japan since you’re not photographing wildlife?” The answer is quite simple, there is more to photography for me then just photographing critters. True, that’s my passion and what I devote the majority of my time to, but there is more to life and photography. In Tokyo for example you can literally within the same block see something 700yrs old right next to some of the most bitchin Nikon stores on the planet. Japan is where I can find this and a whole lot more.
Dec 27, 2010 | Landscape Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP46601.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
After a marvelous day of being with family and taking lots of family photos, we settled in for great meal.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP46671.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
Then I did a typical Moose, I saw the great clouds and burst out the door.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP46751.swf, 402, 600 [/swf]
The Prime Rib was on the table so I had to be quick, so I ran out on the deck and made a couple of quick clicks.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP46831.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
As fate would have it, the color got way better, way better! As you can see though I don’t have those photos here. Nope, I enjoyed the great color sitting at the table with my family all enjoying the great view. What a marvelous last present for the day!
Photos captured by D3x, 24-120VR2 on Lexar UDMA digital film
Dec 27, 2010 | Wildlife Photography
I hope all your Christmas wishes came true for you this weekend. We had a glorious day starting at sun up when we looked out our window to see our rabbit family out and about. This isn’t the species that’s been my nemesis for the last decade, these are the sweet ones that pose.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP47611.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
This is a Mountain Cottontail that is fairly common on the eastside. While we see them in the summer, we see them nearly everyday in the winter for a couple of reasons. The main being it burrows by the exhaust from our clothes dryer so it stays really warm. We also fee the family apple cores and other vegetable matter. In return, they entertain us with visits and torments our dogs to no end (which is fun too).
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP47401.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
Without leaving the comfort of our warm home, I shot out the window at it posed. Why the two photos? Peter Cottontail, Bugs Bunny, folks have a preconceived idea of cute rabbits. No one wants to see for example of photo of road kill Bugs. Not that’s what I’ve got here but what one image doesn’t have are the cute ears. Yeah, the ears really make a difference. The more frontal photo would have worked if the ears were separated, but they’re not. So the profile works better I think because the ear we see looks “perky.” Those little details matter I think. Great present to start the day!
Photos captured by D3x, 500VR on Lexar UDMA digital film
