Jan 28, 2010 | Wildlife Photography
There’s this shot I’ve wanted for a long, long, long time. I saw it in my minds eye once, back in the days of film and traipsing around in the Bitteroots. It’s a shot in the perfect light of just a Bighorn ram’s eye and a little bit of its curl. I had the light and had a ram approaching me to where I thought I might get the shot. But no, it wasn’t to happen right this moment.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp5241.swf, 465, 600 [/swf]
Thoughts of biology and possible biological events that could occur along with images I want constantly go through my mind when I’m shooting. I find that having those thoughts up front in my thinking helps me be prepared for then they occur to make the shot. I demonstrates at least to myself the importance of not thinking photography but thinking subject. I don’t know about you, but my mind can only process so much at one time. Thinking biology and possible images is where I reach my limits which is why I keep saying the technical side of photography must be dealt with on a subconscious level.
Photo captured by D3s, 200-400VR (handheld) on Lexar UDMA digital film
Jan 28, 2010 | Wildlife Photography
“Moose, watch carefully, the pack is trying to cross the road.” We crept down the road and set up under the OP. From less then 100yrd away, over the ridge, a chorus of howls filled the air. Then on the ridge, 642F appeared and then disappeared as it jogged towards the pups. Then from behind us a lone howl bounced off the falling snow and down to us. It was greeted with another chorus from over the ridge. The beauty of the silence of the falling snow then filled with the howls from Blacktail and Lave Creek Packs was one of those great wildlife photography treasures we’ll never forget!
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp9505.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
The black wolf is the beta 642F (F=female) of the Blacktail Pack. They made a big move north during the night, something they’ve not done for a while. They had made a kill just prior to our arrival at daylight near the heliport at Mammoth Hot Springs. Nate, the wolf biologist who told us the whole store and so much more was standing there telling us how cars on the road were keeping her from crossing (also told a few horror stories of photographers chasing these magnificent creatures) when she finally crossed and appeared on a ridge to the south. It was a great view and we really love this photo because it sums up the morning for us. These magnificent creatures are critters of the wilderness and that’s what we heard, saw, experienced and felt this morning of wolf work.
There was more action with the Canyon Pack since our leaving the Madison. My new friend Jesse has a blog (the wolf biologist) which covers what it is he does as a wildlife tech in Yellowstone. For any wildlife photographer, working with biologists is essential and readers of my work know I credit my success to these selfless folks doing amazing work. Give Jesse’s blog a read, you’ll learn a lot!
Photo captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film
Jan 27, 2010 | Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP4524.swf, 465, 600 [/swf]
I just love the ladies! I spend as much time with them as I can and today I was surrounded by them so I made some quick portraits. I was shooting with the 200-400VR handheld with the D3s attached. I thought I would share this one because it pretty much demonstrates the quality the D3s is delivering. The focus point is the eye, shot at f/4, 1/250. Keep in mind you’re looking at a 8bit Jpeg when you click on the link. So just check out this image, as in click here, now!
Photo captured by D3s, 200-400VR on Lexar UDMA digital film
Jan 27, 2010 | Wildlife Photography
You might be getting tired of all the sheep photos but I just can’t help myself (and there’s still more to come). While I love showing them off, I want to help you get the same image if you have even a hint of the passion for Bighorns I do. I wanted to talk about ridge lining.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP9260.swf, 465, 600 [/swf]
These are the masters of the cliffs, literally! Their hooves are designed so they velcro to sheer rock on impossible faces in the nastiest of weather with no effort. This makes them love the high ground, making any predator coming up to them which is really, really difficult. So you often see sheep on ridge lines which is not only biologically very sheep, it’s photographically very cool.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP9406.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
And Sharon’s eye once again make the shot possible! I’m watching one slope and Sharon’s watching another. I have rams staring me in the eye and she’s scanning the ridge line for the cool photo opps. You have a young ram, old ram and a young ewe all demonstrating what it is to be a Bighorn. Once found, it’s a matter of light, background and image size to make the image speak sheep. I love the challenge, I love the results.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp4385.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
Photos captured by D3s, 600VR / 200-400VR on Lexar UDMA digital film
Jan 26, 2010 | Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp8761b.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
My blog about using Vivid in Picture Control brought in some interesting questions. The first one I want to address is what about exposure compensation, why not just use that rather than switching to Vivid? The main reason I didn’t use exposure compensation to obtain the contrast I wanted because that just moves the curve, doesn’t alter it. Sliding the curve up or down doesn’t change the relationship between black and white. I wanted to alter that relationship even slightly which is what was accomplished by going to Vivid. For my taste (which might not match yours which is fine), I’m not satisfied with just a “brighter” image. The upper image is 0 exp comp, the bottom image is +.5 Exp Comp.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp8761a.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
A number of folks threw out the “why don’t you just set it in post” or “isn’t it the same so just set it in post” or “fix it later” which is always my favorite. Since it’s Raw, can’t you do that? Of course you can and in fact, it’s your photography, you can do whatever you like which is one of the greatest things about photography. Personally, I take the time to set all the settings in the camera because the camera is still the best processor of our images and that includes Raw. The camera does not process the Raw file in camera but does create the Instruction Set that programs like NX2 use to first generate an accurate preview of your image and then if you do just a Save As (and not change settings because you screwed up at capture), the Raw file is finished using those settings set in the camera. And lastly I’m a photographer and take great pride and challenge in being a craftsman. It’s an old fashion thing I’m told.
Jan 26, 2010 | Wildlife Photography
I think it comes from film days when I had just enough money to buy film but not get it all processed right away. Shooting brief action was something I got low returns of success and when it cost money with every click, I wouldn’t take the chance on photographing brief action. Whatever the hesitation is on hitting the shutter release, I push myself now that whenever I see action no matter how brief if the image looks sharp, I hit the shutter release. It does pay off.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP9146.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
We were out in Lamar Valley seeing lots of critters, especially coyotes. There was a wolf kill and they seem to be pairing up, the combination brought them out of the woodwork. This pair was quite enamored with themselves and for a while, ignored the vehicles piling up to photograph them. In fact, most drove off, bored with the two just piss on this push and crapping on that, typical coyote behavior when in love (sound romantic, doesn’t it?).
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP9169.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
Then they decided it was time to move and move they did. They ran down the hillside right towards us. I didn’t hesitate, got glass on the single animal, the D3x locked on and I fired. The combination of the action, spraying powder, dried weeds the same color as the coyote scattered about the frame, I really like the image and the whole time with the pair. When love is in the air, critters tend to ignore us and great images can come from that opportunity. With encouragement like this, gotta keep working on that old, bad habit.
Photos captured by D3x, 200-400VR (handheld) on Lexar UDMA digital film
