Apr 11, 2011 | Wildlife Photography
My images of the San Joaquin Kit Fox have been on the pages of Nat’l G to the cover of Smithsonian, children posters, books and just yesterday on the CBS Sunday Morning show and that’s still not enough! They are still endangered, to few of the public know their story. Now coming back skunked from a shoot with the SJKF, I’ve done that many times. It’s simply part of the game since wildlife. Just because you’ve put the dates on the calendar and you show up doesn’t mean they will. This is especially true when you’re working with an endangered species and there are 200-400 to possibly work with in the area. Amazingly, I saw 16 individuals and had glass on 15 this trip so that’s one damn, fine start to the year!
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLFSKF0433.swf, 595, 484 [/swf]
I’m starting a new phase/project with the SJKF which will take the next year to knock out and I can’t be anymore excited with the start. 10-12 hours days paid off with big dividends. What you see here is an adult coming up from its den mid morning to see the world and take a nap in the sun. It’s pup season so the den gets really crowded so adults come up to get some space. I saw and photographed six pups at two different den sites, all around eight weeks old. Pups are just so much fun to watch because of all their energy. That’s probably why this adult looks not awake yet. You might be wondering about the background. That’s broken sidewalk, cement which the kit fox has dug underneath and made their den. It’s a very active street and yet this pair has been in this location for years have raised many families from what seems to be a very dangerous location for a fox to live.
Probably the most exciting part of all of this is bringing new gear, techniques and ideas to what is an old subject (I’ve been photographing the SJKF for 24yrs). The SJKF is basically a nocturnal critter though you could easily slip them into the diurnal category. Lighting at night is just not an option for every reason, everything from it being an endangered species to they don’t hold still and in one place. Working with what light is available is a must so the magic of the D3s is really proving itself. I’m not a “raise the ISO” kind of guy but in this case, it is the only option. So shooting at ISO 9000, biology is being photographed not captured before. What was really cool for us and the researchers was shooting video at night at ISO 9000. It’s simply amazing! I shot video with the D3s, D7000 and S9100 with all three doing a perfect job for what they were applied to do.
The project is really, really going to push me which excites and scares me to death. Being on scene basically every other week for the next year will push my calendar and productivity to the max. That scares me. Spending that much time with one of my favorite critters excites me to no end! And getting the shots that will hopefully make a difference is a huge responsibility that evokes the same emotions. I think the last 30yrs has prepared me for the challenge, only time will tell.
Photo captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-17e (handheld) on Lexar UDMA digital film
Mar 21, 2011 | Wildlife Photography
Wildlife was on the menu for the day on our Na Pali coast tour. We saw a ton of whales and a lot of breaching. None of the breaching was close enough to photograph but watching the one calf jump for over ten minutes straight! What a show. Well, the whales weren’t the only think jumping.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP53311.swf, 595, 484 [/swf]
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP53321.swf, 595, 484 [/swf]
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP53331.swf, 595, 484 [/swf]
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP53341.swf, 595, 484 [/swf]
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP53351.swf, 595, 484 [/swf]
Not bad for a D3x! We came upon a small pod of Spinner Dolphins. In the pod were a number of kids and they were having a ton of fun jumping and spinning, what they are known for doing. Then an adult and kid came from under the boat heading away from us. Since there was so much jumping and they were so close, I instantly through the lens on the pair. I no sooner did that and the kid launched into the air. I hit the hammer and shot. You can see the entire series here. Talk about big time fun! The camera was set to aperture priority, f/5.6 about 1/1500, -1 exp comp and the AF set to AAA. What a blast!
Photos captured by D3x, 70-200VR2 on Lexar UDMA digital film
Mar 18, 2011 | Wildlife Photography
The Red-footed Boobies are absolutely great fliers that just suck me in for hours upon hours. Then I remember to put the lens to my eye. On Kauai at the lighthouse, you can do just that and it’s great! And watching other photographers, this is the photograph they seem to be trying to capture. The basic sharp flight shot.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP90331.swf, 595, 484 [/swf]
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP92051.swf, 595, 484 [/swf]
And there is nothing wrong with that, not one thing. You can see on photographers faces when as they chimp how well they did in their photographic attempts. There is nothing better then to see a smile as they chimp. But being me, I looked over at the monitor and wanted to shake the photographers and say, “There is so much more!”
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP90281.swf, 595, 484 [/swf]
The problem is, I didn’t have the shot to show what I was thinking. While this bottom shot does begin, barely, to show off the expertise and elegance of these goofy birds in flight, it’s not they shot. The shot is this amazing graceful bird soaring just inches above the rough surf just below. No matter how I tried today, I couldn’t get that shot. I’m going back though and if I’m lucky, I’ll have it to share with you later. The point is, while the basic image that is sharp is good start, don’t stop there. Push, push, push!
Photos captured by D3x, 200-400VR2 on Lexar UDMA digital film
Mar 18, 2011 | Wildlife Photography
Once down to just 30 individuals, the world’s rarest goose, the Hawaiian Nene is now while still listed as endangered is up to about 1700 individuals. Each of my visits to the islands over the years, I’ve wanted to photograph the Nene.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP91081.swf,404, 600 [/swf]
I’ve never gone actively looking for it, just figured that in my travels I would come across it and get some shots of it. After my third visit seeing a glimpse of one, it started to bug me I couldn’t get glass on it.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP91811.swf, 595, 484 [/swf]
The thought went through my mind again when I saw the sign for a Nene Crossing. Saw the signs but no birds. Saw the sign this morning but saw no birds. Jake saw some but he had no idea that dad wanted to photograph them. So there we were watching the boobies when all of a sudden I saw one just appear right next to me. I left everything else and started to work with the one bird. Then a second appeared and I spent more time with them. Ten minutes later they disappeared and I figured that would be my one and only encounter with them and was grateful for the small time I had. As it turned out, all I saw the rest of the bloody day was the entire Kauai Island population of Nene at every turn. The question in my mind is, will I see any tomorrow?
Photos captured by D3x, 200-400VR2 (handheld) on Lexar UDMA digital film
Feb 18, 2011 | Wildlife Photography
I’m brutal to my group! With 20+mph winds, snow blowing horizontally, I take them out to some amazing winter photography! The challenge as I see it is to transport you who is sitting warm inside to walking with those Bison outside. How do you do that?
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp52901.swf, 595, 484 [/swf]
There is a couple of things. The first is the color temp, don’t warm it up. Let the “blue” of the mismatch of kelvin and AWB give the image a blue color cast. Why would you want blue? Blue is a color that often is associated with cold and in this situation, I want you to feel that cold.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp53061.swf, 595, 484 [/swf]
Next there is the wind, there is no setting in the camera or post that makes the wind hit you in the face. So then we can imply wind and let the mind fill in the blanks. In this case, the snow is blowing horizontally so by using a slow shutter speed, we can blur that blowing snow. How slow a shutter speed? That really depends on the wind and in this case, I was down to 1/45. But you can only see the wind blowing where in the photo?
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp535711.swf, 595, 484 [/swf]
You can only see the white snow blowing in front of something dark, like the Bison itself. To finish this whole thing off, I think you have to capture a posture in the critter that we might interrupt and misery. I feel this bottom photo does that best with the head down gesture brings that out. Hoopefully the photos give you a slight chill.
Photos captured D3s, 200-400VR2 (handheld) on Lexar UDMA digital film
Feb 12, 2011 | Wildlife Photography
I do love watching and photographing Bison. Next to Grizzly Bear, they are probably my largest file. Spring when the calves are born and winter are my favorite times with them. In my mind though, the winter works only when it looks like winter which I think takes more then the white stuff on the ground. It takes some knowledge and some luck.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP90221.swf,595, 484 [/swf]
Living in the Sierra where we can watch snow storms rolls gives one some insight about coming storms. So there we are cruising through lower geyser basin when we come up to a good lookin herd close to the road and more importantly, frontlit. Even more importantly is the storm I see behind the herd, real dark clouds coming our way. Since the herd was “bare” that depending storm is the only reason we stopped.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP90581.swf,595, 484 [/swf]
And it stormed! Big, beautiful flakes fell and at times obliterated the herd. We didn’t run for cover but rather, kept on shooting. There were some marvelous photos taken in this “bad” weather. Some of the best photography is in the worst weather!
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP92201.swf,595, 484 [/swf]
The snow flurry lasted perhaps 20min top and then blew out. The storm didn’t phase the Bison, didn’t phase the photographers but most certainly improved the photography. Knowing some biology, combining that with photography and adding in the magic of Mother Nature’s weather and you’ve got the recipe for great Yellowstone photography!
Photos captured by D3x, 200-400VR2 on Lexar UDMA digital film
