Aug 12, 2009 | Wildlife Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DBTWS0043.swf, 396,600 [/swf]
The Eastside in August is usually pretty darn quiet when it comes to wildlife as I’ve mentioned. Our property even is getting quiet with many of the adult birds heading out leaving us to babysit their kid. One kid that’s a lot of fun to watch is the male White-headed Woodpecker. He’s just learning his way around the feeders and as such, he’s not sure if he should stand his ground at the suet against the Steller Jay kids and Clark’s Nutcracker kids. Being the smaller of the three, our little woodpecker doesn’t yield very often to these bigger birds.
He’s 5th or 6th generation White-headed to come to our feeders as kids. It’s pretty darn habituated, doesn’t even look at the dogs when they walk a couple of feet underneath him. So my sticking my head out the window with a 200-400VR pointed at him didn’t phase him a bit. I had flash already to go but when I saw the way the background seemed to envelope him, I decided that brightening his head wasn’t worth it. I have programmed the Function Button on my bodies so they disengage the flash which makes turning it off very easy.
Photo captured by D3x, 200-400VR on Lexar UDMA digital film
Aug 11, 2009 | Wildlife Photography
I so admire great macro photography because I am pretty rotten at it. The biggest trick to it is finding it and as this piece in Nat’l G points out with this really cool piece, finding it might be even more difficult that I imagined. The critters in the piece are down right cool and the photos, pretty schweet! If this type of photography really excites you and you want to learn more, look at all the highlights. You look in the eyes of the critters and at times at the abdomens you can see the lights and lighting pattern used to make the image. Light is everything and this is a great way to learn it.
Aug 6, 2009 | Wildlife Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/ah0328.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
This one snuck past me. Here’s an interesting read at NatGeo which has the science for the claim.
“But in terms of body size, the hummingbird moves at an average of 385 times his own body length a second—blowing away the falcon’s 200 body lengths a second.”
Aug 6, 2009 | Wildlife Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG28143.swf, 396, 600 [/swf]
And Ted? He turned out to be a favorite of mine. Last year he was in a fight which left a 12″ piece of skin flapping on his flank. While the scar has healed out externally, we wondered most of the week by his actions if he hadn’t been rattled by the scar. He tended to avoid confrontations to the extreme. The last day, it was good to see him stand up for his spot, his fish and win all the confrontations. I’m looking forward to going back and see how he does. He was the last bear I photographed at the falls, a simple good-bye until next time parting shot.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG28699.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
We walked down to the bridge and just about ready to cross when the family with spring cubs appeared at the marsh. With that, the bridge was closed and we had to go up into the observation platform. We had about 20min with the family as they worked the shoreline and eventually ended up going into the forest right by us. With that, it was clear to cross the bridge.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG28724.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
We no sooner crossed the bridge and it was closed again. A big boy had come down from the falls, walked over to the water as if to make sure we were leaving. After checking us out, he turned around and went for a swim. And with that, our 2009 Brooks Falls adventure came to a close. But it is by no means the end of the story. The fall issue of the BT Journal will have all the story and all new photos from our adventure between its covers. There is so much more to tell. But I do want to thank Sharon & Jake & Kevin & Janet and the bears for making it one of those weeks you know will always make you smile.
Photos captured by D3x, 600VR on Lexar UDMA digital film
Aug 5, 2009 | Wildlife Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG28607.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
I really do hate the clock! The last day was just a great experience at the falls. It didn’t matter we weren’t taking the classic Brooks bear catching a salmon in the mouth shot. Our last 7hrs at the falls were full of everything else. I have the feeling it’s what goes on when most the tourists go home in late summer. The guy near the end of the day (9PM) just sat down and looked around as if to say, “It’s all over, time to go home.” That’s the last thing I wanted to hear.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG28263.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
As if having a hard day at work and now relaxing in the jacuzzi, this silly bear was totally immersed in the water except for what you see here. He did this for quite a while, almost an hour before standing up and moving around only to end up again in the same spot. He seemed resolved just to let the bubbles in the rapid tickle his butt for just a little longer.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG28583.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
At the end the bears stopped challenging each other for the few salmon left at the falls. They reminded me of the old cartoon which finished at the time clock with the Sam The Sheepdog saying to Ralph the Coyote after a day of being adversaries, “See Ya Tomorrow.” I always hate leaving the bears, I always feel I’m just started to get to know them when the lens cap is put on for the last time, the gear stowed in the photopack. It’s never my favorite moment. Damn clock! mtc
Photos captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film
Aug 5, 2009 | Wildlife Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG27567.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
We left the family at the lower platform, they were coming off the rocks and under the platform when we started to walk back up to the upper platform. With all the big males around, females with spring cubs tend to avoid the falls because the males will kill the spring cubs without even twitching an eye.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG28323.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
Once we got back to the upper platform, I looked down the river quite often, wondering where the family went to. After a while I saw an adult come out and sit on a rock next to another adult. Didn’t think much of it until
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG28328.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
We watched the three cubs launch themselves into the river in an attempt to get to mom. While it only makes sense, the very size of the cubs compared to the power of the river, you’d think they wouldn’t attempt the crossing. Two almost made it to mom but the current was too swift. After a couple of minutes the current took its toll and the cubs turned around and scrambled up on a rock with their other sibling who didn’t try the current. While these aren’t the greatest of images, twigs in the way, light kinda flight, it’s the first time I’ve had an opportunity to make such a shoot so I made them. Another part of the story of what it takes to be a griz. mtc
Photos captured by (top) D3, 70-300VR (bottom) D3x, 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film
