Jul 28, 2009 | Wildlife Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG24204.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
After the mile walk up to the platform, it was great to put the tripod down and have Grizzly Bears in the viewfinder again. It’s been 9 months, too long and 8yrs since being at Brooks. Some things don’t change much, falls look the same, salmon though obviously not the same ones look the same and even two bears look familiar other than fatter and with a couple more scars.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG24350.swf, 396, 600 [/swf]
The bears were catching salmon with little effort with 14 bears at the falls this evening. Believe it or not, but being on top of the falls isn’t the prime spot. The bears up there have the #3 & #4 spots, they have to work to catch their meals. While the shooting was hot, I had a cold start. I’m a bit disappointed at the ethics and common courtesy not being shown by other shooters on the platform. I spent my first hour without even able to set up my tripod and shoot, some folks didn’t get the memo about limited space, closing up tripods and remembering to smile, they’re not at the office but with griz!
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG24236.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
After looking through my previous Brooks bear images, I decided to change up a few things this time. The first was I changed from A WB to Cloudy on the D3x and I really like the results for these conditions much better. I also decided to focus in more on the humorous moments between the bears. This one cracks me up, the one bear relishing its catch, the other drooling over what he can’t have. It was a great first evening. mtc
Photos captured by D3x, 200-400VR on Lexar UDMA digital film
Jul 27, 2009 | Wildlife Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/dscn1269.swf, 500, 429 [/swf]
Oh man, is it windy! With gusts up to 50-70mph, we couldn’t land on Naknek Lake, but rather on Brooks Lake. So it was a new logistical challenge. Not for us, but for Katmai Air who being pros, had it all worked out. They bussed us down to the bridge, it was open so we crossed, checked in at the Visitor Center for the campground (made a new friend, HI Zac!) and then headed into the lodge for lunch.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/dscn1270.swf, 500, 429 [/swf]
Sharon couldn’t wait to get camp set up. With it being 1/2 mile away, the Park Service makes available these cool carts to get your gear to camp. With all the gear, it took three carts to get all the gear down to campground. No, Sharon didn’t pull the cart, the guys took them down.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/dscn1277.swf, 500, 429 [/swf]
But by her reaction, you’d think she did! Na, she was happy because the new tent went up without a hitch. With all three tents up and all gear stored, cameras are out and we’re heading off to the falls. We already had a couple of bears at camp so she has her wish, camping with bears. Keep in mind, I’m on vacation so the posts will be on the humorous side :)
Jul 27, 2009 | Wildlife Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/dscn1229.swf, 500, 429 [/swf]
One of the benefits of flying out of Mammoth or Reno is Horizon Air who serves complimentary wine & ales. After seeing so many blogs by my good friend McNally with his Starbucks on the seat tray, when the light hit the fine plastic glass (great for a nice Merlot), I had to make a click. I wanted to play with the light more (like a white card behind the glass) but the plane turned and the shaft disappeared. Light does that.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/dscn1241.swf, 500, 429 [/swf]
Traveling to AK and making flights to out of the way places like King Salmon or Brooks, padding the schedule is a must because of weather delays. And when the delays occur, you’re glad you have the padding. When there are no delays, you have to sit around the time your planned into the schedule. So, we found some power, plugged in the computers, put our feet up and watched a movie while waiting for our flight out to King Salmon.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/dscn1249.swf, 500, 429 [/swf]
Once in King Salmon, the great folks at Katmai Air picked us and our stuff up at the airport and took us over to their facilities. There we weigh in, us, our carry on and check luggage before boarding the float plane to Brooks Camp. I’m not about to confess to the weights, let’s just say we had more than the average camper heading to Brooks. Yeah, we’ll be camping with the bears. mtc
Jul 27, 2009 | Wildlife Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/dscn1204.swf, 500, 429 [/swf]
Packing to go out for a week of shooting AND camping takes a little more dear, a little more thought. For example, I blogged a week ago about my quandary about whether to take 200-400VR or the 600VR or both. We figured out how we could take both lenses so that’s what we did. We’ll see how that decision turns out as we have to fly it all into Brooks and then make images.
We have to go with the presumption that we will have no electricity. While there is 120 at the lodge, there are only a couple of outlets and with so many digital shooters these days, might not get access to that. Went with the new Kelty Yellowstone 5 tent which will work nicely for our gear and the weather I think. Picked up a couple more of the Nomar Duffles that you see here. They have no wheels but they keep everything inside very dry. Will have to get luggage carts at the airport to deal with the tonnage. We have maxed out on weight, that should be interesting.
Otherwise, we have with us our normal shooting gear you find on Moose Camera Bag page under MP-1. I was so excited, couldn’t get to sleep last night. This is going to be great, I can feel it!
Jul 26, 2009 | Wildlife Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/dscn1206.swf, 500, 429 [/swf]
Whenever I pull out the P6000 when I’m driving, Sharon gets nervous. I dunno, but after doing it for decades, I’m rather use to shooting while driving. This is the view up Hwy395 as we turn on it from our home in the Sierra.
We’re on the road again, heading up to Alaska and Brooks Camp, better known as Brooks Falls. We’re on vacation, going up with our good friends Kevin & Janet Dobler to camp with the Grizzly Bears. I’ll be blogging all week about our exploits so be sure to come back, see if we cheat death one more time.
Jul 22, 2009 | Wildlife Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP0834.swf, 396, 600 [/swf]
That thick meadow we call a front yard is a nursery right now full of small critters finding easy cover to grow. Well Jake has created a pretty sweet shooting gallery right from his bedroom window. It’s a miniature version of what I have at my desk. He can spin to the left at his desk and shoot the spring kids (he has his WII to play while it’s slow out the window, I ain’t got that).
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP0861.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
These are baby Panamint Chipmunks, there are four in this family that are enjoying the seed Jake has put out for them. They are so darn cute. When they greet each other, they smell each other which to us, looks like they are kissing. To get the photo, flash fill was required to bring up the colors in the pelts. The flash feathered so it wouldn’t hit the foreground. I gotta go now, Jake wants his shooting gallery back.
Photos captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-14e on Lexar UDMA digital film
