It's all in the timing...and luck.

The most challenging part about wildlife photography is that you need to have all the ingredients to make a great photo lined up, amazing light,  location, steady place to shoot from, and your subject looking perfect right where you want him. But the reality of having all of these elements at once is minimal, but when it happens, its magical. If the subject ( in this case a deer ) is not willing to work with you, and is more interested in chasing does and playing hide and seek then you are left with some 'could have been' great photos that are just a little 'off'.  Antlers hidden behind trees, or even worse, the eyes or head blocked by a tree make for a unusable image. I wanted to share a few of these shots which normally live as ones and zeros on my backup drive.

This morning in November 2012 is a great example..I remember this day like it was yesterday. A nice frigid cold morning,  I had bucks running around me so often I could not decide where to point my camera. After a few close calls with smaller buck this big boy shows up and I had to put the stalk on. I followed him just out of his sight for about an hour.

A few times I got within range,  the light was EPIC. The rising sun was in my face and the cold morning promised that I would get backlit steam exhaling as this big buck took deep breaths little colorful underbrush lit up like splatters of impressionistic paint. Unfortunately my scene was not cooperating.

Although I got some shots, I missed a few stellar shots, I knew it at the time too. And he left me.

Soon after I heard some deer really going at it, " my first chance to photograph two bucks fighting!!" I was excited and hurried to the location of the sound ...again, I was in a spot that was blocked by some mountain laurel with no opportunity to move...the frustration continues.

At that point I had determined that I had lost him. Bummed out, I started to head back up a ridge that I had descended when I heard some noise in a briar patch to my right. All of the sudden, he stood up less than 20 feet away, the buck I had been trailing for hours was right in front of me! Now the timing was in my favor and I was ready. My efforts had paid off, I was happy.

You just never know, that's what I love about getting out in the woods, it's always a surprise!

Happy fall

Bill

Photography Enrichment Class

I had an amazing time the last 6 weeks working with ten students in the Upper Elementary program at The Cornerstone School. We learned the basic foundation of what makes a great photo. From composition, framing, and negative space, to balance and experimentation, we covered it. We looked at timeless examples of classic photos and then applied what we discussed out in the field.

Here are some of my favorite images from the class.

I am so proud of them and how much they learned in such a short amount of time.

We finished the last class with an art show to share with other classes, the students explained each of their photos like true artist!

This was my favorite part! Thanks guys!!

2013 Calendar

Limited amounts of my 2013 Photography Calendar still available. Makes a great gift!
-Bill

Winter Coyotes

I went for a photo drive with fellow photographer Kevin Klasman this weekend. Our only plan was to attempt to photograph my first Red Morph Screech Owl that had been reported in Essex, Mass. Images for that attempt to follow in Part#2 of this post.

Along the way from Hollis,  we made several stops including Great Meadows Wildlife
Refuge in Concord, MA. With calm winds and comfortable temps we slowly made our way out onto the dike dividing the marsh. Almost instantly we spotted a bedded coyote several hundred yards off.

Patiently we watched the 'yote only to realize he was going to relax in the warm sun  and most likely not offer an opportunity for any closer shots. We were divided by the marsh and could not get any closer ourselves. After poking around a little longer we decided to head back to my truck. On the way to the truck we saw this cute little mash wren playing in the reeds.

Marsh Wren

I looked to see if I could locate my coyote call, figuring this might bring the bedded dog out for a better look, it was not in my truck.

With the opportunity to photograph this healthy mature coyote in snow too alluring to abandon, we decided to hike along the old train tracks behind where we spotted the coyote to give it one last try.
Glad we did! Click images to enlarge.

Bedded Female Coyote

Big Male spotted me very quickly, I made a hoot sound to stop him for a photo

 This looks like a wolf to me

 happy couple

 Relaxing, waiting for nightfall to cause some trouble

 Downward Yote

And one of my favorites, these people skied right past this huge male with out even noticing. Just shows, you gotta pay attention!

-Bill