27 replies to this topic

[OTRTexan]

I find it that when the lighting is not good then the photo gets noisy. How I approach Hawks is that when I see them I will not stop right away but just keep going past and then turn around a little ways away and approach slow, then gradually slow down and gently stop. Also will either get a shot out the window or get out of the vehicle slowly without banging or shutting the door. Hawks don't like it when you stop fast or make loud sudden noises.

I drove a good mile past the first pair I stopped to shoot. Never got close enough to get anything. The pair I did get to capture, I stopped as soon as I could get 80,000 lbs stopped safely, then pretty much did exactly what you do. I got out of my truck, zoomed in as far as I could and took a couple shots, then I'd move a little closer, take a few, and repeat till they started getting spooked. Then I just stood there till they settled down a bit. But at that point, I couldn't ever get closer, so I took shots where I was. I love the composition of the shot I posted, just hated the noise and slight out of focus. I know I need a better lens, but I also think part of it is the camera. Both of those will be remedied by the first of the year.

[nbanjogal]

I rarely (if ever) shoot wildlife, but I thought I'd chime in here after reading the last few posts from OTR and Daniel. I've attended a couple brief talks by one of our local wildlife photographers, and he says that he stays in his truck for many of his shots (he also has an enormous lens) because people spook the animals when they get out and wander around. He uses bean bags to support his lenses on the side of his vehicle door. I was surprised because I thought the shots he seems to get had to come after hiking into all sorts of unheard of off-the-beaten path locations. 

 

(Here's his website--I think he's pretty darn good: http://www.robswildlife.com )

 

I live near a bird refuge, and we have amazing bald eagles during February. Maybe I'll finally get that Tamron 150-600 and try to join you all in this crazy quest. I have lots of respect for people who can do this kind of photography--it sure seems to take a lot of knowledge and patience.

[OTRTexan]

The tameron is certainly on my short list. I'm hoping to get through Idaho this month or next when the Eagles come in.

 

He does have some fantastic shots. He also has some fantastic glass! I'd love to specialize in nature photography, but you really need high end glass to get awesome shots consistently. Wish I had ten grand to drop on a lens .

 

I really like his shot of the bear chasing the wolf. I get to drive through that area occasionally. I haven't been able to find a place I can park yet to go hiking. I'll find one eventually!

[Daniel]

I would say about 60% of my shots are from the car as well, But I am too tall to mount a bean bag in the window. I rest my elbow on the bottom half of the window and hold the lens, I guess I could rest my elbow on the bean bag?  I like the Nikon 80-400 and Sigma 150-600 because they are in expensive compared to other telephoto lenses. 

[RossCumming]

I don't do much wildlife, however, I do enjoy it when I get the chance. The majority of my wildlife is shot from hides. For example, when I went to shoot Beaver here in Scotland earlier this year (unremarkable subject for you guys Stateside, but a big deal here as they were made extinct through hunting and there has been a trial to re-introduce about a dozen or so back into the wild on the West Cost of Scotland over the past 5 years and tracking them down and spending time with them is quite difficult given there are only a dozen in the country!), the plan was to be in the hide around 5pm having been fed and watered before going into the hide location as Beavers sense of smell is very good and sense of hearing even better, and then sit (stationary, quiet and cameras at the ready behind camouflage netting etc) and be there until it got dark, around 10pm. We were sat in the hide until about 8pm before one Beaver showed up, hung about for about 30 minutes then disappeared for the rest of the evening. Back in the hide by 5.30am waiting on it to return from its evening out, we go a glimpse of it in the distance as it headed straight into the lodge, so no images. Below is an image form the evening session, shot on Nikon D610, ISO4000, 1/250s @ f11 on Sigma 100-300 f/4 lens with x1.4 TC and camera set to DX crop mode, so 630mm full-frame equivalent. The interesting point is that with 4 of us shooting off bursts of images at up to 6 or 7 fps for up to 1/2 an hour, the Beaver, only about 5 -10 metres away, did not seem to care about he camera noise, however, if we had made any movements or "human" noise, it would have been off, never to be seen again that evening. At the end of the day, numb bums, cold hands and bladders that were in desperate need of being emptied resulted in shots like this....

 

 

 

 

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[nbanjogal]

Nice…and that story is a perfect example of the patience required for wildlife shooting. Much respect to you for your tenacity!

 

I was just curious about where they got the beavers to reintroduce and just spent some time on the Scottish Beaver Trial website. Pretty neat! With only a dozen of them around, you're lucky to have spotted one.

 

 when I went to shoot Beaver here in Scotland earlier this year (unremarkable subject for you guys Stateside, 

 

And apparently you are wrong about them being unremarkable over here--have to show you this silly photo:

 

 

This was taken last summer on the Moose Wilson road  (usually quite easy to spot wildlife there) near Jackson Hole, Wyoming…guess what all those people are pointing their camera at? Yep, a lowly beaver. Traffic came to halt on that road so everyone could get out of their cars to ogle and photograph him. I am probably the only one who didn't take a picture of the critter.

 

(Sorry, Daniel--even though you can't see the wildlife, I promise there is a beaver in there somewhere.)

[Daniel]

I don't do much wildlife, however, I do enjoy it when I get the chance. The majority of my wildlife is shot from hides. For example, when I went to shoot Beaver here in Scotland earlier this year (unremarkable subject for you guys Stateside, but a big deal here as they were made extinct through hunting and there has been a trial to re-introduce about a dozen or so back into the wild on the West Cost of Scotland over the past 5 years and tracking them down and spending time with them is quite difficult given there are only a dozen in the country!), the plan was to be in the hide around 5pm having been fed and watered before going into the hide location as Beavers sense of smell is very good and sense of hearing even better, and then sit (stationary, quiet and cameras at the ready behind camouflage netting etc) and be there until it got dark, around 10pm. We were sat in the hide until about 8pm before one Beaver showed up, hung about for about 30 minutes then disappeared for the rest of the evening. Back in the hide by 5.30am waiting on it to return from its evening out, we go a glimpse of it in the distance as it headed straight into the lodge, so no images. Below is an image form the evening session, shot on Nikon D610, ISO4000, 1/250s @ f11 on Sigma 100-300 f/4 lens with x1.4 TC and camera set to DX crop mode, so 630mm full-frame equivalent. The interesting point is that with 4 of us shooting off bursts of images at up to 6 or 7 fps for up to 1/2 an hour, the Beaver, only about 5 -10 metres away, did not seem to care about he camera noise, however, if we had made any movements or "human" noise, it would have been off, never to be seen again that evening. At the end of the day, numb bums, cold hands and bladders that were in desperate need of being emptied resulted in shots like this....

You got patience , and the wait is worth it, well done. 

[TBonz]

Love the beaver shot...and the beaver shooters shot !

 

Had me confused for a minute until I translated hides to blinds in our version of English   For a moment I thought you were photographing deer hides or shooting wildlife for their hides!