Autumn Deer

This time of year is great for photographing wildlife, deer in particular. The main reasons: animals are more focused on fattening up for the winter and mating. Most other concerns like "safety" and "security" go by the wayside. Normally skittish deer that would slink into the shadows at the first sight of a camera wielding human will hang around and stare with curiosity. That is, until the first day of firearms deer hunting season (which begins at sunrise on November 13th this year in Missouri).

Some thoughts on photographing autumn deer:

• Use the longest lens you have: 200mm is good, 300mm is better, 400mm is great
• If you don't have a long lens, use whatever you have. Make a landscape photograph with the deer as an element of interest. Use a medium focal length lens to make an environment photograph of the deer. Not all photos need to be tight "portraits."
• Go where the deer congregate: watering holes, oak trees with lots of acorns, meadows
• Does and yearling fawns will usually be less defensive than bucks. You can approach much closer.
• Approach quietly, but don't try to sneak up on the deer or they might get spooked. I find that if I move slowly, don't make too much eye contact and act like I am just out for a stroll the deer don't get antsy.
• Urban wildlife areas are great for photographing deer since they are accustomed to humans and don't see much (if any) hunting pressure. They are still wild animals, just used to having the occasional human around.

More to come as autumn progresses,

D.


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Ozark Sunrise

I stayed out all night making photographs and slept under the stars. Didn't even need a sleeping bag it was so pleasant. I woke as the first rays of steel gray predawn light pushed away the stars in the clear indigo sky. Slipping on my boots, I grabbed by camera bag which had been used as a pillow. Quickly hiking down the trail, I made my way to a wildfire watchtower and looked in the direction of the Current River, hidden nestled in the misty hills. The edge of the sun broke the horizon and I listened to pines sway gently beneath me.


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Anticipation

I had some time to kill while working in St. Louis last week and decided to see what I could find in Forest Park. Thankfully, I had the forethought to bring along the 500mm f/4 lens. One thing that I readily admit is that I am no wildlife photographer. Photographing birds and mammals is a skill I am still working on. It takes a lot of patience, time, and...er...patience.

So I set up at a little wetland area at Forest Park and just sat and watched the sun come up and listened to the birds when a group of wood ducks started swimming in. While photos of waterfowl on the water are nice, I really like well-executed shots "on the wing." The action as the water splashes right at takeoff, or the way a goose's foot kisses the water as it steers in on final approach is something I love to watch. I new as soon as the wood duck spotted me, he would get spooked and take off and I'd have my shot. Sure enough, events unfolded just as I thought they would. The only problem...I didn't anticipate.



I had the lens pointed right at the guy. He took off and all I got was water and feet. Should have led him a bit to get the whole body. Sigh.

After a few minutes, another group of woodies swam by. The female went up onto land first, and of course I missed that.



But I could tell from her body language that she was about to leap again to another rock and this time I'd be ready. I aimed right at her and flipped the big lens to manual focus so it wouldn't accidentally lock on to the rocks behind her and ruin the shot. Turns out I didn't need to worry about that at all since I managed to ruin the shot myself.






When will I learn? Well I had another chance a few seconds later.







Ok...keep going.






Yes...I'm trying to overcome my urge to stay right on you...leading just a bit...



Finally. Nothing stunning. Will never be seen in print. But at least I finally started to anticipate.


I played around and watched several more pairs of woodies and mallards move through when I decided to see what was going on in another part of the small marshy stream.














Pretty. I new as soon as this one saw me I would only have a split second to read his body language, figure out which way he was going to fly, recompose, and press the shutter.















I think I twitched my nose or something and that was enough to set him off. The windup...




And he's off! Now I'm starting to get the hang of this...a little. I'm no wildlife photographer. But I'm trying. A few more years of this fumbling, and I might get a bird photo that is actually publishable!


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Making Photos

This is in reply to Just a girl who posted:

"The pink Katydid, very nice photo! I am still learning how to make great photos! Mainly outdoor scenery. Any suggestions?"

Thank you for the compliment. I really appreciate it!

I would say to first find a photographer whose work inspires you. For me, it is Art Wolfe, Bob Krist, and the late Galen Rowell. Don't try to copy a photographer's work, but try to figure out what speaks to you and how you can translate that into your photography. All three of these photographers have very different styles and missions in their work, but all three have influenced me in some way. Find someone who can influence you.

Lots of research on your subject is a must, whether it is a landscape or wildlife. Scour the Internet for ideas on the best time of year to photograph "x" or the best habitat to find "y". When you find a subject that interests you, try to spend some time with it working different angles and light qualities if you can. Don't just jump out of the car, snap a pic, and be on your way and expect to consistently make really good photos. That can be challenging but if you can dedicate more time photographing a subject, chances are you will end up with better photos.

Don't get too hung up on gear. I personally know lots of photographers who are total gearheads (not that it is such a bad thing). The problem is, they let it get in the way of their shooting. They eat and breathe camera gear and gadgets: what new camera body is coming out, the MTF charts on a particular lenses dating back 25 years, the newest gizmo that will cure all of your imaging problems for only three easy payments of $99.99, etc. They get so involved with gear that they quit making photos. Make sure you have a good camera for you (not necessarily the best or most expensive), for the kind of shooting you want to do. It's about the eyes behind the lens, so that is where all the research and inspiration comes into play.

Hope that helps a little. Most of all, shoot lots.

D.



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