| Photography is art. Photographing is to be in love with | | | | photograph elk. I knew where they would hang out so I |
| your art. We will be talking about the light side of | | | | headed back through 24-28 inches of fresh snow |
| photographing wildlife in just a minute. First, may I ask. | | | | (uphill). I found the elk but I was too low and they were |
| What impresses you about photography? One of the | | | | in the clearing. I sneaked back into the woods and |
| best landscape photographers I ever knew was Ansel | | | | popped out slowly where they had been, trying not to |
| Adams. He was a master at what he did but in | | | | scare them. They weren't there! I looked further up the |
| addition to this, he photographed areas that after his | | | | mountain and there they were (Looking At ME). I tried |
| photo changed dramatically. He photographed the | | | | to act like I wasn't heading their way and back into the |
| exact location of the San Francisco bridge, without the | | | | woods so I could come out where they were now. |
| bridge. He was an artist in control of his light. Another | | | | Out I came about 45 minutes later and they were |
| photographer's name escapes me but he did city | | | | NOT THERE! Up the hill I looked and there they were |
| landscapes. His photos had just the right light at just | | | | LOOKING AT ME! They had my number and I thought |
| the right moment. Although he never saw what he | | | | I heard them laughing that time. Lesson 2. Wait for |
| was photographing, he saved the moment for us. You | | | | them to give you the opportunity to be |
| see, he photographed from the feel of the sun on his | | | | photographed.Lesson 3. Never come between |
| face to determine just the right moment as it were | | | | momma and her offspring. While hiking in a National |
| since he was totally blind.I know a photographer that | | | | Park on the trail, we came across some elk standing in |
| was flown 1500 miles to photograph a horse. Although | | | | the edge of the forest. The trail would be going right |
| he was impatient to photograph the horse, he waited | | | | by them so I figured they would move on. They didn't. |
| for 3 days hanging around a pool and swimming while | | | | They stood their ground and stomped their front feet |
| relaxing in the sun. He had deadlines to make so when | | | | and "barked" at us. Yes I said they barked at us! I |
| he did photograph the horse, he was then flown | | | | never heard of this behavior before and no one that I |
| several hundred miles to develop the photos then | | | | knew confirmed hearing of it. We just left the trail and |
| several hundred more miles to deliver them. Although | | | | went around them. It was springtime and I would give |
| impatient, his patience paid off with superb photos that | | | | odds they had calves hidden in the brush.Lesson 4. |
| were the making of his reputation. He waited the 3 | | | | Never get within the wildlife's personal space. While out |
| days because the sun was not just right on any of | | | | looking for an opportunity to photograph some Mule |
| those days. The person who hired him was impatient | | | | Deer, I wasn't quite paying attention but just walking |
| because he had a close deadline to make and the | | | | along. You know how you feel when you think |
| photographer had already arrived a few days late. | | | | someone is staring at you? All of a sudden, I looked |
| The photographer was impatient because he wanted | | | | down over this ridge I was passing by and there were |
| to get back home to see his newborn baby. The | | | | about a dozen sets of eyes staring at me. They were |
| newborn baby was the reason he was late in the first | | | | watching me to see if I would be a threat. I was just |
| place, and it was the lack of sun that detained him | | | | out of their personal space so they didn't take flight. I |
| after he arrived.Photographing wildlife is no different. | | | | stopped, pulled out my camera with my long lens and |
| You still have to be patient. The wildlife you seek may | | | | took pictures for 45 minutes. They didn't feel |
| come to you if you are in the right place. In the | | | | threatened and I got close with my lens instead of my |
| process of going to them, you must follow some rules. | | | | body.Lesson 5. Keep your pets under control around |
| The rules are to use common sense but most people | | | | wildlife. I was riding horseback through some |
| don't have common sense around animals. This is | | | | backcountry trails in the spring. I had a dog that found |
| because they don't live around them and don't know | | | | me so I always kept him on a leash even on |
| how to behave around them. Let me give you an | | | | horseback (be sure of your horse and don't get in |
| example. When visiting a National Park, I read about a | | | | trouble with this one). We came up over this ridge at a |
| gentleman that thought it would be cute to take a | | | | good trot and down into a little sheltered opening. |
| picture of a bear behind his steering wheel. He baited | | | | Before I noticed, I was in the middle of a calving area |
| the bear with a trail of food, which the bear followed, | | | | for elk. There were about 30 cow elk and their calves |
| right into his car. He then slammed the bear in his car, | | | | in that sheltered area and I just kept going as if we |
| which, you guessed it; scared the bear and the bear | | | | belonged there. If that dog would have not been on a |
| trashed the inside of his car. When the Ranger arrived, | | | | leash, something terrible would have happened. Just a |
| he had to climb on top of the car, reach down and | | | | note also, the elk didn't panic because of the horse. |
| opened the door (putting the Ranger in danger). The | | | | Chew on that a while.Although there are a lot more |
| door opened and the bear flew for cover. He had met | | | | lessons, I want to leave you with this. Enjoying wildlife is |
| more than his match. The visitor asked the Ranger | | | | like enjoying children. You want them to have fun. You |
| why they kept such dangerous animals in the Park? | | | | want them to feel safe. And you want them to have |
| Lesson 1. Don't bait animals.I remember Christmas | | | | positive interactions. Horses have been domesticated |
| morning several year ago (try 21 years), I was feeling | | | | for 2000-3000 years and yet if frightened, they will |
| sorry for myself because that was the first year I | | | | revert to the thinking of a wild animal. Wildlife are wild |
| couldn't go home for Christmas because I lived in the | | | | animals and they need to be respected as such. Think |
| mountains and couldn't leave for more than a day | | | | before you photograph and photograph when it feels |
| since I heated with wood. I decided to grab my | | | | just right like the sun warming your face. |
| camera and lens and set out for this peak to | | | | |