It has been some time since I last posted some photos, after a year of existing as a Zombie finishing my PhD I have finally some time to upload some photos.
These Photos are form my last vacation in summer 2009, where I spent 3 weeks in western Canada.
Previously I showed some photos of Pitkas
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18182025&highlight=startername_d.p.
This time some larger mammals. All Shot with a Nikon D90, 16-85 or 70-300VR. The 70-200 2.8 stayed in the car usually since I was mostly on some serious multi-day hikes. For most of the vacation I was awake in the small hours and hiked 1-2 hours to get to suitable locations before sunrise hoping to get elusive moose and mountain goats before they go into hiding. However, despite much effort the animals seemed to rarely show themselves in such favored hidden meadows so early. Instead they seemed to prefer car-parks, laybys, gas stations, etc, under the full mid day sun surrounded by Japanese tourists. I wonder if this was a clever ploy by the Park rangers to annoy photographers by telling them to get to locations they know no animals will show!
Next to a rubbish tip at Banff National Park, this fine Bull Elk knew always where I was and would only let me so close. 500mm would have been useful (I had 300mm on DX), or more time. I reckon if you turn up each morning he would let you get closer, seemed friendly. He let some official park workers get within 20 feet.
Bull Elk small by timstirling, on Flickr
Bull Elk 2 by timstirling, on Flickr
Young White-tailed deer Vancouver Island, near Uculet. I was all set for taking sea-scapes after the sun came out from 7 days of mist, so was taken on the trusty 16-85 ((or might have been 50mm 1.8).
Deer by timstirling, on Flickr
More White-tailed deer. On the other side of Vancouver Island, a 2 day hike from Mount Washington within the Forbidden Plateau. Just behind my tent.
DSC_0475 by timstirling, on Flickr
Another Elk, Jasper NP. I had hiked 2 days across the sky line trail (45km) without seeing anything bigger than a Marmot (not even another human except at the campsite). I get to the car exhausted and a small herd of Elk are grazing between the tourists.
Elk by timstirling, on Flickr
Lastly, I was desperate to photograph a large bull Moose and most of my time was spent researching and 'hunting' for the perfect location. Places like Mose Meadows sounded promising, and they were in the middle of no where, but day after day, nothing was to be seen. I spoke to rangers and some local pro photographers to get tips and secret locations (I didn't ask for secret locations, just tips, they offered 1 or 2 personal hot-spots). These still didn't work. On one of the last days I finished a long hike and was exhausted, was getting to the car park and there was a large crowd of people, a couple of tour-bus loads included. Turns out there was this young moose just 30 feet away. The sun was right behind him, so not ideal.
moose by timstirling, on Flickr
moose head_small by timstirling, on Flickr
Not quite the huge Bull with table top sized antlers steaming on the morning sun..., but he was a beautiful animal and I was very pleased.
A few notes:
The D90 performed perfectly for a light weight hiking camera for landscapes and nature.
The 70-300 VR did exactly as you would wish and I don't think it limited the captures I could get. The bokeh might be better on some, but the subject is sufficiently sharp in most photos.
300mm was usually enough since I mostly found these animals close to car parks etc. When I was trekking and spotted animals, 500mm would have been useful for some of the small birds. I would consider a 300 f/4 ! 1.4 or 1.7TC as a compromise on size/weight.
Despite much effort with early starts and hiking into hidden valleys etc, in the NP many animals are not afraid of humans. I may actually of had better luck going early to the pic-nic sites and car parks, which is a shame because I liked the research, recon, trekking through dark forests, army crawling up to shy animals etc.
These Photos are form my last vacation in summer 2009, where I spent 3 weeks in western Canada.
Previously I showed some photos of Pitkas
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18182025&highlight=startername_d.p.
This time some larger mammals. All Shot with a Nikon D90, 16-85 or 70-300VR. The 70-200 2.8 stayed in the car usually since I was mostly on some serious multi-day hikes. For most of the vacation I was awake in the small hours and hiked 1-2 hours to get to suitable locations before sunrise hoping to get elusive moose and mountain goats before they go into hiding. However, despite much effort the animals seemed to rarely show themselves in such favored hidden meadows so early. Instead they seemed to prefer car-parks, laybys, gas stations, etc, under the full mid day sun surrounded by Japanese tourists. I wonder if this was a clever ploy by the Park rangers to annoy photographers by telling them to get to locations they know no animals will show!
Next to a rubbish tip at Banff National Park, this fine Bull Elk knew always where I was and would only let me so close. 500mm would have been useful (I had 300mm on DX), or more time. I reckon if you turn up each morning he would let you get closer, seemed friendly. He let some official park workers get within 20 feet.
Bull Elk small by timstirling, on Flickr
Bull Elk 2 by timstirling, on Flickr
Young White-tailed deer Vancouver Island, near Uculet. I was all set for taking sea-scapes after the sun came out from 7 days of mist, so was taken on the trusty 16-85 ((or might have been 50mm 1.8).
Deer by timstirling, on Flickr
More White-tailed deer. On the other side of Vancouver Island, a 2 day hike from Mount Washington within the Forbidden Plateau. Just behind my tent.
DSC_0475 by timstirling, on Flickr
Another Elk, Jasper NP. I had hiked 2 days across the sky line trail (45km) without seeing anything bigger than a Marmot (not even another human except at the campsite). I get to the car exhausted and a small herd of Elk are grazing between the tourists.
Elk by timstirling, on Flickr
Lastly, I was desperate to photograph a large bull Moose and most of my time was spent researching and 'hunting' for the perfect location. Places like Mose Meadows sounded promising, and they were in the middle of no where, but day after day, nothing was to be seen. I spoke to rangers and some local pro photographers to get tips and secret locations (I didn't ask for secret locations, just tips, they offered 1 or 2 personal hot-spots). These still didn't work. On one of the last days I finished a long hike and was exhausted, was getting to the car park and there was a large crowd of people, a couple of tour-bus loads included. Turns out there was this young moose just 30 feet away. The sun was right behind him, so not ideal.
moose by timstirling, on Flickr
moose head_small by timstirling, on Flickr
Not quite the huge Bull with table top sized antlers steaming on the morning sun..., but he was a beautiful animal and I was very pleased.
A few notes:
The D90 performed perfectly for a light weight hiking camera for landscapes and nature.
The 70-300 VR did exactly as you would wish and I don't think it limited the captures I could get. The bokeh might be better on some, but the subject is sufficiently sharp in most photos.
300mm was usually enough since I mostly found these animals close to car parks etc. When I was trekking and spotted animals, 500mm would have been useful for some of the small birds. I would consider a 300 f/4 ! 1.4 or 1.7TC as a compromise on size/weight.
Despite much effort with early starts and hiking into hidden valleys etc, in the NP many animals are not afraid of humans. I may actually of had better luck going early to the pic-nic sites and car parks, which is a shame because I liked the research, recon, trekking through dark forests, army crawling up to shy animals etc.
Seems to be quite harsh light on the second one, but otherwise its a great composition, thanks for sharing.
) I gather they can be a bit extreme in the wetter parts, and it looks fairly green from the pictures.
