How to Shoot Desert Wildlife

kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
edited August 30, 2009 in Wildlife
Rule #1. You must move as quiet and stealthy as possible so that you never, ever, reveal your location to your subjects.

IMG_4372.jpg

Comments

  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited August 24, 2009
    Wow, that is a great capture. clap.gif Tell us the story please
  • anwmn1anwmn1 Registered Users Posts: 3,469 Major grins
    edited August 24, 2009
    eek7.gif

    Yeah- what is the story on this. Looks like they were watching you or posing for a family portrait. deal.gif
    "The Journey of life is as much in oneself as the roads one travels"


    Aaron Newman

    Website:www.CapturingLightandEmotion.com
    Facebook: Capturing Light and Emotion
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited August 24, 2009
    Busted! rolleyes1.gif
  • MarcyMarcy Registered Users Posts: 189 Major grins
    edited August 24, 2009
    Hey gang come and look it is a Photographer hiding in the Desert
  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited August 24, 2009
    rolleyes1.gif:D Good one Joel!
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
  • EiaEia Registered Users Posts: 3,627 Major grins
    edited August 24, 2009
    That is incredible! Look at that huge fellow in the center!!! This winter I hope to practice wildlife skills; it really is like hunting; actually harder! :D
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited August 24, 2009
    Thanks, folks!! thumb.gifthumb

    OK, here's the story. I was driving through a remote desert wilderness area in the Jeep with my wife and one kid, when the kid hollers out that she sees a whole bunch of some kind of animal that she thought was deer. So I slow down, and came around a corner, and there's this small herd of Big Horns just a dozen yards or two off the side of the road.
    IMG_4359.jpg

    Now, I've been trying to find Big Horns to photograph for quite a long time. Aaron will testify to this, because he's accompanied me on one of my many fruitless hunts for them. So you can imagine my surprise at running into a herd like this. I've also heard that they're extremely skittish, so I expected them to immediately bolt. Fearing the worst, I stopped the car, and we rolled down the window, as I frantically tore my camera out of the backpack and switched lenses to a telephoto. My amazement was piqued when not only did the herd not bolt, but they actually lined up to get a better look at us. So there we are, a car full of humans, and a small herd of sheep just staring at each other. I finally got my camera together and fired off a few shots. However, the light was harsh and there were branches in the way as you can see from the shot. Finally, I decided to get out of the car and see if I could get a better angle for a shot. Predictably, they got a bit wary of me being out of the car and started to saunter away.
    IMG_4383.jpg

    All in all, it was a wonderful experience and really made our day. iloveyou.gif

    Cheers,
    -joel
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited August 25, 2009
    Rule #1: Take your daughter along to spot for you!:D

    With all my stealth.....my wife will trump me every time she's with.nod.gif
  • Bud1880Bud1880 Registered Users Posts: 500 Major grins
    edited August 25, 2009
    Terrific story and great shots. Once in a lifetime experience for sure. thumb.gif

    Bud
  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited August 25, 2009
    Great story, and great shots Joel. Those longhorns are probably telling a great story about you.rolleyes1.gifrolleyes1.gif
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited August 25, 2009
    Thanks, Ric, Bud and thanks again, Dan.

    The newspaper liked it too. :D

    630357509_tVKFK-L.jpg
  • Bud1880Bud1880 Registered Users Posts: 500 Major grins
    edited August 26, 2009
    kdog wrote:
    Thanks, Ric, Bud and thanks again, Dan.

    The newspaper liked it too. :D

    630357509_tVKFK-L.jpg
    Now how cool is that? WTG Joel. clap.gifclap Congrats.
  • anwmn1anwmn1 Registered Users Posts: 3,469 Major grins
    edited August 26, 2009
    If you found them once they will be there again. deal.gif

    Great story and a great way for the wife and girls to get interested in going out into the backcountry.

    Congrats on another newspaper publication. thumb.gif
    "The Journey of life is as much in oneself as the roads one travels"


    Aaron Newman

    Website:www.CapturingLightandEmotion.com
    Facebook: Capturing Light and Emotion
  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited August 26, 2009
  • CWSkopecCWSkopec Registered Users Posts: 1,325 Major grins
    edited August 26, 2009
    Congrats, Joel!! clap.gifclap.gif

    Great photo/story and an even better ending getting in the paper once again! thumb.gif
    Chris
    SmugMug QA
    My Photos
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited August 26, 2009
    Thanks guys, I really appreciate it. iloveyou.gif

    I might actually go back there this weekend and probably alone. I need to do some more exploring in that area. My telephoto will be ready this time, although I fear this may have been a once-in-a-lifetime sighting. We'll see. deal.gif

    Cheers,
    -joel
  • jdryan3jdryan3 Registered Users Posts: 1,353 Major grins
    edited August 26, 2009
    kdog wrote:
    OK, here's the story. I was driving through a remote desert wilderness area in the Jeep with my wife and one kid, when the kid hollers out that she sees a whole bunch of some kind of animal that she thought was deer. So I slow down, and came around a corner, and there's this small herd of Big Horns just a dozen yards or two off the side of the road.


    Now, I've been trying to find Big Horns to photograph for quite a long time. Aaron will testify to this, because he's accompanied me on one of my many fruitless hunts for them.

    All in all, it was a wonderful experience and really made our day. iloveyou.gif

    Cheers,
    -joel

    kdog -
    Kingman's not so bad huh? Not going to find that driving up in Hastings-on-Hudson. Great job! And the newspaper is really cool clap.gif
    "Don't ask me what I think of you, I might not give the answer that you want me to. Oh well."
    -Fleetwood Mac
  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,708 moderator
    edited August 27, 2009
    Critters are smart.

    They will watch you in your car with interest or disdain, but once you open the car door and step put, hi ho, hi ho, its over the hill they go!

    Neat story Joel!

    I try to have one camera body ( 50D in high frame rate ) on the seat beside me with longer glass ( = or > 300mm ) when wandering about in critter country, just for these kinds of opportunities.
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
  • bhowdybhowdy Registered Users Posts: 658 Major grins
    edited August 28, 2009
    Ric Grupe wrote:
    Rule #1: Take your daughter along to spot for you!:D

    With all my stealth.....my wife will trump me every time she's with.nod.gif

    I agree with Ric's comment. Wonderful shots and story Kdog. Well done
    ________________

    Bob
    Maryville, TN.

    http://bhowdy.smugmug.com/
  • angevin1angevin1 Registered Users Posts: 3,403 Major grins
    edited August 30, 2009
    Congrats on the stellar photo op! And the Paper too!

    That last one looks as if they decided to Mo:moonon ya!

    cheers,
    tom wise
  • Jody MelansonJody Melanson Registered Users Posts: 416 Major grins
    edited August 30, 2009
    rolleyes1.gif
    There is a fine line between a hobby and mental illness!
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