Getting the Shot - Moose

Getting the shot you want can depend on a number of different factors; timing, patience, and even luck, to name a few.  Getting up early in the morning or staying out late into the evening often yield the best wildlife photos, although not always the best of light. Sometimes everything works out in your favor and the lighting is perfect, the background is picturesque, and the animals appear as if on a timer.  Such was the case with this particular photo of a moose cow and her calf last fall (2016).  When I first spotted the cow, she was approximately 150 yards away and I assumed that a small speck was the best photo I'd come away with.  However, she walked up out of the riverbed and towards me, with her calf following close behind. 

This particular morning, I was using my Canon 5D Mark II with a Sigma 70-300mm attached.  As the cow and the calf moved towards me, I simply pivoted and kept firing away; the card I most commonly utilize is a Lexar Professional CompactFlash with 32GB so that I don't have to worry about taking too many photos at any one time.  Within moments, they both walked within 30 yards of me and were completely unfazed by my presence (I'm not sure that they even realized that I was present.  In approximately eight minutes, I took 168 photos.  Obviously, not all of those photos were of stellar quality, the majority of them yielded some fun images. 

Being in the right place at the right time can create an awesome experience; this is one of my most memorable wildlife experiences (as far as photography is concerned).  Moose are a great subject for photography, but finding them in the right setting can be difficult; sometimes I "cheat".  Forming connections with others who are more familiar with a particular area can help with finding specific kinds of wildlife.  For instance, the biggest bull moose that I've had the opportunity to photograph started out as a tip from a fellow photographer.  

Once I'd received this great tip from my friend, I began searching him out, which meant numerous trips in the very early morning hours in Montana.  Prior to getting this photo, I spotted two or three other bulls (much smaller in size) and some cows and calves.  One colder, rainy October morning in 2015, I finally saw this guy and then spent the next hour and twenty minutes snapping photos.  For this photo, I used my Canon 5D Mark II with a Tamron 2x extender and the Tamron 600mm lens. 

He was definitely a lot of fun to photograph and he was so complacent that it was rather difficult to head for home.  Since it was raining, I had taken off my waterproof jacket and put it over my camera and tripod.  It was a wet morning! In the end, to get the shots that you want, have patience and be willing to snap numerous photos in hopes of really bringing home the few that are worth keeping. The more you have, the more likely it is that you'll have a folder full of great captures.

Happy photographing! 

Choosing a Camera

Not long ago, I joined a Facebook photography group in which there were many people who were just starting out.  Reading through numerous posts, I was quickly reminded of myself in the not-so-distant past (and in some cases, the day before).  With the options available in each technology store and website, it is easy to become overwhelmed.  What camera should I choose? Is one brand better than another? The most expensive one has to be the best one, so that's the one I should buy, right? What camera case matches my eyes? 

It is true that many beginners (myself included) wonder and even stress about questions such as these (well, except for perhaps the last one).  While most photographers have their own personal preference, the answer(s) to "what camera is best?" is subjective at best.  Each photographer has their own unique tastes, artistic abilities, and even unique ways of thinking which impact what camera works best for them.  In many instances, first-time camera purchasers have a "techie friend" who has previously informed them as to what the best product is to purchase, which is occasionally beneficial, but sometimes not so much.  Why is it too often counterproductive to have a "techie friend"? Mostly because what may work best for them may not work best for you! 

While in college, I worked for a major electronics retailer where, for part of the time, I was a cellphone salesperson.  Too many times I had customers who would come in with a specific smartphone in mind that they wanted to purchase; sometimes this choice was because of many hours of research and even hands-on testing, but more often it was because a friend had told them what the best smartphone was to purchase.  In the latter instance, I would bring out the major demo smartphones with their respective operating systems and have the customer actually use both.  Which phone fit better in their hand (which actually does make a difference)? Which OS worked best for them? Which OS had the apps that they would use most frequently? Sometimes, the customer found a phone that they liked better than what their "techie" friend had suggested, and sometimes they found that after having used their friend's choice that it was actually the best choice for them.  By that point, however, that had made an educated decision on what the best choice was for themselves! 

I am not, however, suggesting that advice should be discounted; asking advice on quality and even specs is a great idea, particularly if you are asking advice from an experienced photographer (who will likely give you well-reasoned advice on why they chose their camera).  Personally, I was extremely lucky in the advice department; a friend of mine who had gone to school for film & photography advised me on what DLSR to purchase by showing me multiple options and explaining why he thought Canon would work well for me.  Additionally, I have a very dear friend who is an amazing photographer who helped me really get into photography and was a very patient teacher when it came to techniques.

When you are choosing your first DSLR, make sure to read consumer reviews and ask advice.  If at all possible, get your hands on your top choices and try them out! For the most part, if someone owns a Canon, Nikon, or Sony, they will recommend that you purchase that brand.  Personally, I am a Canon guy (5DMKII) and I often tease users of other brands, but it is all in good-natured fun.  Both Nikon and Sony make great products, but their menu options and even physical setup are unique to their respective manufacturers.  Getting your hands on each of the top brands will help you discover what setup works best for you! 

Back in the spring of 2011, I purchased my first DSLR with a very limited budget and an even more limited skill set.  As I noted before, I had a friend who helped guide me through the process; he recommended the Canon Rebel T3, which ended up serving me very well until I upgraded to the Canon 5D Mark II in 2014.  The T3 provided some great features to get my feet wet without overwhelming me with functions I couldn't handle yet.  Had I purchased the MKII first, I'm not sure I would have stuck to it because frustration would surely have ensued.

Budget is often the most significant contributing factor to what camera you choose; while you want to choose the camera that is right for you, you may also want to take into consideration reputable dealers that sell inspected used DSLRs.  One such dealer, B&H Photo, has the reputation of offering great customer service and carefully inspected used equipment (B&H - Used Site ).  Even manufacturers, like Canon, offer refurbished DSLRs that are rigorously inspected before being retailed again.  If you are considering a Canon, then perhaps Canon Price Watch would be a good source for you.

Hopefully this post will at least help you realize that you need a camera that is well-suited for your own unique needs.  Note, however, that professional grade DSLRs can be pretty intimidating if you are just starting out, so perhaps an "entry" level camera body would be a good choice.  Also, I've provided a couple of links that are Canon specific, but I am not familiar enough with Sony, Nikon, Pentax, etc. to provide similar links (although I am sure that they exist).  If you have used a website that is more specific to those brands (or others), please share it with me and I'll include it! 

Thanks for reading!