Photo of the Week! Fawn

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 w/TC14, ISO 640, f4.5, 1/1000, +1/3ev

Earlier this week I saw a couple of fawns in a field near my house. I went home grabbed my camera and heading out to the field. As I was walking through the tall grass I told myself to watch out for poison ivy. Well, of course I ended up with poison all over my knees and shins! I am happy with how the photos turned despite getting poison ivy.

Photo of the Day! Late Season Buck

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 300mm f2.8, ISO 400, f5, 1/1600, +.1/3ev

I finally got my opportunity to shoot with my new Nikon D7000 this week. We watched a couple of coyotes walk across a frozen lake, but were not able to get any photos. Then we came across a large number of deer. After a short time this late season buck came walking out of the woods! It was a very impressive animal with a very broad set of antlers!

White-tail Deer pt 2

Nikon D90, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 w/TC14 , ISO 500, f6.3, +2/3ev

At the time, I didn't think this would be the last image I would make with my beloved Nikon D90. Just a few days after I made this image, I sold it to upgrade to a Nikon D7000!! Enough about that, I'm still amazed of the sharpness of the 300mm f2.8 with the 1.4x teleconveter attached.

Photo of the Day! White-tailed Deer

Nikon D90, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 w/TC14, ISO 500, f6.3, +2/3ev

Last Monday Chad and I were out looking for white-tailed deer just minutes from downtown St. Paul, MN. This was my first visit to the area, but Chad had been there before. To my surprise there were deer everywhere! 40 to 50 deer just roaming around the park allowing us to shoot without worrying about spooking them.

Photo of the Day! Coyote

Nikon D90, Nikkor 500 f4 w/TC14 @700mm, f6.3, ISO 400, 1/320

It might seem strange, but one of our goals going out west last year was to see a coyote. Coyote's are everywhere in Minnesota, but are very rarely seen in the day light. Just minutes after entering Grand Teton National Park we saw our first of many coyotes.

This coyote was feeding off of a elk which was likely killed the night before by wolves. I like this image because it shows the size difference between prey and coyote.

Photo of the Day! Pronghorn

Nikon D90, Nikkor 500mm f4 w/TC14 @700mm, f8, ISO 400, 1/1250

The Pronghorn is the fastest land mammal in North America. This one stood motionless for nearly 10 minutes in Grand Teton National Park for us last fall.

Photo of the Day! Red Squirrel

Nikon D90, Nikkor 300 f2.8 w/TC14 @420mm, f6.3, ISO 400, 1/1250

During our last trip to northern Minnesota while shooting Red-breasted Nuthatch's and Boreal Chickadee's this guy was running around making a lot of noise. While the Boreal Chickadee's were off in the woods I turned around and saw this Red Squirrel on a perfect perch starring at me.

The Center for Biological Diversity

In late October, I was approached by Cassie Holmgren via Flickr from the Center for Biological Diversity asking about a wolf image. The Center for Biological Diversity was looking for photos for their Fall Endanger Earth 2010 newsletter.



First, I should mention how Cassie came across my photo on Flickr. On Flickr you can search via titles or full tags. Since I tagged my photo with "wolf" therefore, Cassie was able to find my photo. I often do what Cassie did to find my photo when I'm about to head out on a photo trip. Not because I want to copy what others have done before me, but because I want to know where and what to look for. For example, before leaving for Grand Teton N.P. I did a google image and Flickr search for Mormon Barns, Schwabacher Landing, Ansel Adams, and Oxbow Bend. By doing this kind of basic research before hand, I was able to have a good idea of what gear I needed, what times I should be at each location etc...

Also, I wanted to know why Cassie hand picked my image out of the thousands (167,008 to be exact) of wolf photos that are tagged on Flickr. So, I sent an email back to Cassie asking "why my photo?" Cassie said "Your image stood out from the rest because the swirling snow and the wolf’s expression evoke a really unique mix of serenity and power." WOW, I thought. My image invoked this reaction from someone. I think it is very productive to ask why some likes your photo, so later when you go out and try to sell your images you know what it takes.

Link to newsletter http://biologicaldiversity.org/publications/earth/newsletter-fall-2010.pdf

Cassie went on to say "we’re always on the lookout for great photos showcasing the species we’re working to protect." So all of you out there that would like to get their photos published sometime, remember Flickr and other similar photo sharing sites can indeed help you out. Also, it's important to tag your photos if you want yours to be found!

I have to give Cassie and the folks at the Center for Biological Diversity major props for asking permission to use my photo instead of taking it. If you want to find out more what Cassie and others are up to or would like to contribute to their cause go to BiologicalDiversity.org

To become a member or give a gift membership, contact Keri Dixon at
kdixon@biologicaldiversity.org or (866) 357-3349 x. 312, send a check to Center
for Biological Diversity, Membership, P.O. Box 710, Tucson, AZ, 85702-0710,
or visit the “Support” page on our secure server: www.BiologicalDiversity.org.
Contributions are tax deductible.

Photo of the Day! Big Horn Sheep

On the way back from shooting landscapes all day in the Big Sky, MT area on New Years day 2010. I found this big horned sheep hanging out on the mountain near the road. I quickly took off my 20mm lens and put on my Sigma 150-500mm to capture this image.

Photo of the Day! Baby Big Horn Sheep

Nikon D90, 70-200 VR, @200mm, f4, ISO 1000, 1/640

I took this on my way out west at Badlands National Park. I found this little guy running around while its mother was grazing near the road.