Moose News Blog

We started our morning in a real thick fog, and the weather wasn’t too nice either! In any case, wildlife didn’t let us down giving us a heck of a show. For example, the pronghorn buck. Or this Bison

but without doubt the highlight for the week for me was today with the arrival of the Upland Sandpipers.

This is a bird I’ve long wanted to add to my files and got to in grand fashion today. Shooting with the 600VR w/TC-17e handheld out the truck window, we used the truck as a blind. Sitting atop a rise we glassed the fence line waiting for the male to fly in to display. When he did, we then started the truck, got a little momentum and then cut the engine to coast up to the sandpiper. The technique worked like a charm permitting me to bring back over 500 images of this long time advisary.

Photos captured by D3, 200-400VR / 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film

Coming down to the end of SD Base Camp and the photo opps just keep getting better and better. This evening we were amongst a herd of bison that decided to just have fun running. So we closed our lenses down to f22 so we had a shutter speed of 1/20 and then panning, made this bison look like track stars.

Photos captured by D3, 200-400VR on Lexar UDMA digital film

When it comes to sunrises, the view from the Badlands is really hard to beat. The drama of the sun coming up over the distant landscape of the prairie is really awe inspiring!

And when you leave the warmth of the lodge at 4am for capture such splendor, the dues you’ve paid tend to pay off.

The view is so spectacular that the large band of Rocky Mtn Bighorn took time from modeling for us to take it in.

And when life is being good to you and you take the time to take it in….

you tend to get rewarded. Perhaps not always as spectacularly as a pair of young rams air dancing, but just in the fact your just taking it all in.

Photos captured by D3, 600VR / 200-400VR on Lexar UDMA digital film

The photo gods smiled on us, again, today with great opportunities and light.

After a Deeeelious dinner we headed up the road to find this ewe group of Rocky Mtn Bighorn Sheep. Practicing newly learned skills, the Campers get in a position to let the sheep to get to know them and then come close on their own terms, the best way to get close because next came….

and then….

and then even closer….

Until they are literally so close we can’t shoot because the darn sheep are within six feet of us. Ah, to have such problems.

Photos captured by D3, 200-400VR / 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film

Our first day of Base Camp shooting was GREAT! I know that while I write this post the Campers are busily panickly uploading lots of cards, enjoying their images, reading tonight’s lesson and preparing for a 5AM departure. And, I’m sure we’re all too excited to get much sleep with thoughts of tomorrow’s possibilities when this is the least of today’s opportunities!

Getting this close to prime bulls in great light is what wildlife photography is all about! And like I said, this was the least of today’s shooting! I should add I don’t prefer photographing big game with a focal length greater than 400mm. In this case, with safety in mind and the fact that optical compression wasn’t going to change my message, working at 1000mm worked out perfectly.

Special kudos to Frank at Crown Camera who saved the day by getting a new D3 (w/the Moose discount no less) to a Camper who’s camera had an unfortunate day. Thanks Frank!

Photos captured by D3, 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film