This is one cool tool! The WT-4a brings to digital photography the ability to finally see on our computer monitor exactly what the camera is seeing, wirelessly! That’s right, using Camera Control Pro 2, D3 or D300 and the WT-4a, you can use Live View wirelessly!

As good as this sounds, like everything involving computers, there’s a hitch or two. I’ve been working these out for my own upcoming projects this spring (nesting birds). In the process, I wrote down what I found worked for me which will be available shortly in the upcoming BT Journal.

But this brings up an important part of wildlife photography. There are new tools coming out for the digital photographer on a nearly daily basis. Some are great, some are pure junk. Checking them all out and running their problem solving abilities through your own photographic tasks and you might find one that makes the difference between getting the photo or not.

We headed over to Sylvan Lake (closing scene locale from Nat’l Treasure 2) to photograph some waterfowl. In working a Red-winged Blackbird busily building a nest (where the sun didn’t shine), I looked up and noticed this kinda cool reflection scene. It was finished using Nik’s Tonal Contrast. Always a good reason to carry a second body when working with the long lens.

While working the Upland Sandpiper, we were faked out when we glassed down the fence row in the distance and saw a brown bird that once we snug up upon it, discovered it was a Western Meadowlark. Well, couldn’t let a great background and fullframe subject go to waist!

Photos captured by D3, 70-300VR/600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film

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

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

Then we headed back to Custer which is always good to us. It took no time to find my old friends and really favorite subject, Bison.

It’s hard to imagine in that 5+ years, this cute little guy turns into this big guy.

And tomorrow is another day!

Photos captured by D3, 24-70AFS / 200-400VR on Lexar UDMA digital film

Snow all gone, green grass a plenty and newborn Bison are just showing up. This one is going for an afternoon snack. I’m not sure mom was so keen on the idea.

what a cute face! It just goes downhill from here. And the color, that’s the real McCoy!

Hard light, I get what I deserve for shooting in it. But a nice buck at point blank range, how can you not shoot?

But there’s nothing like getting close! Ewe get the point.

We’re in South Dakota and today we were shooting in old haunts, Custer State Park. It was a great day of shooting, critters everywhere! We start our SD Base Camp tomorrow night so I’ll post what I can when i can but if today is any indication, I’ll be spending what time I have just looking at my images at night. Wish you were here!

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

As you can see, the “blizzard” has blown through and while the roads are a mess, the light was out and so were we. With the end of bad weather typically comes a feeding frenzy by critters so we headed out where I thought the wind would have blown off the new snow. We saw lots of Mule Deer but we were hoping for better (yeah, I love Bambie).

A herd of Mtn Goats were introduced to the Mt Rushmore area early last century. Sometimes you can find them and sometimes you can’t. We lucked into this nanny who was taking advantage of the wind blown area to eat in the last rays of sunshine.

You’ll probably notice the ear tag and telemetry collar on the goat. Many would either not photograph them or if they do, remove them in post. Did I ever tell you about my first Audubon cover (their last wrap around), they specifically wanted a photograph of a California Gnatcatcher with bands on its leg. In reality, finding Mtn Goats with a collar is a whole lot more difficult than finding ones without. So strictly from a business point of view, I don’t mind the jewelry. Since I’m often involved in projects where that jewelry is being put on, I understand its purpose and need so often make a point of photographing it when I can.

How do I know it’s a nanny? The horns.

Photo captured by D3, 70-300VR on Lexar UDMA digital film