MooseNewsBlog

I was pulling images for a book project on mammals and rummaging through my Columbian Ground Squirrel files and came across this oldie but goodie. Looking through the list of speices I was pulling for the book, they were all “common” species that you would find at a picnic area or pullout along the road. Nothing exoctic, nothing hard to photograph, no technical challenge or requiring long glass. Basic dirt common species that for whatever reason, other photographers chose to just not shoot. Why is that?

This little guy had his home right outside a condo we were staying at in Canada a number of years back. All I did for the photo is open the window and shoot out, didn’t even have to leave the condo to make the click. And for all that effort, I’ll have a nice pay day when it’s added to all the other “common” species I’m sending. And while it’s a common species, the photo isn’t. Being a picket, mouth open and calling with the light nicely bouncing around takes the common and make it shine. So while getting the common critter in the viewfinder might be simple, the challenge for you the photographer is making something out of nothing you could say. Because when you get paid for shooting the common, there is nothing common about common.

Photo captured by D1, 600f4AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film

We were in my favorite bookstore in Missoula last week and came across this new release, Some Like it Hot!. Some of you will recognize the cover, some won’t. It’s the thermals in Yellowstone and this marvelous book by Susan Neider celebrates them beautifully. As a fellow photographer who often gets lost in photographing these amazing patterns, textures and colors of the thermals, I truly appreciate what Susan has brought to light in her book.

I bring it to your attention because many of you are heading to Yellowstone this summer. There are times when the light is hard or the crowds just too much to bare for the big pictures. You might want to pick up a copy of this inspiration for photographing the little things that make Yellowstone unique. Just like the title suggest, some like it hot!

A very common and good question is “what do you take in the field?” When I say a 2nd body on my shoulder, I often get a funny look as if to ask why lug another body in the field. We are an amazingly fortunate group, us photographers. We are able to venture out and see things that many can’t imagine exist. This is especially true for wildlife photographers. And while we focus on the critter in the viewfinder, I often, sometimes to the detremint of the critter I’m chasing, miss that photo just enjoying the world around me. That’s why I have the 2nd body on my shoulder. A dabble of light strikes the landscape for only so long and then moves on. It’s those moments that are special and the 2nd body is very much apart of the gear that goes in the field with me.

Photo captured by D3x, 24-70AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film

I’m heading off to AK shortly and will be camping. More than likely we’ll be out in the rain and away from shelter when shooting.  At the same time I’ve also been looking for a means of quieting the sound of the D3x when shooting so it’s not being picked up by the video camera. I found the answer to both problems in one product, LensCoat’s BodyGuard (they come in colors other than black).

I’ve written about these before, but Scott has improved it by making it with a clear back cover, finger holes on the sides and a flap on the top for using a flash or off camera flash cord. As you can see, it’s easy to see the back of the camera and the D3x was attached to the 600VR when the this photo was taken. Tripping through the AK forest (and that could be a literal trip), it will be nice to know the D3x has the BodyGuard on and is being protected along with the lenses which also wear LensCoats.

This is scary shit!

While at the Reno Air Race PRS, I ran into a problem that I needed to find a solution to. The problem, sunblock ALL over the LCD creating an oil slick that should be reported to the EPA. Cleaning it became a pain because it just kept smearing and smearing, not really getting clean. After the fact I remembered something Hoodman has sent me, the Hoodman Hoodcap. It’s like retro digital man, the days of the D1 but oh, does it solve the problem! How do I know? I smeared sunblock on my face and took the LCD cover for a test greasing. The Hoodcap got greasy and it was then easily degreased. I now have a couple in my photopack for just such occassions.

I got a number of emails asking if I really used a video camera on top of the D3 with a 500VR attached and if I had a photo of it all. Well, here you go. Not only can you see the rig but this photo by Richard catches me shooting with the iPhone for my Tweeter posting. It’s all in the wrist

The deadline is nearing, entries are coming in. Where’s yours?

MooseNewsBlog has a little photo contest we want to run. The subject is nesting birds, deadline is 30 June, 2009. The rules are pretty darn simple.

• Gotta have a really nice photo of a nesting bird with young. Just sitting on the nest or adult with eggs will not qualify.
• Gotta have a second photo, nothing special other than it has to demonstrate the nest successfully fledge its young.
• Photos have to be taken in 2009
• Can be from anywhere on this planet
• taken with any brand, format or medium (no crayons)

The submission rules are simple as well. Those submissions that don’t adhere to them will be automatically deleted, no notification of deletion will be made.

• You MUST submit both photographs at the same time, no exceptions
• image size must be 72dpi, longest side of the image 7″ (as in like ah 5×7″ but with digital, the 5 is an odd ball number)
• no name or copyright notice on the image itself (photographer retains all copyright)
• send your submission as an email with the two images attached to photocontest@moosepeterson.com
• email to contain name, address (shipping) and location where photographs were taken (winner will be asked to provide camera info)
• All entries to be received no later than midnight, the 30 June, 2009 (winner announced by 15 July, 2009)
• entries must be sent to photocontest@moosepeterson.com, anywhere else and they will be deleted

All gallery of all the entries is going to be created. And remember, we have a prize for the winner. Nikon Sport Optics is awarding a great pair of bins, the Monarch 8×42 ATB.

Looking forward to seeing all the images!

Wildlife Photographers Base Camp is heading to Bosque del Apache Dec 07-11, 2009. The great news is our dear friend and killer photographer Kevin Dobler (also part of our DLWS staff) is joining us as co-leader.  Kevin has been to Bosque and shot with me there many times. Hot dang, we’re going to have fun now! Our very rewarding, hard hitting, tiring and incredibly educational wildlife photographer business course is going to one of my favorite places and using it as the backdrop for launching the photographic careers of others.

Bosque is an amazing place, filled with thousands of Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese. Birds is by far the main photographic target of our week. We will limit this Base Camp to just six campers, a 400mm lens or longer required. Look forward to shooting with you and sharing with you what I think is the greatest profession on the planet! We have two openings left, give us a call, now’s the time!

What can I say, I’m a sucker for a sexy lens and the 105VR is not only sexy, but wicked sharp. After I move past that, I’ve gotta field test to see it to see if  a lens works for not only my style of photography but working capitol as well. If a good friend didn’t have the lens and put in my hand, I doubt I would own it now. But I’m so glad I do! This intimate portrait of a DLWS participant’s cute little girl is a perfect example of how I like to use the 105VR. Here are some other thoughts on this vital piece of the Moose’s Camera Bag.

Then there was the Moose Cam experiment at PRS. I mounted like normal the Canon HS10 atop the hot shoe of the D3 which was attached to the Nikon 500VR lens (a great lens Nikon loans out at the school). You might be thinking that panning with this rig impossible. Na, but it does get heavy as you’ll see as I constantly put it down between laps. While I did capture some sharp images, it was way below average. The video camera acted like a big sail in the ever increasing breeze to the point where I wasn’t getting anything sharp.

So the outcome is, I only have Moose Cam from the Sports and Formula 1 rounds. While not my favorite planes, they rip around the course doing 450mph and pulling up to 4G in the curves. Photographically, using the D3 with AAA and the buffer upgrade is the ONLY way to work the races. As you’ll hear, I do like to rip that shutter and the D3 makes it so darn easy. I’m working on a better system for the races in Sept, but in the meantime turn up the sound and prepare to get sucked into pylon photography. Enjoy!

Photo captured by D3, 500VR on Lexar UDMA digital film

Holly cow…where does the time go? Back in the office after a killer, killer time at the Reno PRS (Pylon Race School). While the new pilots learn the Reno Air Race coarse (just north of Reno at Stead Airport), 25 of the best aviation photographers are brought in to photograph the whole event. I’m incredibly fortunate to get in as a volunteer working the Nikon NPS booth who are there to support the photographers.

This is the GREATEST bunch of photographers! Besides the fun, quotes from every airplane movie ever made, they are the most sharing group of photographers I’ve ever run into. Thanks to each and everyone of them, especially my dear friend Richard who keeps pushing me by giving me a new technique to attempt (bastard) that he knows I just gotta master. Even had a newbie to tease this time, my dear friend Joe Glyda who kept texting me just saying OMG!!!! Then there are the guys, Bill Pekala, Bill Fortney and my long time friend Scott Diussa from NPS who just make it all possible. Thanks guys!

It was a great week, Jake came back with 2034 (and is totally hooked like dad), I 5165 images (after editing). I only kept 62% of what I shot, in part because of Richard and his “new” technique I was determined to master (I didn’t) and trying to do a Moose Cam. It was a giant sail in the wind and along with slinging the lens, just didn’t work in capturing sharp stills.

Here’s a little gallery (37) of images of my favorites from the week. I approach this whole thing with the romance of flight in mind. I look then for clouds for the background and not just any clouds. I’m constantly turning the camera body so the planes are lined up in the frame how I want and not plumb to the earth and I shoot in Shutter Speed Priority at 1/180 or slower to blur the prop (jets are back to Aperture Priority at f/8). Then it’s just pan, pan, pan, pan and more panning. I was quite thrilled to not only have Jake & Brent shooting beside me, but to hear their arms were sore on day two as well.

I can’t recommend the Reno Air Races enough. To see my 2008 images from Reno, click here. Whether you’re a shooter or not, the fun and excitement just rocks. The Blue Angles will be at the even this Sept along with some other aviation surprises I can’t announce other then to tell you, you should be there! Nikon & I will be.

Photos captured by (flight) D3, 200-400VR  (static) D3x, 24-70AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film