I decided to drive up to Point Reyes for a few nights and spent the bulk of it behind the camera. The light was variable and there were long periods of nothing followed by intense long hours of shooting. The images are a snapshot of what will take many days of editing.
The highlight was the two hours I spent with a coyote sleeping just 20 feet for me. I waited it out with the goal of photographing the stretch and shake. While I didn't get a "downward dog," I did get a nice head shake...
Thanks for looking.
bruce
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens560mmf/4.51/4000s250 ISO0.0 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens400mmf/4.01/4000s500 ISO0.0 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens400mmf/4.51/1250s800 ISO+1.3 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens400mmf/4.51/1250s800 ISO+1.3 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens400mmf/4.51/1250s800 ISO+1.3 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens400mmf/5.01/4000s220 ISO-0.7 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens560mmf/5.61/4000s140 ISO+1.0 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens560mmf/6.31/4000s6400 ISO+1.3 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens560mmf/6.31/4000s2500 ISO+1.0 EV
My only visit to Point Reyes was back in the mid 90s and we did the light house thing. I'm sorry now that I missed out on the birding there. We did enjoy the animals we saw though. Great shots. Thanks for the reminder.
Kudo's to your waiting it out for the rewards Bruce As mentioned nice atmosphere in these images.
Bobcat!! Sweet
Great comp on Kestrel, is that a Crow or Raven?
Karl
Thank you Morris... It was a great few days.
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sum1sgrampa wrote:
Looks like a great outing Bruce. The "atmosphere" of all these is really beautiful, very peaceful. Well done !
Gary
Thanks Gary... In contrast to a lot of photographers, I like foggy and overcast lighting. I find that it helps me to isolate my subjects.
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ctgoldwing wrote:
Very nice Bruce. Great collection and your patience is the reason I'll never get shots like these
Good editing
Thanks you... I always tell people that patience is my "super power." After 31 years of teaching high school biology, one learns to build up that muscle
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soupy wrote:
My only visit to Point Reyes was back in the mid 90s and we did the light house thing. I'm sorry now that I missed out on the birding there. We did enjoy the animals we saw though. Great shots. Thanks for the reminder.
Sue
Sue, It is totally worth spending a few days looking for wildlife throughout the park. I suggest you consider Fall and Winter when the grass is low. During late spring and early summer, the wildlife is harder to find as they work their way through the tall grassland.
regards,
Bruce
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Karl Witt wrote:
Kudo's to your waiting it out for the rewards Bruce As mentioned nice atmosphere in these images.
Bobcat!! Sweet
Great comp on Kestrel, is that a Crow or Raven?
Karl
Thank you Karl...
I've photographed bobcats at PR on many occasions. They can be hard to find, but if you encounter a "tolerant" one that is more concerned about hunting than you, it is possible to hunker down and put you in a spot where they may approach on their own terms.
RE the kestrel, my first instinct was to shoot tight. After looking through the viewfinder, I realized that the curve of the hill in the background made the kestrel more interesting and thus decided to make it more of an animal landscape image.
RE crow or raven, this is a raven. Raven's have a thicker bill. While not a glamorous subject, I really liked the way the composition lined up. In addition, this was the first animal I found on this day and always like to start with something in the card
bruce
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louie champan wrote:
Terrific set of images, the mood captured in each of these shots is remarkable.
Thank you very much Louie... As I commented to someone else, I like the soft and foggy light. While the fog and overcast conditions can "steal" a bit of detail, it often adds a new "character" or dimension to one's photos.
kdacharya wrote:
simply marvelous, Bruce. what light you have captured. voted for sure
Thanks KD... It was a great 2.5 days of shooting. At times nothing was around and then, boom there was so much going on that I didn't know where to point the camera!
We should talk about visiting this area together at some point.
These are beautiful Bruce, in some really nice light. You are very stealthy to get within 20 feet of the sleeping beauty. I loved the Bobcat, I've never had the opportunity to see one. I especially liked the shot of the 3 piece howling band.
It’s the Raven image for me Bruce. I love Ravens. It’s their personality I think. At Grand Canyon they hang around the scenic turn-offs and panhandle the people. It’s comical to watch them go about their business. That image of the 3 coyotes is perfect.
I’m looking forward to more of your excursions into California's nature.
surgemaster wrote:
Top notch Bruce. Nice mood in these.
Rex
Thank you very much Rex... trying to make the most of that overcast and foggy light.
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Jim Dockery wrote:
Nice work, you are much more patient than I am!
Thanks Jim... I call patience my "super power". If you spent more than 30 years teaching high school juniors, one must learn to practice patience
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Dave_E wrote:
These are beautiful Bruce, in some really nice light. You are very stealthy to get within 20 feet of the sleeping beauty. I loved the Bobcat, I've never had the opportunity to see one. I especially liked the shot of the 3 piece howling band.
Dave
Thank you Dave... It was a very good outing for me. I've photographed bobcats in that past and I am beginning to understand their behavior. Most are not tolerant of humans, but every once in a while you can find an indifferent individual. The coyotes were a mix of right place at the right time and anticipating a behavioral interaction. I was not expecting a howling, as this was about 4:00 PM, but I expected them to group up and exhibit some of that characteristic "dominance/subordinance" pattern we see with canines.
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bs kite wrote:
It’s the Raven image for me Bruce. I love Ravens. It’s their personality I think. At Grand Canyon they hang around the scenic turn-offs and panhandle the people. It’s comical to watch them go about their business. That image of the 3 coyotes is perfect.
I’m looking forward to more of your excursions into California's nature.
robert
Thanks Robert... I appreciate that there is a Raven fan out there who is not from Baltimore.
cheers,
bruce
As mentioned nice atmosphere in these images.
