What shot have you been waiting for?

[Tom Reichner]

I'm curious to know; what shots do you all have in mind that you'd just love to have?

One I've wanted for a while is this:
A frame full of pure white snow. With pheasant tracks making their way across the frame. And coyote tracks "following" the pheasant tracks.

I keep thinking of a title for this shot, if I were ever to capture it. "The Game is Afoot" comes to mind (to quote Sir Arthur Conan Doyle). Also, simply "The Stalker".

I've walked a few miles this past month looking for this scenario. Have seen thousands of pheasant tracks. Seen hundreds of coyote tracks. Have even seen them together, but they were going opposite directions, which doesn't depict what I'm trying to communicate.

Even if I do ever find this, it's still not gonna be easy. There could be distractions, such as the tops of grasses or weeds poking up out of the snow. Or the light won't be hitting it at the right angle. And this would look best from being above the tracks. How does one accomplish that? Sure, I can simply stand right next to the tracks and point the camera down; but then I'm only about 5 feet above the tracks. I wouldn't be able to fit enough tracks in the frame this way - at least I don't think so. And my body may cast an unwanted shadow over the tracks.

But, despite the difficulties involved, I have this shot in mind and can't give up on it.

I'm sure there are many of you that have a particular shot in mind. Perhaps there's one you've wanted for years, but still haven't captured. Maybe you had one like this that you pursued for months or years, and were fortunate enough to finally accomplish it!

Please share your "dream" shots - I'd love to hear about them.

- Tom

[RikWriter]

A close-up shot of the Yellowstone wolves.
Been there three times and either the wolves have been too far away or I haven't had the right lens. Going back in May for two weeks with a 500mm. Going to get that damned shot.

[jgrussell]

I want to see and photograph the northern lights. I'm headed for Alaska next month with two of my brothers and have fingers and toes crossed...

[Tom Reichner]

A close-up shot of the Yellowstone wolves.
Been there three times and either the wolves have been too far away or I haven't had the right lens. Going back in May for two weeks with a 500mm. Going to get that damned shot.

Great goal! I was just there two weeks ago. Saw the wolves; two near the Lamar River bridge, and 13 of the Druid Peak pack. But they were all far - very, very far.

Don't feel too bad about your previous attempts. I met a group in Yellowstone two weeks ago that comes three times each year. They come only for the wolves, and spend all their time looking for or looking at wolves. They've been doing this for 7 years, and each time they come, they stay for a week. That's a total of 21 solid weeks looking for wolves in Yellowstone! I mentioned to one of the group that after so much time specifically pursuing wolves, they must have had some great close-up experiences. They said, "yes! in fact, one time, the wolves were no further than that grove of cottonwoods over there". They pointed to the cottonwoods, which were about 125 to 150 years away. Their idea of "close" would be of no help whatsoever to the serious wildlife photographer.

I did shoot one from about 13 feet away last year, but it was very dark - the sun had set and it was in deep woods. All I got was a very grainy closeup of her head. ISO 1600, I think. And last July I got the Druid Peak alpha male (the black one), but from no closer than 50 yards.

Other than these two instances, I've never been able to get an image of one of the Y-stone wolves at less than 100 yards. I think the key would be to find a carcass - an elk or bison carcass. One that's not visible from the road. One that nobody knows about. If people know, they will be there, and then rangers will be there. The rangers could ruin any hopes of a closeup. I realize they're just doing their job, but boy does it ever make it tough to get the image you need.

Anyway, if I were serious about the wolf closeup, I'd hike until I found a carcass. Ravens flopping around one specific point is a dead giveaway. If there are wolves in the area they will know about the carcass. Then you do what you need to do to get your shot. Do remember that grizzlies will also know about the carcass - BE CAREFUL!

I wish you luck! If you'd like to see the aforementioned wolf images, just visit my site: http://tomreichner.smugmug.com/gallery/5582565_Yvz35#342388918_5X9wX

- Tom

[Laramie]

Wolves are top on my list as well. I will be going to Yellowstone and hopefully I'll see one. I will also be trying Lamar Valley.

[Mike55]

Tom, your gallery is outstanding. Every picture has great light and nuance. The last bear shot made me laugh with the guy that was five feet behind the bear with a disposable camera. The bear looked like it was within seconds of turning around and whacking the guy.

That said, I have some dream shots in mind:

1. Wolverine. Well composed, good perspective, frame filling and sharp.
2. Grizzly meets moose. Basically a grizzly and moose encounter, both in the frame and in threatening positions.
3. Cougar. Up in a tree, on a cliff, whatever.
4. Golden eagle in flight, frame filling.

[jrntr6]

My dream species to see in the wild are;

1) Tiger
2) Polar Bear
3) Gorilla
4) Cheetah
5) Cougar
6) Kamodo Dragon

Obviously, with any of these I would be hoping to get great lighting, interesting behavior or a detailed frame filling shot to make it a dream shot.

Obviously there's many more I would love to shoot, but seeing these in the wild make up a "bucket list" of sorts for me.

[Tom Reichner]

My dream species to see in the wild are;

1) Tiger
2) Polar Bear
3) Gorilla
4) Cheetah
5) Cougar
6) Kamodo Dragon

Obviously, with any of these I would be hoping to get great lighting, interesting behavior or a detailed frame filling shot to make it a dream shot.

Obviously there's many more I would love to shoot, but seeing these in the wild make up a "bucket list" of sorts for me.

Well, when you return from Austria, you won't be too terribly far from the Polar Bear.

[tidal9]

Polar bear in Churchill, it's on my list of things to do.

[katodog]

Duh, Bigfoot of course!! Anything else I can see in a zoo or travel to see in the wild. The Bigfoot shot is the one I want. That way I can make millions, and not have time to spend it before the government makes me and my photo disappear.


And yes, I'm serious. I want a shot of Bigfoot.

[Tom Reichner]

Duh, Bigfoot of course!! Anything else I can see in a zoo or travel to see in the wild. The Bigfoot shot is the one I want. That way I can make millions, and not have time to spend it before the government makes me and my photo disappear.


And yes, I'm serious. I want a shot of Bigfoot.

Then come on up for a visit! I'm right in the heart of Bigfoot country; remote northern Washington state.

[katodog]

Heck, I can walk around the woods out here, that doesn't mean I'll see a Bigfoot. If you see one, then we'll talk. And I don't want you calling frantic that you just saw one, only to have me come out and see some dingaling in a gorilla suit. If I want to see that, I'll just go to my parents house and look at my dad.


Oh no, wait. That's a baboon.




P.S.: I won't fall for that "I've got one in a freezer" trick either.

[sweetlu60]

Tom, great shots and info on the wolves in Yellowstone, just a reminder to everyone though, you can not approach wolves or bears to less than 100 yds. They can approach you, but you should be encouraging them to move away. Last I heard, the ticket is $1000 if the rangers determine that you were approaching and not them.

Also, a couple of years ago, I saw a Grizzley walk down a hill to a carcass and I personally decided that in the wild 100 yds are not enough for them.

That is not to say that I have not been close to the animals, because the closest I have been is about 20 yds from a 4 year old male grizzley. I was also behind parked cars, had my bear spray at hand, standing next to bear management and law enforcement rangers, while the bear was eating roots, one of the best bear experiences that I have had to date.

Anyway, great shots on your site.

Right now my dream shot is to catch a cougar or bobcat in the wild, because it is so unlikely to happen (unless I use a pedator call).

[RikWriter]

Hell, Steven, I've been close to a LOT of brown bears...big Alaskan coastal bears too, not just the grizzlies they have at Yellowstone, although I've been very close to those too. Bears are dangerous animals, but if you know the rules of dealing with them you can minimize the risk.
With wolves. the problem is the opposite---they are too damned skittish around people.

[Tom Reichner]

Hell, Steven, I've been close to a LOT of brown bears...big Alaskan coastal bears too, not just the grizzlies they have at Yellowstone, although I've been very close to those too. Bears are dangerous animals, but if you know the rules of dealing with them you can minimize the risk.
With wolves. the problem is the opposite---they are too damned skittish around people.

I totally agree, Rik

[RikWriter]

This is as close as I've been to the Yellowstone wolves Tom:

http://www.pbase.com/rikwriter/image/99811836.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/rikwriter/image/99811732.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/rikwriter/image/99812189.jpg

And those were taken with a 40D and a 100-400 and cropped all to hell.

I have got closer to a Denali wolf once:

http://www.pbase.com/rikwriter/image/65484091.jpg

But the collar kinda ruined the shot and the light wasn't great.

[Tom Reichner]

Here's my closest in Yellowstone, Rik.

Such a shame there was no light at all. ISO 1600 - YIKES! The sun had already set, and it was in deep woods.

Still awesome to be so close, though.

[GregMik]

I shoot the Peregrines here every spring. I have been trying to get pics of them mating, bird porn if you will. Been trying for 5 yrs now. I came close last yr, I heard them and ran, I was just a couple seconds too late.

Greg

[Mike55]

Yeah you definitely don't want to get too close for bears, for their sake and yours. I'm friends witha ranger in Yellowstone who will write out tickets *in a second* if anyone approaches too close. You have no idea how angry and upset the Rangers get by some of the behaviour towards wildlife in the park. The anger stems mostly form the fact that people can get seriously hurt, and that if a bear went on a rampage becaue of a photog pushing it, the bear would be put down. The rangers and naturalists are there to protect people and the bears.

You wouldn't believe some of the things people do, such as putting babies on bison, pulling on the hair of a bear, tring to touch the head of a giant bull elk, etc.

I highly recommend the book "Death in Yellowstone" which documents and explores the various ways people have died in the park. It's morbid, but very eye opening. One of my favorite lines in the book that a tourist had to a ranger:

"When do you put the animals back in the cages?"

[RikWriter]

You wouldn't believe some of the things people do, such as putting babies on bison, pulling on the hair of a bear, tring to touch the head of a giant bull elk, etc.


Believe it? I've SEEN it! I saw a lady try to pet a female elk while the damned bulls were in rut!

[snowyowl13]

I remember seeing all kinds of stupidity in Algonquin Park with people trying to pet bears or get their picture taken beside the bear.
My current ambition is to get action shots of coyotes hunting mice. I'd like to get them in "pounce mode" with all four feet in the air.

[Tom Reichner]

I shoot the Peregrines here every spring. I have been trying to get pics of them mating, bird porn if you will. Been trying for 5 yrs now. I came close last yr, I heard them and ran, I was just a couple seconds too late.

Greg

Greg, I love to hear about long term pursuits like that. It'll make it all the sweeter when you finally do capture it. I wish you the best of luck!



My current ambition is to get action shots of coyotes hunting mice. I'd like to get them in "pounce mode" with all four feet in the air.

I've witnessed this many times, but almost always at a distance of 300 yards or more. Perhaps good images of this could best be accomplished in a National Park, like Yellowstone, where the coyotes are used to people being quite close.

[Laramie]

I highly recommend the book "Death in Yellowstone" which documents and explores the various ways people have died in the park. It's morbid, but very eye opening.

Read it. Great book. Definitely some Darwin Award winners.

[Grafixwld]

There's a place I've been going to for almost thirty years it's just a depression about a quarter the size of a football field. There are aspens on the north (downhill) and west uphill side. There's steep dark pine to the east and and the stream flows down from more dark timber on the south right through this little grassy oasis bottom. I have seen deer there. I have heard the elk move through the pines with some wandering into this little opening. I've heard and seen the pine squirrels giving me away in the trees. I've seen turkeys jump over the stream heading up to roost. A smallish bear stuck his nose out once. I've seen porcupines chew the bark off the trees right next to me. I've seen the steam from that creek hang low in that knee high grass.

What shot? Well, I would love get a couple good bulls going at it in there. Knee deep in mist, the area is small enough to where the cows would have to hang on the edges, like an arena. The dawning colorful sky reflecting on that thin layer of fog adds an awsome sense of surealism. I can see it.

[Rich S]

I want a Humpback Whale breaching(coming almost all of the way out of the water) I took some Gray Whale shots last month. This is a tail shot, but I am off to Maui Hawaii to get a really great shot hopefully.....Rich http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc150/blackies_owner/IMG_7862_edited-1copy.jpg

[The Mack]

A bear fishing in a river in Alaska...