Photographing the photographer

from Peter Coulsen's workshop

Checking portraits

.
My buddy looking for a clear shooting lane when we were photographing deer in Colorado a few years back. . Unfortunately, he never found a nice clear shot at the buck, as the forest was a bit too thick.

EDIT:

I have a question for y'all .....

In my opinion, this is a MUCH better photo because the tree blocks a clear view of my friend and obscures most of his body. . If that tree were not there, and I could see all of him clearly, then the pic would not be nearly as cool looking or nearly as interesting.

Do you agree? . Or do some of you think that it would be a better pic if the entirety of my friend were shown clearly, without the obstructing tree trunk?

Manggarai Transit Railway Station, Jakarta.

Going for the artistic angle of view.

Another coastal scene from Co. Waterford, Republic of Ireland.

.
Many wildlife photographers shoot from the comfort of their cars ...

.
I was impressed by the way this guy positioned himself for this Mountain Goat opportunity at Glacier Park. . I was surprised to see that he knew to get down low and shoot from a prone position. . A shot taken from a kneeling or standing up position would not be anywhere near as good as what he was getting from ground level. . This is true for about 80% of all large mammal photography.

Tom Reichner wrote in post #19438229
.
I was impressed by the way this guy positioned himself for this Mountain Goat opportunity at Glacier Park. . I was surprised to see that he knew to get down low and shoot from a prone position. . A shot taken from a kneeling or standing up position would not be anywhere near as good as what he was getting from ground level. . This is true for about 80% of all large mammal photography.

Hosted photo: posted by Tom Reichner in
./showthread.php?p=194​38229&i=i68220996
forum: People

.

I am impressed that this nutjob is still in one piece since mountain goats are unpredictable and have been known to kill people (https://www.seattletim​es.com …in-olympic-national-park/ ). Use a little common sense, people. No photo is worth your life.

umgrizz wrote in post #19438676
I am impressed that this nutjob is still in one piece since mountain goats are unpredictable and have been known to kill people (https://www.seattletim​es.com …in-olympic-national-park/ ). Use a little common sense, people. No photo is worth your life.

I too wondered about the danger, but Tom was there to intervene if the goat charged.

umgrizz wrote in post #19438676
.
I am impressed that this nutjob is still in one piece since mountain goats are unpredictable and have been known to kill people (https://www.seattletim​es.com …in-olympic-national-park/ ). Use a little common sense, people. No photo is worth your life.
.

.

OhLook wrote in post #19438698
.
I too wondered about the danger, but Tom was there to intervene if the goat charged.
.

.
umgrizz,

It is not at all typical for Mountain Goats to charge. . The incident(s) in Olympic Park happened many years ago and is a complete outlier.

Goats can get aggressive if you crowd them ... "crowd" doesn't mean getting close, it means getting in their way and blocking their path when there is no way for them to get around you, such as a narrow trail on a steep slope. . Short of that, no matter how close you get, they look to get away from you and avoid confrontations. . I've spent many many many many hours very close to wild Mountain Goats and they have never showed the slightest inclination to "charge", nor showed aggression in any other way.

Calling someone a "nut job" is a pretty strong wording to use, when you weren't there, do not know the situation or the Goat's demeanor at that time, and probably have very little first hand knowledge of Mountain Goats at close range. . I have gotten just as close, and closer, to Mountain Goats on dozens, if not hundreds, of occasions, and never felt the least bit nervous ..... with only one exception, when there was only a narrow trail on a very steep slope, and there appeared to be no way for the goats and I to get around each other ... but they found a way to move a couple feet off the trail to allow me to pass right next to them. . I've also gotten much closer that this to Bighorn Sheep on hundreds and hundreds of occasions, spanning two decades, and was never in harm's way whatsoever.

Goats and other wildlife let you know by their behavior if they are aggravated by your proximity. . It's not at all difficult to read this behavior and adjust one's position accordingly.

Here's a pic of me that my friend John took when we were photographing Mountain Goats several years ago. . I guess you think I'm a nut job, too

Broadwalk South Padre Island Covention Center