What kind of Wildlife Photographer Are "YOU"

It is great to see natural behaviour like this. We did get to see a solo ostrich not long before sunset on the way to look for a pack of wild dogs (which we found). Pictures will follow later.

Here is one to cheer @Maureen up...

Nice!

Scrumhalf wrote in post #19013974
.
Are you going with a guided outfit, or are you doing it by yourself?
.

Maureen Souza wrote in post #19013993
.
Myself! I have tons of experiences in & out of the National Parks all over this country. I love a wildlife road trip. I booked an Air B& B in a house in Jackson but I will have to walk to the community center to use their showers
.

.
That is awesome, Maureen!

I have a great respect for those who do big photo trip ventures on their own. . I think that a knowledgeable, independent type person can get much better wildlife photos on their own than if they went on a guided tour. . I know several guys who run and lead tours, and they acknowledge this (only privately, of course).

Of course, there are some locations that, by regulation, can only be accessed by licensed guides, so if you want to go to those spots you have to go with them. . But for any of the "normal" wildlife locations, doing it on your own is the way to go because you spend so much less money but get such better photos (if you know what you're doing).

Just because one is not using a tour or a guide service does not mean that you are left figuring it all out on your own. . If one does research and uses the internet and social media effectively, one will find that there are many bird and wildlife experts in any area that will be glad to help you and show you around the area.

When I'm on the road far from home and looking for wildlife to photograph, I just get on Instagram and do a search for wildlife photos in the area where I happen to be. . I figure out who has the best pics, and then I "follow" them and then message them right away, explaining that I love their images and that I am in the area and could use some help finding the best spots. . They are almost always very responsive, and eager to help. . Often, they offer to meet me the next morning to show me their best spots. . This has happened over and over again in many different states and regions. . You get the level of advice that only a local resident expert can provide, and it is free. . And you meet great people and make new friends in the process.

Just be sure to "pay it forward" by helping others when they come to your area and ask for help.


.

Elephant down at the river

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2iwj​FEY

Excellent advice! I even go so far as to rent single rooms in hostels in order to save money. And you're right with some target species you have to have a local guide, also I've been to the restricted areas where you must have an accredited guide to gain access. I do substantial research before booking but never considered using instagram while on the fly and will use that trick when I'm in Ecuador this summer.

White rhino with calf. We saw a much smaller calf, but the mother was very protective and put itself between us and the young one.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2iwf​Tp8

I use Air B&B & get the cheapest room I can find. I am not there for luxury & I am up before the sun & out all day. I have been to Jackson Hole twice before so I am pretty comfortable navigating for wildlife in that area. Hoping for a big bull moose this year....last time I found a mama with 2 brand new wobbly calfs. And looking for some more Great Horned Owls. The area is so gorgeous!Where will you be mid- July, Tom?

... and an elephant eating. Their trunks and ears can make interesting shapes and the wrinkled skin has great texture.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2iwf​Szn

Maureen Souza wrote in post #19015714
.
Where will you be mid- July, Tom?
.

.
There are SO MANY places I would love to be in mid-July - the possibilities for wildlife are tremendous at that time of year!

However, I rely on wildland firefighting for a majority of my annual income, and most of the fires occur between July 1 and September 25. . I can't do any traveling during that time because I need to be ready to respond immediately as soon as a fire call comes in. . Once I get a call to go to a fire, I could be gone for anywhere from 1 week to 2 months. . I need the income that I earn during that time to get me through the entire year. . A good fire season will fund a lot of travel for the rest of the year!

But if I didn't have to work on fires in the summer, come mid-July I would love to be .....

..... in Oklahoma photographing Collared Lizards

..... or in Zion N. P. for the beginning of the Desert Bighorn Sheep rut

..... or in Colorado or Virginia photographing Whitetail bucks in velvet-clad antlers

..... or in southern Arizona photographing Gila Monsters and any of the 9 different species of Rattlesnakes they have

..... or in Michigan photographing the albino Whitetail doe that lives there, hopefully with a newborn fawn

..... or in Florida photographing nest colonies of Black Skimmers and Least Terns

..... or in Colorado photographing baby Mountain Goats or big bull Moose

Oh, there are so many animals to photograph in July! . Makes me wish I had enough money that I wouldn't have to do the fire thing, but there is this nasty part of life called Economic Reality, and it really cuts in to my travel and photography plans.


.

.

I would love to go back to Florida & photograph the Spoonbills. I did not get enough time....

Maureen Souza wrote in post #19015853
.
I would love to go back to Florida & photograph the Spoonbills. I did not get enough time....
.

.
I didn't have enough time for them, either. . I saw a good number of Spoonbills when I was in Florida last year, but I was so into the Skimmers, Terns, and Whistling Ducks that I just didn't have time to shoot the Spoonies.

Next time I go to Florida I am going to try to focus specifically on the Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. . They are what I really want - any other species would just be a bonus.


.

Tom, I didn’t know you were a firefighter. Thank you.

They're coming for you...

Wow, paved roads! We traveled over dirt trails & grass....One had to have a special permit to leave the dirt roads (we did!) but I never saw anything paved after we left Nairobi.

Hyenas have learned about strength in numbers. Even the lions will not take them on. Mama hyenas keep their babies deep in their dens longer than other animals so there is less chance of them getting killed. Ugly but smart....and the leaders are always the females