Fed up Flight (Bubo virginianus)Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm f4.0VR / TC-E1.4x II — Fed up Flight *(Bubo virginianus)*
*Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm f4.0VR / TC-E1.4x II*

Conversation with a Partner

March 26, 2016 in March 2016

“clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack

“Who’s going to edit all of these pictures?

“Never mind, …don’t sweat it now. When are you going to see a pair of nesting ospreys so close again?”

“Yeah, you’re right… this is really amazing! I can’t believe these two got booted from the first nest by a pair of owls”

“clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack…how do you think she’s doing?”

“Who, Tamy? …time of her life I suppose. You know she’s working the owl nest, right? Why would you distract me with a question like this? We agree’d, I shoot the ospreys and she’d tell me when I should head to the owls.”

“clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack… yeah, but you’ve been working this pair for an hour now, the light’s changing fast… you’ve got the goods… now’s the time to move on!”

Quiet, here comes the male coming with a branch.

“clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack”

Osprey with nesting material (Pandion haliaetus)Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm f4.0VR / TC-E1.4x II — Osprey with nesting material *(Pandion haliaetus)*
*Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm f4.0VR / TC-E1.4x II*

You need to come now… the light’s great over here!

“Okay… but I’m not quite done with these two!”

Hurry or you’ll….

Great Horned Owlet (Bubo virginianus)Nikon D7100 + Nikon 200-500mm f5.6VR / TC-E1.4x II — Great Horned Owlet *(Bubo virginianus)*
*Nikon D7100 + Nikon 200-500mm f5.6VR / TC-E1.4x II*

“clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack …move on Bruce, you don’t want to miss the owl nest”

“Right, but what about the ospreys, this is so amazing.”

“clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack”

“Maybe I should move on, I can’t see Tamy, that means she’s on something good.”

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) Ignoring Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm f4.0VR / TC-E1.4x II — Great Horned Owl *(Bubo virginianus) Ignoring Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)*
*Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm f4.0VR / TC-E1.4x II*

“Holy sh… did you see that, I’ve never seen a loggerhead shrike and…”

“clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack … clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack… you mis-focused you idiot and now you’re going to blame me like you always do. Slow it down.. clack—clack—clack—clack — clack — clack — clack — clack — clack — clack “

Feigning disinterest (Bubo virginianus) Loggerhead Shrike - Attack Mode (Lanius ludovicianus)Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm f4.0VR / TC-E1.4x II — Feigning disinterest *(Bubo virginianus) Loggerhead Shrike - Attack Mode (Lanius ludovicianus)*
*Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm f4.0VR / TC-E1.4x II*

Burrowing Owl 1 (Athene cunicularia)Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm f4VR+ TC-E 1.4X (cropped slightly for composition) — Burrowing Owl 1 (*Athene cunicularia*)
Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm f4VR
+ TC-E 1.4X (cropped slightly for composition)

The $6200 Question…

March 23, 2016 in March 2016

When it comes to photography, I am all about the image. Whether I choose to create in the moment or have some pre-visualized intent, I strongly believe in the relentless pursuit of a personal vision. Faced with questions about my tools, you’d likely hear some flippant remark like, “it’s me... not the camera!” Having interacted with many serious amateurs and pros, I know that I’m not alone when it comes to professing the importance of “practice” and “being there.” However, this reality does not diminish one key fact, quality equipment is a pleasure to use and it increases the chance of realizing one’s vision. So I now unapologetically admit that this pre-amble is a poorly veiled way of saying... today’s post is about gear.

Burrowing Owl 1 (Athene cunicularia)Nikon D7100 + Nikon 200-500mm f5.6VR (No Cropping Required) — Burrowing Owl 1 (*Athene cunicularia*)
Nikon D7100 + Nikon 200-500mm f5.6VR (No Cropping Required)

Burrowing Owl 1 (Athene cunicularia)Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm f4VR (Cropped to tighten the composition) — Burrowing Owl 1 (*Athene cunicularia*)
Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm f4VR (Cropped to tighten the composition)

I am one of the lucky ones, as my wife and partner shares my obsession for nature, travel and photography. We spend the majority of our disposable income on adventures abroad and the gear we use to meet our photographic goals. Yet, we are not wealthy people, we are just a pair of worker bees. Often considered among the lowest ranking professionals, I am a biology teacher and Tamy is a nurse. While the work is personally fulfilling, we do it so we can afford to travel and make images of lesser-visited places.

Burrowing Owl 1 (Athene cunicularia)Nikon D7100 + Nikon 200-500mm f5.6VR (Cropping Slightly) — Burrowing Owl 1 (*Athene cunicularia*)
Nikon D7100 + Nikon 200-500mm f5.6VR (Cropping Slightly)

Burrowing Owl 1 (Athene cunicularia)Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm f4VR (No Cropping Required) — Burrowing Owl 1 (*Athene cunicularia*)
Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm f4VR (No Cropping Required)

So, how do two middle income professionals allocate their resources so they can make compelling photographs of wildlife? Anyone who is a serious nature shooter knows that wildlife photography is among the most financially taxing disciplines in the photographic arts. Much like the serious sports shooter, the wildlife photographer is dependent on fast cameras, the best autofocus systems and ultra-expensive super-telephoto lenses. To some, it is the latter that is a key impediment to joining “the club.”

Burrowing Owl 1 (Athene cunicularia)Nikon D7100 + Nikon 200-500mm f5.6VR (Cropped Vertical out of the Horizontal w/ pixels to spare) — Burrowing Owl 1 (*Athene cunicularia*)
Nikon D7100 + Nikon 200-500mm f5.6VR (Cropped Vertical out of the Horizontal w/ pixels to spare)

White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)Nikon D7100 + Nikon 200-500mm f5.6VR (Cropped Vertical out of the Horizontal w/ pixels to spare) — White-tailed Deer (*Odocoileus virginianus)*
Nikon D7100 + Nikon 200-500mm f5.6VR (Cropped Vertical out of the Horizontal w/ pixels to spare)

Because there are two of us, the price to play is quite prohibitive. Until recently, we both compromised by shooting lesser glass or shorter focal length lenses. This all changed when Nikon introduced their AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR lens. For the first time, there is a professional grade super-telephoto optic that can be had for less than $1500 US. Not only does this lens shoot at an impressive 500mm, but it is a zoom lens with a non-variable aperture. At f5.6, the lens is relatively fast and can be used under most shooting conditions. Tamy pairs her brand new 200-500mm f5.6 with a Nikon D7100. The D7100 is a 24mp DX camera (1.5 times crop) that creates a viewing perspective of 300-750mm with her lens. With 51AF points and a shooting speed of 6 frames per second, the lens and body can be had for about $2200 US.

Osprey Nest Building  (Pandion haliaetus)Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm f4VR... here AF speed and 10 frames per second help catch the peak moment — Osprey Nest Building (*Pandion haliaetus*)
Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm f4VR... here AF speed and 10 frames per second help catch the peak moment

While $2200 US might seem to be quite expensive, let’s compare Tamy’s wildlife kit to the gear I use. At the time of this post, I shoot with a Nikon D4. The D4 is a 16mp full-frame (FX) camera capable of capturing 10fps. Introduced in 2012, I purchased mine in used condition for $3000 US. I pair the D4 with Nikon’s premium AF-S 200-400mm f/4G VR super-zoom. While the newest VR II lens can be had for about $7000, I found a relatively clean and older model for $3000. In order to approach the magnification of the less expensive zoom, I pair my lens with a Nikon AF-S TC-1.4E II tele-converter. With the additional optical elements, I can produce a 16 MP image at 560mm for the “low-low price” of $6250.

Great Horned Owlet (Bubo virginianus)Nikon D7100 + Nikon 200-500mm f5.6VR (Cropped 24MP file at 750mm, not possible with the D4 and 200-400mm VR) — Great Horned Owlet (*Bubo virginianus)*
Nikon D7100 + Nikon 200-500mm f5.6VR (Cropped 24MP file at 750mm, not possible with the D4 and 200-400mm VR)

As I began writing this post two days ago, I intended to claim that one combination of body and lens was superior to the other. However, after processing the many images displayed throughout, I will leave that decision to you. As you examine each photograph, I would like to encourage you to read the the subtext added, as this should offer a bit context. While there is a definite benefit that accompanies the additional allocation of resources, it would be hard to justify busting a budget to buy a $6200 wildlife kit when $2200 can produce images like those illustrated here.

Late Winter, No Snow, Warm WeatherNikon D800E + Nikon 16-35mm VR — Late Winter, No Snow, Warm Weather
Nikon D800E + Nikon 16-35mm VR

A Sign of the Times or Just More Random Fluctuation?

March 13, 2016 in March 2016

Chaos (noun) : 1 complete disorder and confusion. 2behavior so unpredictable as to appear random, owing to great sensitivity to small changes and conditions.

Paired Flight (Cygnus buccinator)Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm VR — Paired Flight (*Cygnus buccinator*)
Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm VR

So describes the world we now live.

The political uncertainty of the upcoming presidential election seems to be a fitting metaphor for the climatic fluctuations of my once predictable temperate home. Political leadership, chosen by the masses, typically represents a best effort to compromise between the extremes. Nearly as assured as sunrise and sunset, our leadership is rarely too hot or too cold, but somewhere in between. Yet today, the predictions of who is in and who is out seems to be as accurate as the daily climatic highs listed in a “Farmer’s Almanac.” Like the chaotic choking cloud that emerges from mix of bleach and ammonia, the rise of Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump suggest a potentially dangerous unpredictability that may otherwise be benign and of no consequence (see chaos definition #2).

And what do we make of the weather in Minnesota? On March 12, the city of Minneapolis typically averages a low of 22℉ and high 39℉. Yesterday, March 12, 2016, the temperature peaked at 70℉, just 6 degrees below the average temperature in Tampa, Florida from which we had left on that very day.

Pair Bonding (Cygnus buccinator)Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm VR — Pair Bonding (*Cygnus buccinator*)
Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm VR

During a three mile walk with the dogs, I could hear migrating sandhill cranes, prenuptial Eastern bluebirds and a cacophony of migrating songbirds overhead. The Vernal Equinox is still 7 days from today, yet trees are beginning to flower and buds are swelling and preparing to burst. As a global citizen, committed environmentalist and humanist, I am challenged by the patterns I am seeing. I am bothered by the political rancor that makes citizens of the United States appear to be xenophobic self-absorbed children, and I am fearful that our political ignorance mirrors an environmental indifference that will only serve to diminish predictability and reinforce the chaos we now experience. Are the politics and climate of today benign and of no consequence, or do they foretell something a bit more ominous? …We have no choice but to play things out and rely on hindsight to make sense of our future’s patterns.

You need to come now… the light’s great over here!

Hurry or you’ll….

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