Atlantic Puffin Colony - Iceland
Nikon D500 + Nikon 200-400mm f/4.0

Can it Get any Better?

October 15, 2016 in October 2016

Have we reached a point in wildlife photography where it can't get any better? With the ever crashing prices of high quality digital gear, the pursuit of wildlife imagery has become "every man's (or woman's)" game. In 1994 I spent $2000 for a previously owned Carl Zeiss 300mm f/4.0 lens because I desperately wanted to photograph the wildlife of Costa Rica, Minnesota and the West Coast. A fortune to me at the time, the choice to buy the lens translated into real sacrifices. Rather than splurge on a nice car, an apartment in a trendy neighborhood or pay off my debts, I chose to embellish my photographic and travel desires.

Atlantic Puffin in Flight - Iceland
Nikon D500 + Nikon 200-400mm f/4.0

In stark contrast to when I began taking my photography seriously, today I could spend the same $2000 and purchase an amazing 150-600mm lens and prosumer DSLR camera with a wide-angle to mid-range zoom lens. What's more, rather than risking the unknown of the used market, all of my gear would be new and under a manufacturer's warranty. The obstacle that was once the price of quality gear, is not an impediment to making quality images today.

Atlantic Puffin - Iceland
Nikon D500 + Nikon 200-400mm f/4.0

In 1995 I took my first of ten trips to Costa Rica. As a formally trained ecologist and evolutionary biologist, a trip to the tropics was high on my "future travels list." Even by the mid-90's Costa Rica was less exotic than other destinations, but it remained a relatively low-touristed hot-spot for photography. With one bag packed with thirty rolls of film and the other with quick drying clothes, I can still recall that primitive outdoor airport the greeted us in San Jose. A trip that might cost $1500 per person today was about double the expense in 1995. So, much like the democratization of gear, travel to lesser-visited wildlife destinations have become easier to find and increasingly affordable.

Atlantic Puffin Looking Back - Iceland
Nikon D7100 + Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6

And what of the art in image making. Quite honestly, the photographs I see today during a random Google Search, on forums and on blogs match or surpass what was once the "gold standard for nature photography,..." National Geographic. Digital image making rewards those willing to engage in trial and error and inquiry-based learning. It has never been easier to take a picture, review the product and modify the process on the spot. No more waiting for film to be developed by a lab, the digital artist is free to experiment, invent and grow faster than I ever could when analog (aka film) was king.

Atlantic Puffin with Meal for Chicks - Iceland
Nikon D7100 + Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6

So, can it get any better? Well at this point, I am not sure that the answer is yes. Every day people are producing photographs of hummingbirds where every feather can be visualized with light refracting through prismatic barbs, while others capture lions (or insert the predator of your choice) leaping, biting or chasing their quarry in a display that was once only producible by the "professional" nature photographer. While I am beginning to doubt that images of the future can get better, I do believe they will be different. Every photographer sees and interprets their world through their eyes. While many try to emulate the "masters," it is still the individual image maker who decides to snap and share or withhold a given picture. Even if nothing new can be made, anyone who holds a camera and treasures the image making process has the capacity to see "it" and photograph "it" before "it" or they are gone. So, it is likely that my initial query is not the question that needs be asked, rather than "Can it..., maybe I'm wondering... "Does it matter if it can't get any better?"

Arctic Tern (*Sterna paradisaea*) - Iceland
Nikon D500 + Nikon 200-400mm f/4 VR1

Species Profile - Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)

July 12, 2016 in July 2016

There’s something about the “little known fact” that seems to spark a child-like curiosity in each of us. Paging through “The Guinness Book of World Records” or an old almanac eats time almost as fast as falling down a rabbit hole during a mind-numbing web-crawl. For example, did you know that the Cuban bee hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae) at 7 cm (2.75”) and 1.6 g (0.056 oz) is the smallest bird, while the fastest swimmer is the gentoo penguin, Pygoscelis papua, which can swim up to 40 km/hr ( 25mph).

Arctic Tern (*Sterna paradisaea*) Hovering - Iceland

The record for long-distance migrations belong to the diminutive Arctic tern, Sterna paradiseaea. The ultimate “snowbird,” the Arctic tern will fly up to 90,000 km/year (56,000 miles) a year as it alternates between its winter and summer habitats. This slender pelagic species spends its summer months breeding in Arctic only to fly south and overwinter in Antarctica annually. Feeding predominately on small fish like herring and sandlances, Arctic terns will also eat insects and berries throughout their northern breeding range. Living for up to 30 years, Arctic terns will often return to their natal colony when searching for a mate and establishing a nesting territory.

Arctic Tern (*Sterna paradisaea*) and Jökulsárlón Growler - Iceland

For those interested in learning about other unique species, you might want to check out other profiles I have written in the past: Megalopygidae, Yucca brevifolia, Kirk’s dik-dik

Sources: Cornell Lab of Ornithology & Wikipedia

Northern (Baltimore) Oriole (m)
NIkon D500 + Nikon 200-400mm f4.0 VR

Good 'Ol Days?

May 25, 2016 in May 2016

Throughout the 1980’s and 90’s my own photography was an exercise in patience. This was the pre-digital era when every squeeze of the shutter was an opportunity taken and an opportunity lost. As the image count climbed towards 36, the potential to make one more photograph also diminished. The cost of film and processing was a deterrent to mashing the shutter, and choosing to take a five frame burst was a carefully measured decision. Shooting at the maximum five frames per second seemed to be like traveling at light speed, a journey that only took seven seconds to reach the destination. I can recall the calculus when the frame counter hit the number thirty; there are only six or seven shots left and if something really unique were to occur, I’d have to get it before the counter hit thirty-six. These were wasteful days, as there were no histograms to check exposure, no LCD’s to check composition and no memory cards to hold a near endless set of images.

Northern (Baltimore) Oriole (f)
NIkon D500 + Nikon 200-400mm f4.0 VR

Is there discipline in the digital era? As I wade through the 850 photographs made during a five hour period that began at 5:00 p.m., was paused for dinner and sleep, and resumed at 5:00 a.m. the next day, I can’t help but wonder how I might have handled this opportunity in 1995. In that year, I made my first trip to Costa Rica armed with a manual focus Contax RTS and 300mm f4.0 Carl Zeiss lens. Not the typical gear for a travel and wildlife photographer, I was behind the curve foregoing autofocus for optics that I believed to be superior. With camera and tripod in hand, I was limited to 15 rolls of ISO 50 and 100 slide film. The investment in the emulsion coated celluloid set me back about $350 dollars, and I would need to spend about as much to process these precious rolls. With ten days of shooting in front of me, I was like a miser with a penny, disciplined, stingy and patient; these were the essential cognitive tools of the successful nature photographer. I repeated the following mantra in my head… ten good shots in ten days is all I want or need.

Northern (Baltimore) Oriole in motion (m)
NIkon D500 + Nikon 200-400mm f4.0 VR

Rose-breasted Grossbeak (m)
NIkon D500 + Nikon 200-400mm f4.0 VR

Red-breasted Grossbeak stretching for a drink

Two weeks ago I joined my good friend in a blind that he had constructed near the southeast corner of Minnesota. The Costa Rican birds that I so covet were now migrating north to where I live today. We began our shoot at 5:00 P.M., paused to eat dinner at 9:30, enjoyed the company of friends and family until midnight just to awaken before sunrise and resume the shoot. The birds landed on the sticks and we mashed down on our shutters. Bursts of ten frames per second shattered the records of the past, histograms verified exposure and LCD’s refined our compositions. So as I wade through these 850 images, I reflect nostalgically on that trip to Costa Rica and can’t help but wonder how I actually managed to make ten good pictures in ten days.

Rose-breasted Grossbeak (f)
NIkon D500 + Nikon 200-400mm f4.0 VR

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.

Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm f4.0 VR — Trumpeter Swan (*Cygnus buccinator*)
*Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm f4.0 VR*

The Coldest Day

January 10, 2016 in January 2016

The digital output on my dashboard underscored the precipitous fall, as the numbers fell from -9 to -13, during the twenty minute drive to a rare winter oasis. Knowing what I might endure in quick time the heat emanating from the Cooper felt more like a mercy compliment than the real thing. Nonetheless, I parked the car and carefully walked towards the water. Mist from the "warm" oasis filled the dry air as the swans paddled about, bathed and buried their heads. Today is January 10, 2016 and it is the coldest day of the year.

The Indecisive Moment

November 26, 2015 in November 2015

I am the master of the indecisive moment. In photographic circles, “the decisive moment” is the key peak of action, expression or gesture that captures the essence of an event. Here, the word event is loosely defined as a landscape, cityscape or interaction. The use of the phrase “decisive moment” is often credited to the French street photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, who’s work often leaves the viewer with more questions than answers. The decisive moment engages the the audience, forces a second look or longer gaze; it is the object of every photographer’s desire and the reason we play this “game.” The decisive moment is an illusory event and is often the elusive photograph that I saw in my camera but rarely manage to catch.

So on this day, “The Harvest Feasts of Harvest Feasts,” I offer the rare decisive moment from the master of indecisive photography… a day in the life of two species battling for “Most Wanted” status on a cold November day.

Happy Thanksgiving from MN

Greater Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) : Crex Meadows, WINikon D7200 + Nikon 200-400mm f4 VR1 — Greater Sandhill Crane (*Grus canadensis*) : Crex Meadows, WI
Nikon D7200 + Nikon 200-400mm f4 VR1

Portfolio by a Weekend Warrior

October 13, 2015 in October 2015

Fall is a refreshing departure from the photographic malaise of an August in the midwest. While the heat of summer is a comfortable respite from Minnesota's endless winter, it is a bit monotonous for an image maker. Green leaves are dull from months of exposure and are rendered as faded cyan even when photographed during the magic hours of dusk and dawn. Despite the abundance of naive chicks, fawns and cubs, the thick vegetation during this brief growing season makes it nearly impossible to isolate a photographic subject. In contrast, fall ushers in the the "great clearing." With shades of yellow, orange and red serving as my studio, impenetrable thickets now glow in the morning light to clearly reveal my subjects as they toil and prepare for winter. To the photographer, autumn is a near perfect collision between subject matter and light; to the worker bee/weekend warrior it is the season that rewards sleep deprivation with seldom seen snippets of time.

Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) - Caribbean Slope, Costa RicaCanon 5D Mark III + Canon 300mm f2.8L IS + Canon 1.4x converter — Scarlet Macaw *(Ara macao)* - Caribbean Slope, Costa Rica
Canon 5D Mark III + Canon 300mm f2.8L IS + Canon 1.4x converter

Did You Know (32)?

February 10, 2015 in February 2015

Sandwiched between the Pacific and Caribbean, Costa Rica is a hotspot for bird watchers. A total of 894 birds have been recorded in this mountainous country who’s landmass is smaller than West Virginia and just a tad larger than Denmark. With more bird diversity than the United States and Canada combined, over 600 bird species are permanent residents. The diminutive scintillant hummingbird (Selasphorus scintilla), is Costa Rica’s smallest bird species while the 6.5 kg jabiru (Jabiru mycteria) is their largest. Ironically, the country known for flamboyant birds like the resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) and scarlet macaw (Ara macao) has chosen the drab clay-colored robin (Turdis grayi) as its national bird.

Two Vultures - Masai Mara Reserve, KenyaCanon 7D + Canon 300mm f2.8L IS — Two Vultures - Masai Mara Reserve, Kenya
Canon 7D + Canon 300mm f2.8L IS

Did You Know (20)?

January 29, 2015 in January 2015

What was once a controversial statement is now accepted science... the dinosaurs have not gone extinct, they have changed. The conditions on Earth that once favored the evolution and physiological demands of giant reptilians faded as the planet’s climate changed under the stress of a catastrophic meteor impact. While the gargantuan body of giants like saurapods, allasaurus and tyranasaurus rex became maladaptive on their cooling home, smaller and better insulated miniatures thrived. Commonly known as birds, the diversity of these feathered flyers outnumber the mammals by two to one, and are the living legacy of the giants that once roamed the Earth.

Trumpeter Swan Sunrise (Cygnus buccinatore) - MinnesotaNikon D700 + Nikon 200-400mm f4.0 VR1 — Trumpeter Swan Sunrise *(Cygnus buccinatore)* - Minnesota
Nikon D700 + Nikon 200-400mm f4.0 VR1

Did You Know (17)?

January 26, 2015 in January 2015

If you live in Minnesota, you could be forgiven for not knowing that the trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator) is protected under the Endangered Species Act. The now ubiquitous icon of inland lakes was nearly extinguished from the lower 48 by 1930. A reintroduction program that began with twenty-one two-year old swans and 50 eggs from Alaska, was all the state needed for the species to be reestablished throughout its former range. The conservation effort that began in 1987 with a modest seeding of swans and protective status from the Endangered Species Act, has allowed the swan population to expand to more than 6000 individuals. While ever present in Minnesota, this giant of waterfowl species remains a rare sighting across most other regions of the United States.

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