I think the biggest benefit of photography is being able to capture a single moment forever. I mean, duh, that is what photography really is at its core. However, I believe that sometimes it's not the moment but the angle. Seeing the world differently than most of us. We pass seagulls daily many of us completely ignore them while others watch them with fear as they're trying to enjoy their fish and chips outside.
Seagulls were what started my photography journey. When I was first taking photos with my 75-300mm EFS lens, I would sit and camp at Lake Mead, NV the 100s of seagulls were my first subjects and helped me to learn how to move fast, prepare settings, and more importantly spot the opportunity.
Coming home with full SD cards and 100s of shots that were either out of focus, not sharp, or horrible timing has made me into a better photographer.
I always try to get eye level and capture as much detail as possible about the wildlife I document and photograph. With each photo I learn and admire new details that I missed before.
Better equipment has let me move faster, get closer, and pull more data from images, but I am humbled and reminded that at the end of the day, a good photo is really a balance between the appropriate equipment and the skill.
Now, here is a fun fact: Did you know that seagulls can mimic sounds? Seagulls are so smart they can mimic and copy the sound of other animals to scare away predators, communicate with other bird flocks, and even help attract a mate or warn others of danger. Seagulls have been knocking to collect breadcrumbs and throw them into the water to attract fish.
Sailors mentioned that they have heard the call of the "Laughing Seagull," which really lives up to its name. The laughing seagull has a call that resembles a very "hearty laugh." It can be heard resonating off along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, where it primarily breeds. #photography #photographer #seagull #birdphotography #WildlifePhotography #birds #fyp #oceanside #califorina #oceanoca
Snowy Egret.
While in the mountains of rural California, we saw a Snowy Egret land on the creek. In search of its next meal, it searched the creekbed for fish and various insects.
The Snowy Egret is standard on the West Coast and neighboring states. Its immaculate filmy feathers were sought after by the fashion industry. An ounce of plumes from Snowy Egrets would cost 32$ in 1886 (adjusted for inflation, today would be 1,275.40$)
Due to the insane prices, egrets became a target for those who wanted to make money quickly, leading them to near extinction.
Early conservationists in the twentieth century rallied to protect egrets and shorebirds. Their wild populations began to recover, sparking the early wildlife and nature conversion movements. #wildlifephoto #wildlifelovers #wildlifephotographer #wildlifeconservation #photography #photographylovers
Eyes are the windows to the soul. Many of us want to be closer to nature, whether that's going on hikes, visiting national parks, or trying to find videos that immerse us in nature from the comfort of our homes.
I love wildlife photography as it lets me get closer and in touch with wildlife on a different level without putting myself or the animal in the frame.
Like many others, I started photography with the standard kit lens. Eventually, as I began to learn what I enjoyed and what I wanted to shoot, I began to move on and begin looking for my next lens. Soon, I found my favorite photography lens. Tamron's mighty 150-600mm lens has practically lived on my camera since I bought it.
Most of my favorite photos were taken with this lens. It allows me to create photos of details that many don't even see. While photography isn't only about gear, I feel finding tools you enjoy working with allows you to enjoy the process more.
#wolf #wildlife #photography #tamron #photo #reno #Nevada
Meet Lydl, who is a wolf residing at Animal Ark in Reno, NV.
I love wolves, but photographing them in the wild can be extremely difficult, not to mention the obvious dangers for humans and animals. It's important to photograph animals ethically.
For these photos, we were in the sanctuary on the path that allows visitors to walk past the closures. I set up my 150-600, allowing me to focus on Lydl. One of the challenges of shooting through the fence is that autofocus can start acting up. In some cases, it's completely inaccurate, unable to pull a sharp photo. I had to be very careful and patient. I snapped a few pictures and then reviewed them.
I turned off autofocus and relied on my eye; the small LCD monitor, viewfinder, and my experience operating cameras for video without autofocus saved me. After my third attempt, I was able to get this beautiful shot. Next time, I'll definitely bring a monitor.
This was my first time seeing wolves in person. Growing up, documentaries like Medicine of the Wolf and documentaries by the BBC and National Geographic shaped intense admiration and interest in these beautiful creatures. #wolves #photography #wildlife #wildlifesanctury
In the first post, we talked about how Eli made it to the wildlife sanctuary. During Eli's Medical exam, they discovered Eli was, in fact, a boy and renamed him from LG to Eli. Due to the loss of his ears and his boldness, they deemed him non-resleaseable. Eli requires daily medication for seizures, and he has a strict routine of medications to keep his seizures under control.
This is why wildlife sanctuaries are important. They help wildlife in their dire time of need and allow them to live their lives when they are not ready for nature. Wildlife sanctuaries are also more ethical than many Zoos and allow the public to visit without the worry of the animals on exhibitions living in questionable conditions. Some Zoos were discovered to underfeed their animals in order to make them more present and more of a spectacle.
Animal Ark was an incredible place to visit; the enclosures are large, with vast ranges to roam; they do not push animals to interact or see visitors, and it feels like we are almost stumbling across the wildlife as if we were in nature.
If you are passing by or in the area, I highly suggest visiting the Animal Ark in Reno, NV. It's a fun experience for the whole family. #wildlife #wildliferescue #wildlifesanctury #photography #photograph
Photographer's Moral Condrums.
I believe that photographers, camera operators, directors, and media companies are responsible for representing their subjects with dignity, honesty, and fairness. The wrong angle, photo, or image that only tells part of the story can completely shift the conversation. This can give people the wrong impression of the subject and skew the topic.
This photo shows a bear for many, and they may assume it's a bear who's angry, mid-roar, and ready to attack. In reality, this bear was just yawning while I was observing this incredible guy currently residing in the Reno Animal Ark, a wildlife sanctuary.
This photo was taken from a distance. I spent a while around their enclosure, looking for the best angle. While snapping, I didn't even notice this photo until I sat down to edit it.
Eli was very carefree while walking around, and you would have no idea of their life before entering the sanctuary. Eli was found on the side of MT Rose Highway alone, weak and severely malnourished. Eli would not have survived the night.
For reference, most bears should weigh around 60-100 pounds at that time of year, but Eli weighed in at 14 pounds.
The staff first assumed Eli was a female due to its size. After a vet exam, they noticed Eli's ears had severe frostbite, and both tops of the ears had fallen off; fortunately, they had already begun to heal. ...More in the next post. #photography #bear #renonv #wildlife #sanctuary
Remember to pack out and pack in, respect park rules, and don't mess with the wildlife. We've seen too many videos about people getting close to bison and bison. Remember that Bison are natural spaces; they can charge at you at speeds of 30mph and turn in the dime, making it hard to predict their next move. It's advised to always have 30 yards between you and the Bison.
It's important to show our future generation the importance of nature, wildlife, and the sensitive ecosystems around us. In the words of Sir David Attenborough, "If children don't grow up knowing about nature, they won't understand it. And if they don't understand it, they won't protect it."
We're surrounded by incredible spaces of nature and opportunities to see national and state parks. As the new year comes around, vacations become a topic of interest. Maybe try to explore a state or national park in your destination. You might be pleasantly surprised with what nature offers and create lasting memories.
Remember to pack out and pack in, respect park rules, and don't mess with the wildlife. We've seen too many videos about people getting close to bison and bison. Remember that Bison are natural spaces; they can charge at you at speeds of 30mph and turn in the dime, making it hard to predict their next move. It's advised to always have 30 yards between you and the Bison. #stateparks #sanfrancisco #wildlife #photography #ConservationEfforts
In the last post, you may have noticed I tagged "Bison Paddock," which is located in San Francisco. This micro herd is kept in a spacious paddock in Golden Gate Park. It is a small project hosted by the San Francisco Department of Recreation & Parks.
When I arrived, I assumed I wouldn't have to worry too much about the distance of covering wildlife. While I advocate always maintaining the proper safe distance, I did have to recognize that this herd is very used to human interaction and almost wholly desensitized to sound like a rather large dog park across the road.
When I arrived, I assumed I wouldn't have to worry too much about the distance to cover wildlife. While I advocate always maintaining the proper safe distance, I did have to recognize that this herd is very used to human interaction and almost wholly desensitized to sound, as a rather large dog park was across the road and was very loud as Huskies and Great Danes would often sing the song of their people.
After setting up, I spent roughly an hour taking photos, waiting for the Bision to move, settle, and repeat. It was an incredible experience and the only safe and ethical opportunity to be close to a bison without the risk of getting punted like a football.
Note: The photos were taken behind the fence where the public is allowed to stand. The Bison were respected and not lured by the photographer or anyone else.
Lens used: 150-600mm #conservation #ConservationEfforts #wildlife #bison #sanfran
Bison are one of my favorite animals. This will be the 5th Bision I have ever photographed. Often, when I plan a trip somewhere on the West Coast to mid-west states, I look to see if they have a vision population or conservation project.
In places like Salt Lake City, Utah, where the bison projects are scaled on Antelope Island, bring hope for photographers and cinematographers like me. There is something incredible about seeing this loving creature in person.
The population of Antelope Island is around 500-700, and the North American population is now estimated to be 400,000. This is a stark contrast to the 1900s when we had anywhere near 30-60 million in the North American regions.
These incredible behemoths of nature were extinct, but conservation efforts, collaborating with Native American tribes to reintroduce bison to their lands, protected areas to allow the herds to recover, and private ranching have allowed the bison population to grow. The battle is not over, and many still fear for the population size. It is a glimpse into the brighter future that we desperately need.
#wildlife #photography #bison #sanfransico #sf #conservationphotography
While we love these adorable giants, I think many of us have wondered what the point of this big nose is. Well, let's look at how it works first before examining its use.
When I first arrived at Elephant Seal Vista in California, I could smell them. Shortly after hearing them, they made these low bellows and vibrations that traveled and echoed up the beach.
The main of the nose use of the nose and why it looks like this is for mating. Elephant seals put on a show by inflating and flaring their noses to appear more dominant and superior to their male counterparts in hopes of attracting a female Elephant Seal to them.
It's also used as a warning system to fend off male elephant seals that may try to encroach on their groupings.
Truly fascinating creatures.
#elephantsealbeach #elephantsealrookery #elephantsealvistapoint #elephantsealsofinstagram #photographer #photographylovers #wildlifephoto #wildlifephotography #wildlifephotography
Elephant seals are some of the most incredible creatures. They have had my heart since I first saw them.
Today's kinda not so fun fact about them. Elephant seals can be found in many regions of the world. This was the fun part.
You see, they can be found in many places, especially around the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-antarctic islands. They became a target for their blubber. Elpahnty seal blubber is very flammable and was used for lamp oil.
London alone used over 20,000 tonnes of elephant seal oil to light the city annually. Hunting was so rampant that The Northern Elephant Seal was thought to be going extinct in the 1800s.
A small group of these beautiful creatures left, mainly living around the Baja Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA.
This small group of underdogs was able to rebuild into a population of 150,000. There are still many concerns. The primary concern is the lack of genetic diversity coming up in the future, and research is still being conducted. #elephantseal #elephantsealbeach #elephantsealvistapoint #wildlife #wildlifephotograpy
One of the luckiest and most unplanned shots of my trip to Oceano. While searching for the Elephant Seal lookout point, we spotted a small group of turkey vultures resting on an old decrepit fence.
I was lucky enough to get close enough to zoom in with my 150-600 lens while keeping my distance from them, and I got a few pictures before they took off.
Turkey Vultures are some of the coolest birds in our region. They have a wingspan of six feet but only weigh three pounds!
They do not get the love they deserve. Vultures, in general, are considered a cornerstone of any environment they live in. They control populations and prevent disease from spreading. Their stomachs are extremely resilient; they can eat carcasses that carry anthrax, tuberculosis, and rabies without getting sick. This helps with carcass control and prevents other predators and prey from stumbling upon carcasses that could hurt or be fatal to them.
They can detect the smell of carrion from over a mile away. So next time you see these incredible and, in my view, adorable birds, appreciate them from a distance. Help them out by not littering, packing out, and packing in. If you find trash, remove it from their ecosystem so they can have happy hunting without the risk of hurting themselves.
Keep it ethical out there and advocate for Vulture Protection Laws. #vultures #photographer #photography #wildlife #wildlifelovers #wildlifeaddicts #birdphoto #birdphotos #birdphotographer #photograph #photographers #photographylovers #naturephotos #naturephotograph #naturephotograpy
