Yellowstone Coyote
Returned home this week from my 5th trip to Yellowstone National Park in winter. More on the overall trip later.
Here is a coyote from Hayden Valley on day 1 that we spotted walking near a partially frozen river. We were up higher along the road, shooting down at him. Took several still photos and then went into slow-motion video mode as he got closer. He was walking on a trail that was leading right near us, so we had to get back into the vehicle when he started up the hill.
Love the winter coats on the Yellowstone coyotes. They are very beautiful animals, compared to the ones that I’ve seen in Texas.
Taken with Canon R1 + 100-500 + 1.4X at 700mm, handheld
120 frames/sec slow-motion video
Wolverine on Frozen Lake
One of the major highlights of my trip to Churchill this year was when our workshop leader, Marc, spotted this wolverine near a frozen lake. It was before sunrise and very dark when he made his way across the lake. He has a very interesting gait with his back legs being longer than his front legs.
He came back to the lake later for some amazing interactions with a raven and silver fox. I’ll be saving those videos for a future contest.
Sitting on a frozen lake taking videos of a wolverine was mind blowing. Such a rare opportunity to see one in the wild, so getting video of him was very special. This was day 4 of my 14-day adventure and thought that it was going to be downhill after this, but it wasn’t.
120 fps, 700mm (R3 + 100-500 +1.4x), handheld, zoomed in 20% in post
Sparing Polar Bears
On my latest trip to Churchill in Canada, the polar bear activity picked up during my second week there. On November 1, we spotted a couple of male bears sparing as they waited for the ice on Hudson Bay to freeze. Sparing lets them develop their fighting skills and establish dominance over other bears. It’s good practice for when they will fight during mating season in the spring.
These bears would spar for a while and then take a break to rest and then spar again. We saw them sparing off and on for 4 days. It was amazing to witness and take videos of their action.
120 fps, R3 + 100-500, handheld, uncropped
Red Fox Following His Nose
On my first day in Churchill, we found this red fox hunting along a road. We pulled over and got some cool photos and videos, with him ignoring us. They stay focused on finding food by following their nose.
120 fps slow motion video, Canon R3 + 100-500, handheld
After capturing this video, switched back to stills to get a few photos after he got very close to me. Love his eye in this photo.
1/800 @ F11, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1/3 exposure compensation, 420mm (R3 + 100-500 + 1.4X), handheld, minor crop from bottom
Grey Ghost
Male Northern Harrier from Anahuac, NWR – Texas
This grey ghost was checking me out while I was shooting out my car window. The R1’s focus is very sticky and locks on quickly. It’s making a very good first impression. My R3 has been relegated to back-up camera at this point.
1/5000 sec @ F10, ISO 2000, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation, 700mm (R1 + 100-500 + 1.4X), handheld
Red Fox on the Run with Captured Raven
While taking photos of ptarmigans in Churchill, this red fox came running right past us carrying what looks like a partially frozen raven. Never know what you may see in the wild.
120 fps, R3 + 100-500, handheld
Polar Bear in Snowstorm Slow-Motion Video
During my trip to Churchill in Canada this year, had the opportunity to take many slow-motion videos of the polar bears and foxes. These two male bears were resting from sparing when it started to snow. Love how the snow looks in slow motion. We didn’t see much snow, but the polar bears loved it.
120 fps, Canon R3 + 100-500, processed in Adobe Premiere Pro, 4K converted to 1080P, handheld
Polar Bear in Snowstorm
It didn’t snow very much in Churchill, but when it did it offered some great photo opportunities. This was from the first day that we saw these two bears sparing. They were taking a break when the snow started coming down heavy. It had been above freezing for a few days, so they were grateful to see the snow.
1/1250 sec @ F11, ISO 12,800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation, 254mm (R3 + 100-500), handheld
Incoming Polar Bear
This polar bear came down off of the rocks at a distance and kept walking directly towards us. Our guide warned us that when he reached a certain point in the trail, a branch, that we would have to get into the van. The bear apparently heard her as he stopped just short of the branch and sat down in front of us.
It still blows my mind about being able to be on the ground taking photos of adult polar bears at eye level.
Cross Fox on the Run
Cross Fox – Churchill
While taking photos of polar bears on the rocks, this cross fox showed up and was running around. She kept marking her territory all around us, so I probably belong to her now. The foxes at Churchill this time of year are very beautiful. They can be very curious and will get very close.
1/640 sec @ F8, ISO 10,000, 420mm (R3 + 100-500 + 1.4X), mounted on tripod
Churchill Polar Bear
Got home on Sunday after 2 amazing weeks in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. It was epic including several polar bear moms with 1st and 2nd year cubs, nursing cubs, bears climbing in the rocks and sparing bears. The other wildlife didn’t disappoint either, including silver/cross/red foxes with one amazing encounter with a cross-fox mating with a silver fox. Plus, to top it off was a wolverine on a frozen lake with a silver fox trying to play with it and raven telling him who was the boss.
Here is a lone polar bear walking by at 700mm (R3 + 100-500 + 1.4X) handheld, uncropped.
Blue Crab
Blue crab taken on my last trip to Bolivar Flats on the Texas gulf coast on July 1. This was my first time seeing a live blue crab so had to get a few photos. The birds weren’t very cooperative that day so was very happy to get a chance to photograph this crab.
Shows how even at F10, you can see the depth of field with blurring out the background and foreground when lying down.
1/800 @ F10, ISO 2500, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation, 700mm (R3 + 100-500 + 1.4X), Skimmer ground pod
Tri-Colored Heron in Silhouette
Tricolored heron in silhouette taken with my ground pod from the mud bath at Bolivar Flats in Texas. He kept going back and forth catching small fish right in front of me, which was amazing. Don’t often see them offshore in this location.
The mud was deep so had to take a selfie to show that it was a great day in the mudflats. One of the first times that the mud was so deep that it came over the top of my ground pod. Had to wade out in the gulf to wash off the mud from my boots before throwing them into a garbage bag for clean-up when I got home. Clean-up is a major pain but well worth the effort to get low level photos.
1/1600 sec @ F10, ISO 640, manual exposure, 700mm (R3 + 100-500 + 1.4X), Skimmer ground pod
American Avocets at Sunrise
Had beautiful weather this weekend along the Texas gulf coast. Needed to add to my shorebird portfolio for Audubon’s photo contest so made a trip back to Bolivar Flats Audubon Shorebird Sanctuary. Will see out there next time Sheldon.
Tide was going out and fairly low when I got there before sunrise. It was one of those rare days with no wind and flat surf on the Gulf of Mexico.
The surprise of the morning was seeing a fin coming out of the water behind a small flock of avocets, just offshore near the parking area. It was a dolphin hunting for fish, which was only the second time that I’ve seen a dolphin out there in the past 15 years. Took some video of him but missed the money shot when he jumped out of the water with a fish just off of his nose.
After that excitement, settled into getting some avocet photos and videos. Here is one of my favorites with back-lit feathers on some incoming birds. My happy place for sure.
1/3200 sec @ F10, ISO 800, evaluative metering, 700mm (R3 + 100-500 + 1.4X), Skimmer ground pod
American Bittern
Here is my first bird photo in 2024, which is an American Bittern from Anahuac NWR in Texas yesterday. Found him along the road and got some head shots out my car window. Slowly opened my door and sat on the ground to get this shot.
1/400 @ F10, ISO 12,800, evaluative metering, -2/3 exposure compensation, 700mm (R3 + 100-500 + 1.4X), handheld, uncropped
Florida Eagles
Couple of juvi bald eagles taken on a recent trip to Florida. Spent some quality time with Facebook friend, Dick Vautrinot, on his boat. Had to decide whether to spend a couple of days at Disney or take bird photos. It was a no-brainer and a very good choice. Lots of eagles, osprey, bard owls and anhinga.
1/1250 sec @ F9, ISO 2500, evaluative metering, +1 2/3 exposure compensation, 420mm (R3 + 100-500 +1.4X), handheld on moving boat
Willet Feeding in the Fog
Made a scouting trip to Bolivar Flats on the Texas Gulf coast yesterday in preparation for leading four field trips for Galveston’s FeatherFest in April. It was extremely foggy and could only see a couple of car lengths in front of my car while driving on the beach. The guy following me almost crashed into the barricade.
The fog finally cleared some but then rolled in a couple of times. I’m a major fan of shooting in the fog under the right conditions when the sun pops out, which was the case on this trip.
It was high tide with lots of birds along the shoreline and in a couple of tidal pools. Captured this willet feeding in one of the pools right in front of me while I was lying is some real nasty stuff with my ground pod.
1/3200 @ F10, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1/3 exposure compensation, 700mm (R3 + 100-500 + 1.4X) mounted on Skimmer ground pod with video head
Spider Web in the Fog
Not much animal action yesterday at Anahuac NWR, so set my focus on dew covered spider webs. It was a very foggy morning, which always makes for some great photo op’s with the spider webs being covered with small water droplets. The barbed wire also adds interest to the photo. The sun started to pop through just before the fog lifted.
Used negative exposure compensation to darken the scene and make the spider web pop. Converted to B&W in NIK.
1/8000 sec @ F10, ISO 2500, evaluative metering, -2/3 exposure compensation, 700mm (R3 + 100-500 + 1.4x), handheld
Gray Ghost
Broke one of my golden rules yesterday at Bolivar Flats on the Texas gulf coast: have your camera ready at all times when driving off the beach. Saw this male northern harrier sitting on a fence post along the road and my camera was in the trunk. There was a good reason for that as I couldn’t get the lens off of my fluid head. Went past the harrier, stopped, took my camera off my 500F4 and put it on my 100-500, and headed back to the gray ghost.
He was very cooperative and let me get several photos before he flew away. Luckily for me, he landed on the other side of the road, which allowed for more photos and some video in better light. He was finally spooked when another car came down the road.
The not so fun part of this encounter was that I was getting eaten alive by mosquitos. Didn’t have bug spray on as there were no mosquitos on the beach, but they were very intense along the grassy area leaving the beach. Had taken my jacket off so plenty of exposed skin for the feeding frenzy that took place in my car. As they say, everything is bigger in Texas, including the mosquitos. One of those times that you just grin and bear it as it’s always worth a little blood letting for a good photo op.
1/1600 sec @ F7.1, ISO 1000, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation, 500mm (R3 + 100-500), minor cropping off left side.
2022 Wings Over Houston Airshow
Late October is always one of my favorite times with the Wings Over Houston airshow. I’ve been going since 2005 and just love it. Was lined up to go to the drive-in show with some friends but it got rained out. Had already bought tickets for the weekend so went on Saturday. It ended up being a cloudy day with limited ceiling so the planes couldn’t fly their normal routines. Didn’t feel like going again on Sunday, which was a mistake as it had some sunshine. There is always next year.
I’ll post some of the Blue Angels photos later. All of these shots were taken with my Canon R3 and 100-500 lens, handheld.
F-16 demo team put on a great show. The female pilot rocked it.
F-15 from Louisiana lit up the sky with a short routine
Aero L-39 Albatros
Close-up Bear
You never know what you may encounter in Alaska, like this coastal brown bear walking through the grass. Immediately got down on one knee to get eye level with the bear for these two uncropped photos. This is a 3rd year cub taken on the second day of another amazing adventure in Alaska
1/1600 @ F11, ISO 3200, evaluative metering, -2/3 exposure compensation, 451mm (R3 + 100-500), full frame
Steaming Bear
The large boar is showing how hot and bothered that he is while chasing his potential mate. That isn’t dust around him. It is steam coming off his hot body in the cool Alaska morning air. Used negative exposure compensation to darken the scene to emphasize the highlights.
It was towards the end of mating season for the coastal brown bears from Lake Clark National Park. Love was in the air with lots of mating action going on.
1/2000 @ F7.1, ISO 6400, evaluative metering, -2/3 exposure compensation, 500mm, R3 + 100-500, uncropped
Tim Timmis Photography 