May Update – Summer seems so long ago

Posted on 19. May, 2009 by Paul Burwell in Everything, Monthly Updates, Techniques, Wildlife, Workshops, Tours and Courses

Hello all,

The winter that would never end; that’s how I’ll remember this spring. While we have occasional days of “normal” temperatures, we have had a very cold spring. For instance, as I write this, the temperature is hovering around freezing and the forecast is calling for up to 5cm (2 inches) of snow by tomorrow. But, I long ago learned that my whining has no influence on the weather and I’m hopeful that the weather for my upcoming Spring Black Bear Workshop at Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba will be great.

And speaking of workshops and such, I have had a cancellation for this September’s Spirit Bear trip. That opens up a great opportunity for someone to get a super deal on this spectacular tour of the Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest searching for the elusive Kermode or Spirit Bear. If you don’t know, these are a unique variant of Black Bears with a recessive gene that causes 1 in 10 of the bears in the area to have white fur instead of black. And no, they aren’t albinos, just Black Bears with white fur.

This is the first year I’m running this trip and because of that there is special pricing in place. Where others are selling the exact same trip for $4,500 US dollars, I’m selling the trip for $3,500 Canadian dollars. At today’s exchange rates, that’s a saving of about $1,800 Canadian dollars ($1,500 US dollars). This trip starts in Prince Rupert, British Columbia on September 13, 2009 and concludes in Bella Bella, British Columbia on September 20th. If you are at all interested in a unique trip like this, please visit the web site and make your plans ASAP so you don’t miss out.

My June Triple “D” Wildlife Photography Workshop is sold out with three people on the waiting list but I’ve still got a couple of spots open in my July and October workshops. I’ve also just added listings for a number of 2010 workshops.

I thought I’d use this update to focus on some summer wildlife. (Remember that you can click on the images to view larger versions)

Out at my favourite marsh last summer, I was lucky to find several Cedar Waxwings who had nested in the area. I’m used to seeing these birds around here in late winter and early spring but not so much in the summer. I really enjoyed the opportunity to make some images of these beautiful birds against a green background that just screams summer.

Cedar Waxwing perched on a branch

Canon 1Ds Mark II, 1/250th of a second at F9, 500mm F4L IS, 2.0x teleconverter @ 1000mm, ISO 400
Evaluative meeting at -2/3 compensation to hold the highlights
Singh-Ray modified Canon drop-in polarizer
Saddle-shaped bean bag support

For the following image I’d noticed a breeze coming up from behind the bird, blowing the comb on its head. I waited for the right moment and then squeezed off a couple of shots catching the feathers on its head extended.

Cedar Waxwing perched on a thorny branch

Canon 1Ds Mark II, 1/250th of a second at F9, 500mm F4L IS, 2.0x teleconverter @ 1000mm, ISO 400
Evaluative meeting at -2/3 compensation to hold the highlights
Singh-Ray modified Canon drop-in polarizer
Saddle-shaped bean bag support

A few weeks later I was off to the Triple “D” Game Farm in Kalispell, Montana for my Summer Wildlife Photography workshop. I was lucky to host a great group of people who were really pleased with the images they came away with. After the workshop concluded, I was able to sneak in a little photography time myself. Spring and summer is always fun around the Triple “D” because of all the first-year animals around.

Here’s a few that I enjoy.

I’ve been searching for Coyote dens for a couple of springs now but have yet to get some shots of some young Coyote pups. Fortunately, Triple “D” had some Coyote pups last summer.

Young Coyote trotting through some tall grass - CA

Canon 1Ds Mark II, 1/1250th of a second at F5, 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS @200mm ,ISO 1000
Evaluative Metering at -1/3 to hold the white highlights
Jobu-Design Black Widow Gimbal Head on a Gitzo 3540XLS Tripod

This was the first time since I’ve been visiting the Triple “D” that they have had a Siberian Lynx. While I have lots of pictures of Canada Lynx, this was my first opportunity to photograph a Siberian Lynx. This cute little fellow was very cooperative and spontaneously struck a couple of great poses while playing on a log.

Siberian Lynx kitten lying on an old log - CA

Canon 1Ds Mark II, 1/4000th of a second at F5, 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS @170mm, ISO 400
Evaluative metering at -1.7 to compensate for dark background and log
Jobu-Design Black Widow Gimbal Head on a Gitzo 3540XLS Tripod

Another favourite kitty of mine is the Bobcat. This cute little fellow was pretty rambunctious and it was a bit challenging to photograph, but well worth the effort. It probably didn’t help that the mosquitoes were out in force and annoying both the photographer and the kitty. In the following image, you can even see one of those pesky blood suckers hovering by the Bobcat kitten’s tail.

Bobcat kitten walking across the top of a log - CA

Canon 1Ds Mark II, 1/2000th of a second at F6.3, 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS @170mm, ISO 400
Evaluative metering at -0.7 to hold the highlights against the background
Jobu-Design Black Widow Gimbal Head on a Gitzo 3540XLS Tripod

And my favourite of the small cats, is without question, and not just because of its name, the Canada Lynx. I love the ear tufts on these cats and especially enjoy their large paws. This little lynx was the prototypical ball of energy. And I was lucky to make the following image as she crawled over the top of a log. And those eyes? Who couldn’t love those eyes?

Canada Lynx kitten peering out from behind a log - CA

Canon 1Ds Mark II, 1/60th of a second at F5.6, 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS @310mm, ISO 400
Jobu-Design Black Widow Gimbal Head on a Gitzo 3540XLS Tripod

That’s it for this update. My next update will continue documenting the wildlife of the prairies. I hope you enjoy the stories and photography as much as I enjoy making them.

Questions, comments and critiques are always welcome and encouraged.

Please contact me if you are interested in obtaining the rights to use one of my images or to purchase a fine art print.

Best regards,

Paul

The tools used to produce the photographs in this newsletter include cameras, flashes and lenses from Canon, flash bracket from Wimberley, tripod heads and lens plates from Really Right Stuff, gimbal tripod head from Jobu Design, camera bags from Tamrac, filters from Singh-Ray, software from Adobe, Nik Software and PictureCode and the SX4 Crossover from Suzuki.