Roadside Encounters

Small herd of elk by the Alaska Hwy

 a lone elk 

Peek-a-boo - can you see me?  (elk in hiding)

Our porcupines are giants

Moose foraging on willow branches

Boreal chickadee trying to make sense of my presence

Mule deer

Black bear just a few feet from the highway

Moon rise over Alaska

Driving on the Yukon highways can provide for some fabulous wildlife viewing opportunities.  Take last weekend for instance when a friend of mine and I decided to drive the Alaska Highway from Whitehorse to Haines Junction and return.  Along the way we were treated to some fleeting glimpses of black bears, moose, herds of elk, mule deer, porcupines galore and scores of migratory birds including numerous species of duck and raptors.

Photographing these critters was relatively straight forward as we had prepared our gear before hand.  Most importantly, our gear was located in the back seat ready to be used on a moment's notice.  Our lenses and sensors had been cleaned, the batteries fully charged, memory cards formatted, the telephoto lenses attached and tripods close at hand.  The cameras were set to aperture priority (that way the camera calculates the shutter speed) and the shutter release mode was switched to continuous high (so we could happily fire away hundreds of images in a matter of minutes).  Spare batteries and memory cards were stored in our pockets.

Approaching wildlife near or on the road must be treated with the utmost respect.  Drive up slowly while at the same time pay attention to the traffic behind and in front of you.  Do not walk up to these animals and snap away otherwise you may spook them into running into oncoming traffic or face the risk of being charged at - both very unfortunate and dangerous outcomes.  Keep in mind all animals are unpredictable.  

I find it best to park your vehicle at a considerable distance and observe from there.  If the animal feels safe it may approach closer to investigate you (thus affording you the opportunity to photograph them in a more natural setting).  A telephoto lens is perhaps the most suitable lens to use as it will allow the animal to go about its business without feeling threatened by your presence (the animal will appear much more relaxed in your image).

Don't forget to keep an eye open for landscape images too - the Yukon and surroundings offers some stunning shots of snowcapped mountains, crystal blue rivers and thick green forests.  

Drive slowly, keep an eye on the road and be alert and prepared at all times - you never know what surprises await you around the bend.  With camera gear prepared and stored within arms reach you too will be able to capture those unexpected moments on 'film'.

Safe driving and happy snapping!

PS - I'm curious to see some of your images - email me.

Sunday morning with the swans

I'm still smiling from ear to ear as I sort through my images and recall my weekend with the swans of Tagish River.  Such a treat it was to have photographed and observed them.  

In the coming week I'll post a few more images along with some notes on my observations and tips to photographing these elegant creatures.  

Good night.

The Real Swan Lake

Images with D300,  Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 with 1.5x extension, f/7, 500ASA 

Hi again from the Yukom, home to over 2,000 swans!

After a very long winter the swans have finally started to arrive en masse.  For the next few weeks scores of Trumpet and Tundra Swans will congregate in the rivers, lakes and marshes around the Whitehorse area for a chance to rest, feed and gather strength before continuing their journey further north to their breeding grounds in the High Arctic.

What a sight it is to see so many swans gracefully navigate the icy shores of Tagish Lake (2hrs south of  Whitehorse).  Most are in pairs, while there are a handful of what I think are family groupings with last years brood still sporting dusty grey feathers.  So far most swans are hanging around in the few stretches of open water available - a narrow stretch at Marsh Lake (1hr south of Whitehorse), a larger opening between the river that connects Marsh Lake with Tagish Lake and behind the dam on Marsh Lake (viewing accessible from the Alaska Highway).

Next week Yukoner's will honour their feathered guests with a week-long Celebration of Swans event mainly centred at Swan Haven, an interpretation centre at Marsh Lake.  Interpreters will be on hand to explain the natural history of the swans and other migratory waterfowl.  Unfortunately for photographers, the swans are resting at a considerable distance from shore. 

I wanted to see if I could find a spot to photograph the swans up close and in relative isolation from the hundreds of birdwatchers who have also flocked to Marsh Lake and its surroundings.  After a couple of hours of driving I found myself on the shores of a small river that connects Marsh Lake with Tagish Lake.  There I was pleasantly surprised to find at least 100 swans quietly carrying out their daily business.  It was tricky to find a clearing that afforded an undisturbed view of the swans.  After a bit of bushwhacking I did manage to find several vantage points with clear views of the swans below.  So neat to listen to them communicate with each other - it was as if they were all playing individual French horns.   

Rubber boots, snow pants (to keep your butt dry when sitting in the snow) and lite gloves are highly recommended if you plan on spending any time photographing these characters.  Patience is also in order as they constantly move about and lighting conditions can be tricky.  It is also a good idea to bring along some bear spray as the grizzlies have started to emerge from their winter dens - and I would guess they are a tad hungry :)

I'm heading back there today to take a few more pictures before making my way back home.  I'll post more tomorrow with locations and photo details.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Cheers,

Claus

Enjoying another Yukon Golden Sunset

Greetings once again from the Yukon!

Sunday night was a gorgeous night to watch the sun set.  Moments before the sun was about to retire for the evening the sky was set ablaze with various shades of orange and yellow.  Once again I quickly searched for my camera, 300mm lens, tripod and cable release and made a mad dash across the street in hopes of capturing the silhouettes of the spruce and alder trees set against the dramatic backdrop.  I managed approximately 30 images - two of my favourites are posted above.

I was hoping for a repeat performance tonight - no luck.  Lets hope for tomorrow evening.  Speaking of which, aurora forecasters are predicting a good chance of spotting the northern lights tomorrow night. 

The days are certainly getting longer - the sun rose at 7:13 and set at 21:02

Good night from the Yukon.

Spring melt is underway

Greetings once again from the Yukon!

At long last the spring melt is underway.  Balmy temperatures (+10 oC), blue skies and plenty of sunshine greeted my return north.  Local radio reports have announced that the first of the swans have arrived.  I also spotted my first sic-sic (ground squirrel) of the year foraging on shrubs in an old fire burn site.  These little critters have just emerged from spending close to six months hibernating under the snow.  Soon the grizzlies, sandhill cranes, eagles and geese will join the cast of characters that make the Yukon their home during the summer months.  Needless to say I cannot wait to join them with my camera in hand.

Todays' picture is of the Yukon River at Five Fingers along the Klondike Hwy.  Notice how the river has already started to melt.

A day at the sugar bush

A sure sign of spring - the maple sap is running!  

This afternoon I joined my niece and nephew at a local sugar bush near Ottawa, Ontario.  While there we were introduced to the production of maple syrup.  Did you know it takes 40L of sap to produce 1L of maple syrup!  Warm days followed by cool nights are the ideal conditions for producing sap.  By all accounts this year promises to be a banner year for the maple syrup industry. 

My main goal today, besides spending time with my sisters children, was to capture a few images showing the sap dripping from the tap.  In order to accomplish this it was important to set the camera to continuous high so that I could concentrate on focusing and composition while I fired away.  I used a Nikon D700 camera with my new Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 VR macro lens - another fabulous piece of glass.  The aperture was set to f/6.3, speed of 1/640th and an ISO of 250.  I shot at least two-hundred images (handheld) hoping one or two would capture a drop of sap dripping from the end of the tap.  I'm pleased with today's images. 

I hope you enjoyed your Sunday afternoon.

Super Moon

Nikon D700, Nikkor 600mm f/4 at 1/640 f/7.1

Tonight the skies over much of North America were graced with the presence of the perigee moon - a super moon of sorts.   Due to the elliptical nature of its orbit the moon today approached its closest point to the Earth - some 50,000km closer.  As a result our nearest celestial body appeared 30% brighter and 14% larger than a normal full moon.   This natural phenomenon occurs at least once every twenty or so years.  More info can be found by reading super full moon.

As the moon was rising shortly after sunset a neighbouring pack of coyotes welcomed it with a chorus of high pithed howls.  So neat to hear them again in the wilds of Ontario.  

Thanks Shell for loaning me the 600mm lens to snap tonights image.  A fabulous lens!

Hope you had the opportunity to see tonights super moon in your corner of the world.

Good night,  Claus

500 days till London 2012

This morning the official countdown toward next years Olympic Summer Games began in London, England.  Hard to believe the worlds best athletes will once again compete for Olympic Glory in only 500 days.  

Today's milestone brings back memories from my Olympic experience during last year's Winter Games in Vancouver.  I was thrilled to have watched the opening ceremonies, several speed skating events and the women's gold medal hockey and curling matches.  What a memorable experience those 16 days were.

As a photographer I was keen on preserving those memories digitally.  My main goal was to capture the mood of the Games as I knew it would be impossible to take action shots of athletes at close range.  I was impressed at how the Nikon D700 and Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 lens handled the ever changing light conditions the Games presented.  I'll let you in on some of my tips on photographing the Olympics in a future post.  In the mean time I've attached a few of my favourite images from Vancouver.  You can also check my website out for more images from those 16 days of winter glory.

Enjoy!  

PS - Tickets for all events at the London Olympics are now on sale - there goes my bank account once again!

Opening Ceremony - Vancouver 2010

Opening Ceremony - Vancouver 2010

Opening Ceremony - Vancouver 2010

Opening Ceremony - Vancouver 2010

Gold Medal - Vancouver 2010

Olympic Champions - Vancouver 2010

Germany - Speed Skating - Vancouver 2010

Silver Medalists - Curling - Vancouver 2010

I wish I had my camera on hand

When will I ever learn the simple lesson of ensuring that my camera and 300mm lens are close at hand?

Late this afternoon, while driving along the Klondike Hwy en-route to Whitehorse, a lynx suddenly appeared on top of a snowbank a few short meters from the highway.  We stopped the truck in time to watch the critter saunter down the snowbank before it ventured back up where it sat and stared at us for a few seconds.  What a perfect shot that would have been - a lynx with its tufted ears bathed in full sunlight.  Sad thing is, my camera was stored in the back seat under our luggage.  Dam !!

Now that spring is around the corner I'm hoping these chance wildlife encounters will become more frequent.  No worries - my camera gear will be ready to go in order to capture those unexpected and treasured moments.

Good night 

and the lights came back.....

The northern lights returned for a encore performance tonight.  Unfortunately tonights display was not as vibrant or as active as yesterdays show.  Regardless, it was well worth the effort to bundle up and venture outdoors in minus 25 oC temps to photograph the aurora as they danced the night away.  (Nikon D700, Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 lens set at f/3.2, 1000ASA and exposed between 10-15 seconds).

More lights from last night

Here are few more images from last nights celestial wonder!  I can honestly say that last night was the most impressive show I've seen in my 13 years living in the north.  Absolutely stunning!  According to Spaceweather.com tonight promises to be just as good!  Keep your fingers crossed.

Yukon Lights at Night

What a night it has been here in the Yukon.  Shortly before 10pm the northern lights literally exploded overhead.  Endless ribbons of green, blue and pink danced across the sky from one horizon to the other for at least 3 hours.

I could have continued to photograph the aurora all night but by 1am my camera froze thanks to the -30 degree temps!  

Tonights images were taken with a Nikon D700 and Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 lens.  Speed was set at 1000ASA, f/3.2 and between 10-15 secs for each exposure.  Cable release and tripod are essential.

It's 130am and the lights continue to dazzle.  Unfortunately I have to work in the morning so its off to bed.  

What a show!

Yukon Winter Driving 101

I finally spotted and photographed the northern lights earlier in the week - my first since leaving Baffin Island a year ago - and what a show it was!

Thick curtains of green, yellow and the occasional splash of pink danced across the night sky from one horizon to the other.  An unexpected solar wind storm earlier in the day triggered the auroral display.  Spaceweather.com had warned of the potential of an auroral storm so I prepared my camera gear in advance.  Shortly before 11pm the northern lights made their appearance over Pelly Crossing.  I borrowed a friends car and drove down the Klondike Hwy away from town and its interfering 'city lights' and wood smoke. 

A few minutes later I arrived at a bend in the hwy that offered a superb view of the aurora unfolding overhead.  In true Claus fashion I turned off the engine to the car completely ignoring the fact it was - 40 degrees outside (I didn't want the headlights to interfere with my image).  I shouldn't have been surprised when I tried to start the car again some twenty minutes later.  No luck!  With camera gear and tripod in hand I had no choice but to walk the 4km back into town. Thankfully the grizzlies are asleep for the winter and I was dressed warmly for the excursion.  

The RCMP helped me boost the car the following afternoon.


The things we photographers do to get our images.


Hope all is well in your corner of the world.


Cheers,
Claus