Dancing with Wolves...

Really if I was let into the same shared space as the wolves I'd have been running from the wolves, but luckily they had enough foresight to not let me run around inside the wolf cage freely. I digress, and I never really got started how's that for a new record? Between 3 and 4pm yesterday I got a call from my friend Shannon whom I know through her husband and Roller Derby. She volunteers at Wolf Park in Lafayette Indiana and had spoken with me previously about possibly taking some time for some photo Tomfoolery. Who am I to say no to some Photo Tomfoolery? Unfortunately it wasn't enough time to run out and rent some long glass which I figured I'd need but either way I would consider this to be (as my friend Tom puts it), a "Target Rich Environment".

(Nikon D700, 4500ISO, Nikon 18-35mm@18mm, 1/40th@F3.5)

That is Wolf Park during mid swing on a wolf event. We went at dusk, and unfortunately it was super overcast that day, but the only thing that did was make it cold and rainy-ish. The videographer and Shannon were upset about the wicked orange argon, or sodium vapor lights that were illuminating the display but as I am out of my mind I got excited. Anybody who has read the blog knows how easily excited I am, but the photo above is my good reason for being excited. As I recently told an interview to be a Spotlight Photographer for Photo Potpourri I love playing with colors in my photography. This was just a case where the D3's Clean High ISO combined with the venue lighting choices gave me photos that I would of otherwise would have had to intentionally create. Not that you can't white balance for these lights either though.

(Nikon D3, 4000ISO, Nikon 70-200F2.8VR@140mm, 1/60th@F2.8)

The wolves were pretty cool, although like I said I wish I'd had some long glas, and I wish it had been a whole lot lighter out. 200mm wasn't really enough from where we were shooting, and when its getting dark the lower shutterspeeds have to be brought up with ISO making grainy pictures. Now I know the lay of the land a bit though, so I can rent something either from Roberts, or Borrow lenses before the next trip out, which I think is going to be a Bison demonstration where the wolves will take down a bison for us. (I think). I will probably try to rent the 200-400F4 for the next trip as that even though it's not a F2.8 all the way through, it'll have the range that I want in only one lens. Either way there were a few shots I was able to get that I liked, although nothing super tight on the wolves which is too bad. Next time though. Next time.

(Nikon D3, 2800ISO, Nikon 18-35mmF3.5-4.5@18mm. 1/80th@F3.5)

That is Shannon where we were shooting from. When we got there the wolves were across the park from us for which 200mm was most certainly not enough. I've also been hankerin to try out the 70-300VR that Nikon has. The nice part is that I'd probably be able to purchase that one, unlike the 200-400 which would take quite a bit of budgeting prowess inside of a profession that my accountant once again referred to as a Hobby. Either way, next time I'll be ready. I'll be ready to get a much closer photo of this guy here, who I'm pretty sure is thinking to himself while being scratched: "I want to eat you camera dude...you ate the last donut". More soon.

(Nikon D3, 3600ISO, Nikon 70-200mmF2.8VR@200mm, 1/100th@F2.8)

Weathermen.....

The running joke in life is that weathermen have the greatest jobs in the world. "Wouldn't you love to have a job where you could be wrong 60% of the time, and still be employed?". That's one of my favorites right there, but quite frankly I've learned that weathermen are usually pretty accurate as long as you're looking within a 24 hour window of the forecast. This guy's job however, was long term weather predictions and forecast for the planet.


That's Dr. Brian Soden from Miami. He's a global warming specialist and a few weeks ago I was asked to photograph his presentation by the Hoosier Environmental Council. One of the things I find greatest about being a photographer is that in an occasion like this I am learning something new while doing something I enjoy. It doesn't matter what the topic is as I'm one of those people that falls asleep some nights with the History or Discovery channel on the television; but I love hearing what experts in different fields have to say regardless of what that field may be. Dr. Soden was no different as his visual aids, as well as his stories about the compilation of weather data in the United States since the 1970's held true with the weather jokes that we've all come to use and love.


A lot of people don't believe in global warming because of the 20" of snow we received last week here in Indianapolis, and I can understand their doubt. I don't like the snow as much as anyone else, as I have yet to do anything with it photographically which I consider to be a personal failure. I've got a few ideas, but I just haven't done any of them. Dr. Soden did pull a full house crowd though. Old, young, students, anybody and everybody seemed to be there, which is good as he has quite a few interesting things to say.


As usual, I am working on a few other things too though. I have been throwing around a few short film ideas, similar to the video posted below:


That short film was shot entirely with the Pentax K7 and various lenses. Very cool video, very cool idea. I've been shooting a lot more video lately with the 5D Mark II and I've been loving every minute of it. It's annoying carrying two camera systems around though to the point where there may be a D3s in my future before the end of the year if I can get all my ducks in a row. (Dang that's a lot of ducks...) Lots of neat stuff coming up soon though. Going to be at an uber secret location Warehouse Indy photo workshop on Tuesday night. Have some neat new light modifiers that I'll be trying out that night; going to be doing some neat stuff there guaranteed so check back for that. Speaking of light modifiers, I've also had some equipment questions come though, and am working on an equipment page for the blog. Will keep you posted as to how that goes. More soon.