Viveza going to Aperture

Well in case you haven’t heard the news Viveza is now available for Aperture. Viveza has got to be one of my all time favorite plug-ins. The control you get with the U Point Technology is amazing. You can check out all the details on the Nik Software site.

Sundown

Tonight wrapped up the Base Camp South Dakota class and it was a great adventure for all. I hope to get to shoot with them all again soon.  We finished our last nights shoot out in Custer State Park, and it was amazing.  We went out as a storm was coming in and I got the chance to photograph a species I had never seen before. I only got to work with the bird for a total of 30 minutes, but it was great!!!

This is the Upland Sandpiper, and it is an amazing bird. It can disappear in an instant when it lands on the ground blending in to the grasses.

This fella is trying to find a mate, and is doing every song and dance he knows to find one. What an amazing bird!!

Both Images captured with 1D Mark IIN 600f4 with 1.4x TC on Lexar digital film

Early Morning Mists

It is was a great morning for the Base Camp Class, there was a storm rolling in and that made for some great mood shots in the low clouds.

The morning was great and we will have to see if we can race the storm and get some more shooting in before it hits.

Captured with 1D Mark IIN 100-400f5.6 on Lexar digital film

On the Run

Well, what a day. We were out and about on the run all day long and it was great.  We finished it off with the bison deep in the park, and the were headed to the hills to avois the upcoming storm.  This calf was going full speed to catch up with the heard.

Captured with 1D Mark IIN 600f4 with 1.4 TC on Lexar digital (hand held)

And we go “Click”

I tell you that this week just keeps getting better and better. Today we rolled out to the Badlands of South Dakota. We ran smack dab into a heard of Big Horned Sheep that were having a great time playing around in the early hours of the morning.  This one was playing hide and seek.

And then there’s this little guy.  We went out to Prairie Dog Town to photograph these little fellas, and let me tell you, if you wanted to you could spend all day watching these guys run around.

Big Horned Sheep Captured with 1D Mark IIN 100-400f56 on Lexar digital film

Black Tailed Prairie Dog Captured with 1D Mark IIN 600f4 with a 1.4 TC on Lexar digital film

And then there’s too close

So this afternoon we went in search of Rocky Mountain Big Horned Sheep, and we found them!!! Matter of fact they were so comfortable that they got to close for us to even shoot!!!! If you want to see how close go over to Moose’s blog and take a look. These little ladies were great!!!!

Captured with 1D Mark IIN 600f4 with 1.4 TC on Lexar digital film

The Gear

So, after a few posts from here in South Dakota I have been getting emails asking me what I was using to shoot with while we’re out here. So here you go.

This is my 600f4 on a Wimberly II head attached to a Gitzo 5540 6x tripod. This is one great setup and very versatile for different situations. Usually this is my birding setup, but this time we’re using it on the big guys, and having a great time.

The Eyes Have It

Well, what a day. We went in search of wildlife and boy did we find it. A few Bulls were wondering around this evening and we stopped to spend some time with them. Since we didn’t want to get to close we went for the long lenses tonight.

This big guy gave me a quick pose so I thought I would take the shot.  t was a get day and tomorrow is going to be an early one.  Stay tuned to see what we find.

Captured with 1D Mark IIN 600f4 with 1.4x TC on Lexar digital film

Good in the Badlands

Well, what can I can I say except that South Dakota is great.  I got stuck in Denver overnight because of a freak blizzard, but made it in last night, and this morning we went out in search of wildlife.

Our morning plans of finding a Ruff Grouse got squelched, but we did find this old abandoned prairie home so I had some fun with it.

Later in the day we ran across a heard of bison with all the little ones playing around running full speed until they we exhausted.  It was great to watch them play.  This fella stopped for a it and gave me a pose so I could not resist taking the shot.

House — Captured with 1D Mark IIN 17-40f4 on Lexar digital film

Bison — Captured with 1D Mark IIN 100-400f5.6 on Lexar digital film

Rain, Wifi, and Filters