The Coyote Project, Act IV, Scene ii

January 31, 2009  •  Leave a Comment




A brief review: I decided I needed a new wildlife project, some sort of challenge, so decided the coyotes at my local park fit the bill perfectly. Turns out, they fit the bill a little too perfectly. They turned out to be quite the challenge – they’re smart, sneaky, well-camouflaged, and extremely camera shy. I haven’t noticed any Acme crates, but so far they haven’t needed any assistance.

I had an extremely close encounter that I mentioned in a journal entry, and a couple of other sightings recently since my last photo update. My last time out before this I was almost skunked (and I NEVER get skunked); the only time I saw a coyote was on my way out, after packing up my kit.

Today was pure serendipity – I wasn’t even planning to look for the coyotes, but on a whim I decided I’d just do a quick to the park to see what turned up. The light was gorgeous, and not a cloud in the sky. I saw the coyote out on the ice in the pond as soon as I arrived. That seems to be her strategy, at least when dealing with me. She waits on the ice where she has a 360 degree view of her area, watches where I go, and just takes off in the opposite direction. It’s hard to hide from her when she follows that tactic.

I waited until she was in the brush, and quickly set up in an established blind at the other end of the marsh, facing away from the marsh. Wildlife photography is a waiting game most of the time, and it took a little patience before I spotted her again. She was trotting along the edge of the trail, and for once, was in almost the perfect location, at a wonderful distance away. She even came a little too close before she spotted me – some of the pics have the bottoms of her feet cut off. I was afraid to move too much, so I didn’t even try to swing the camera into a portrait orientation.

overall, I’m pleased with these shots. The directional light was a little tough, there are some blown-out highlights, but overall, they turned out fairly well. i still think I can do better, so I’ll be out again tomorrow morning.

Coyote (Canis latrans)
Crown Hill Park
Lakewood, CO
Sony Alpha700
Sigma 300/2.8
Giottos tripod, Acratech ballhead, Wimberley Sidekick

ISO400, f/5, 1/1250sec

Comments

No comments posted.
Loading...
Subscribe
RSS
Archive
January February March April May June July August September October November December (1)
January (5) February March April May (1) June July (1) August September October November December (1)
January (2) February (1) March April (2) May June (1) July August September October (1) November December (1)
January February March (6) April (1) May (1) June July August September October November December
January February March April May June (1) July August September October November December
January February March April May June July August September October November December
January February March April May June July (1) August September October November December (1)
January February March April May June July August September October November December
January February March April May June July August September October November December
January February March April May (1) June July August September October (1) November December
January February (1) March April May June July (1) August September October (3) November December (1)
January (1) February March April May June July August September October November December
January February March April May June July August September October November December
January February March April May June July August September October November December
January February March April May June July August September October November December
January February March April May June July August September October November December
January February March April May June July August September October November December
January February March April May June July August September October November December