1. PITTS GALLERY
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MIGRATION
SHADOWLANDS
STALKING
BUDS
TANGLED UP AND BLUE
PROWLERS
A QUINTET OF ANTELOPE
LITTLE DAWGIES
COLD STARE
ZAZU
nICE
CHANDELIER
FIRE & ICE
ROYAL CROWN
Female Snowy owl launching from tree top during heavy snowstorm
female snowy owlpine treeswinterwildlifenaturebirdsanimalssnowstormcanada.
SWAMP THING
SOKA
From DOGS
GRIZ
A WHALE OF A TAIL
A GLANCE BACK
LOLA
SNEAKER
HIGH STEP'N
NIGHT LANDING
WAR OF THE WORLDS
WET PAINT
FLIGHT
DOWNTIME
MUD IN YOUR EYE
ROMEO
INGLIS FALLS (graphite)
WET & WILD
Wet & Wild
So… I’m standing ankle deep in the mud along the edge of this marsh huddling under my little homemade camera cover. All afternoon it’s been a steady, sleety, in and out of snowy, cold rain. My face has been jammed up against the viewfinder for over an hour, waiting for this handsome young bull to shake the freezing rain off his drenched coat … again.
He did it not five minutes after I started shooting and I caught the whole thing. It was perfect: heads up, facing me directly, lots of spray, focused, and a good exposure. A beautiful sight; like a dog shaking, only in slow motion because of moose mass. Knew I had a great shot but couldn’t leave with just one. He was still there and if the temp kept dropping I could get some big ol’ fat snowflakes that would spice up the shot.
A half later we’re both still there and I’ve got him doing it four times. It’s been one of those – okay, okay, next one is the last one for sure and then I’m done - scenarios. But it’s not getting any snowier, my back is getting stiff, the bottom half of me is getting soaked, I’m getting cold, and, I know I’ve already got the perfect shot.
I leave. Figure I’ll come back the next week if I hear he’s still around.
Turns out he was. But… he’d dropped one of his antlers.
Once again, timing proves to be everything.
SNOW WHITE
CATCHLIGHT
It was a shot that almost didn’t happen.
There was a group of us that had spent the sunset hours waiting and watching at a likely spot for moose to show. It was peak fall colour time and Algonquin’s beloved favourite beasts were on the move throughout the park. This particular location was off the beaten path, picturesque, and generally a good bet.
Sure enough, a family appeared a little up the road at sunset and grazed leisurely along the edge. We all raced into position and shuttered away until they disappeared into the woods heading west. It was getting dark and with no sign of them breaking out into the open again, everyone left.
I was in no hurry to call it a day so I stuck around to enjoy the quiet.
Then way off in the distance I spotted the telltale dark shapes moving slowly across the clearing. It was uneven ground so they dipped in and out of sight behind the tall meadow grass but I could tell it was the same cow, calf, and bull from earlier.
I added the extender to my flash setup then steadied my rig as best as possible. Shooting a moving target in low light at 75 yards was a hail-mary shot at best. And the chance of it ending up being a “keeper” was a long shot – literally.
But I lucked out: The distance and the lighting that made it such a challenge were also the elements that made it a success.
GOOSE LIGHT
