Let there be snow

Finally, a REAL snowstorm! We got over a foot of snow. It clung to the trees and weighed down her heavy branches, coated the forest, and drifted along the roads. There is something so beautiful about fresh fallen snow.

The animals came out to enjoy the cool, refreshing white powder. As did we, following animal tracks and plowing new ground along our unplowed roads.

The accompanying wind blew snow in every direction as the storm took hold and wouldn’t let up.

By the next day, we had some real accumulation and forecasts for more. Bring it on! We can use all we can get, as the snow feeds our animals, our forest and her trees, and our rivers and lakes. Without it, our environment and animals are at risk. Let it snow!

For more snow pix, check out my post here … https://kritterspaw.com/2023/01/05/dr-seuss-trees/

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Photography is like Golf

Photography is like golf, or any sport or hobby for that matter. You know, when you get that really great drive, perfect putt, or if you’re so lucky the coveted hole-in-one. It’s euphoric, and keeps you coming back for more.

That’s how I feel when I get that great shot. We go out every time it snows, looking for animals, hoping for that great encounter to capture.

With over 2′ of snow, we were hopeful that the ‘day after’ would bring the animals out foraging for food. We even saw a fleeting bobcat, but alas, didn’t get a photo. Darn!

But we did manage to see elk and deer. It makes me want to go out again! Bring on more snow.

First Snow

We got our first snow of the new year… woohoo. We were happy to get about 6″ overnight.

So we went out looking for animals, hoping to get some snow animal pix… and we weren’t disappointed.

We encountered a large herd of elk lounging around the falling snow.

We also saw a buck foraging in the snow.

… and were thrilled to find some big horn sheep.

I guess what they say is true, you have to seek to find. I’m so glad we ventured out and found animals enjoying the new snow.

See more animal / snow pix here… https://kritterspaw.com/2022/01/02/weather-promises/

Twin Bucks

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We have been getting some much needed snow fall this week… just in time for Christmas.  It’s hasn’t amounted to much accumulation, but we’ll take what we can get.

The snow has brought in this pair of twin bucks, who are just, pardon the pun, endeering.

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They have brought a smaller little buck with them, and they seem to be hanging out together in their own little pack.

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The little one has smaller antlers, but is definitely a new buck… and just as cute.

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He seemed to be enjoying his first snow and the wonder of this cool white stuff dropping from the sky.

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We so enjoyed their visit.

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It’s A Boy

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If you remember a post I did a little while back about Pat’s Fawn (https://kritterspix.com/2018/09/17/pats-fawn/), we’ve been fortunate enough to see it a few times and kinda watch it grow up, which has been a real joy.   It’s starting to loose it’s spots.

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But it’s still playful and skittish… and wonderfully fun to watch.  Mom still dotes on her… except, apparently it’s a him.

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I caught a glimpse of a little bump on his head where his antlers will be soon.

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We can still call him Spots though, right?!

Two Bucks

You’ve heard of giving your two cents worth… well, here are my two bucks worth!

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Sorry… just couldn’t help myself.  Ha!

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This one buck, we call ‘Slash’ had what looked like a deep cut, slash, ripped into his back.  The other buck seemed to be lovingly watching over him.  It checked out to the right… and to the left, before alerting Slash to proceed in that direction.  Slash’s caretaker would rub along his healing cut, and nose him repeatedly.  Maybe they are brothers.. or just good friends.  We should all have such a great friend to help get us through our difficult times, particularly in the wild, where it can get quite ‘dicey’ with lots of predators out there!

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Leave room to Run

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While I like the action in this photo, as this buck was spooked.  It is not a great photo because it is too constrained.  It is instead, a perfect example for what not to do.  I have left no room for the buck to run.  Since I cut off the action, the viewer is left to wonder what spooked him… or where he is going.  It lacks that sense of place.

 

A better photo that shows a sense of place, and includes the subject (my buck) and his environment – the forest and trees.  One where the subject is looking at you, and it’s eyes sharp are a bonus.  Having the subject well lit, and not in the shadows help to draw the eye to your subject…. albeit often hard to get everything to line up, particularly when working in the wild.

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Fawning over our little Fawn

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We have been very fortunate since living up north that we have seen quite a number of different animals, including those fantastically cute baby elk.  But in the time that we have lived here we had yet to see any baby deer (fawn) with it’s spots still on.

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Better late than never.  We were very surprised to see this little baby fawn, still with her spots, this late in the year.  Normally the babies make their first appearance in June.  It’s hard to imagine this little one so young just as we are going into winter.

I am still learning my animal species… but it appeared that this endearing photo of this little fawn’s peck on ‘mom’s’ cheek was not well received.  The fawn looks to be a white tail… while the mom dear was a mule deer…. strange bed fellows indeed.  The ensuing sequence had this mean mom dear strike the little fawn with it’s foot, causing the fawn to run away in it’s real mom’s direction.

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It seemed the little family was hanging out together, with dad staying close by.

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She is absolutely adorable, such a precious little thing.  So vulnerable with all the newness and wonder in her eyes.   What a privilege and pleasure to see her.  Watching her seemingly experience her ‘firsts’ was a real treat.

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Camera Settings: sRGB vs. Adobe RGB

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I was fortunate enough to go to Photoshop World in Vegas this past September.  It was a valuable experience on my levels.  I signed up for a Portfolio Review, where for $25 you bring 15 – 20 pix and they pair you with a photographer in your same category (Wildlife in my case).  I was delighted to find myself sitting next to none other than Moose Peterson himself.  Wow!  His wildlife and aviation pix are legendary.  Let’s just say, I had most certainly heard of him before!

Moose was very kind with his critique, though very humbling.  Photos that I thought were, while maybe not world class, at least good… didn’t make the cut as far as Moose was concerned.  I went home a little deflated, but encouraged and inspired to do better.  He explains his philosophy that no ‘critter’ shot should be tampered with, not even cropped!  Just when I’m finally getting better at Photoshop.   Well… I reserve the right to consider that approach, as I freely admit to the occasional crop or exposure adjustment.  Hmmm.

One very interesting comment he made was relative to my camera settings.  He took one look at the picture posted here, and suggested that my camera settings were on sRGB and I should change them to Adobe RGB.  He looked at one photo, and by that alone, declared my camera settings.  You can see that?  Really!?   I was stunned.  He explained that sRGB is 256K of colors, while Adobe RGB is 14 million colors, hence the ‘monotone’ look of my buck picture.  Wow!  Of course the first thing I did when I got back to my room was check my camera settings.  He was dead on.  I was set on sRGB.  I instantly re-set my camera to Adobe RGB.

A little research online tells a different story.  Adobe RGB is best if you are going to print.  sRGB is best if you are emailing.  But, then you can find any answer you looking for online, irregardless of what you want it to be.  For me, I have it set on Adobe RGB, and I’ll be leaving it there, unless I learn something compelling to change it.