February 2, 2016

I get excited when spotting an animal in the wilderness.  Just ask my husband.  One afternoon we pulled into a picnic area in Yosemite National Park.  While still in the car, I saw something move near the outhouse.  “Bear!” I yelled, thrilled at the possibility of capturing one up close.  Snatching the camera from the car seat, I fumbled with the case while Chris scanned the area for the baby bruin.  “Oh, you mean that DOG over there?” he asked.  Yes, it was actually a dog.  I was disappointed, but we had a good laugh over that.  (Hint: Scroll over a photo to see the caption.)

Found in my yard, 2012.

California king snake along the Merced River Trail, 2013.

California king snake eating a rattlesnake in my yard. 2008

Snake in the water at May Lake. 2011

So when the Photo Club assignment for January was to photograph wildlife, I was eager to get started.  I wanted to head back to Yosemite and see a real bear…if they weren’t all hibernating.

Grouse on the trail to Mt. Hoffman. 2012

Stellars jay along the Merced River. 2011

During January’s meeting, I picked up some pointers on how to shoot wildlife:

• Make eye contact, keep eyes in focus
• Don’t amputate the animal, get its whole body in the frame
• Make sure the image is sharp
• Use a telephoto lens as well as a tripod for close-ups; or a wide angle lens to show the animal’s habitat
• Have patience

Pohono Trail. 2015

Deer at home, 2006.

Yosemite Valley, 2015.

Curry Village, 2012.

With those tips in mind, Chris indulged me.  We left sunny Mariposa and headed through the Central Valley to the Merced Wildlife Refuge.

Great Egret

The long, straight road and everything along the way—at least five dairies—was fogged in.  Agh!  I had just taken a hike in dreary weather and knew that it would be hard to capture wildlife in that environment with or without a telephoto lens.

Black-necked Stilts

We crept along the dirt road of the auto-tour route, a five-mile scenic drive, hoping that the sun would break through the early morning fog.  It never did.  We stopped occasionally to view the ducks on the pond.

Mudhens

Back at home, I scrolled through hundreds of my images looking for the best bird, bear, squirrel, snake, bobcat, lizard, anything-wild-that-I-photographed photo.

Somewhere in Yosemite.

Somewhere in Yosemite.

Bobcat in Yosemite Valley, 2014.

Marmot at Ostrander Lake, 2011.

It became apparent when I pulled them all together, that photographically I didn’t know what the heck I was doing.

San Francisco Zoo, 2011.

San Francisco Zoo, 2011.

You’ve been viewing the best of my “What Not To Do When Shooting Wildlife” photos.  Most of the images are not sharp, none were taken using a telephoto lens, rarely was eye contact made, and sadly, body parts were amputated.

On the bright side, I am patient.

On a trail in Yosemite. 2015

San Francisco Zoo, 2011.

Merced River, 2015.

This summer I will try again to capture wildlife using my trusty little point-and-shoot while hiking through the back country of Yosemite.

A dead bat in my yard. 2011