My usual reply is: most of my source material comes from my own observations, sketches, and photos obtained while I'm hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, or even driving down a country road. I always carry at least one camera, sketchbook, and sketching pens with me at all times, and I keep my spotting scope and tripod in my car all year. Sometimes while I'm out, my path will cross that of a fox, coyote, or a flock of Wild Turkeys and if I have my camera with me I can often get great photos to work from later. Other times I'll go out to specific locations with the intent to photograph wildlife - these trips usually get me the best chances to view animals and as a result, the best reference material.
But how do I actually get those beautiful photos of animals to work from, they ask again.
Well, I have good photographic equipment and a decent spotting scope (more on equipment in my next post). But more importantly, I know where to visit to have a good chance of seeing animals, and I have the patience to stick around long enough to get the best observations and photos. Having a basic knowledge of ecology is a plus. I would say, though, that patience is the toughest to learn and at the same time, is the most important quality to cultivate for wildlife artists wanting to work from wild animals in a natural setting.
Why patience?
I believe that the best way to observe and photograph wild animals is to find them and then let them come in closer to you. I'll give you an example..a few weeks ago I traveled about 1/2 hour from my home to one of Maine's state parks. I knew that several species of ducks and other waterfowl were hanging out in one of the quiet tidal lagoons waiting for warmer weather for their northward migrations. Sure enough, when I arrived at Reid State Park I saw a Common Loon and about a dozen Red-Breasted Mergansers on the other side of the lagoon. They were too far away to get a decent photo of them so decided to sit tight and just observe for a while.
Over time, both the loon and the mergansers moved in close - really close! The mergansers got so comfortable with me that they came to within 10 feet of where I was sitting on the shore. I watched them for another couple of hours while they caught and ate small fish on the incoming tide.
Observing animals while they're getting comfortable with your presence is valuable in its own right. As an artist, this quiet time with the animals allows you to watch how they interact with eachother and their environment. Some of the things I note are:
- Where is the animal spending its time?
- Is it eating, sleeping, looking for a mate, or caring for its young?
- What is the light doing?
- What are the weather conditions?
- What are the other animals doing?
- Are the animals nervous or calm and relaxed?
Once the animals do start to come in closer, take photos but still continue to observe. Keep your eyes on them at all times, especially if you're watching potentially dangerous animals like bears or elk. By watching them over time you'll have more opportunity to get the best photos or sketches - the animal will turn just the right way in the glow of the setting sun to make its fur into a golden glow. Or an eagle will swoop down and steal a scrap of meat from a wolf's kill. Be patient yet ready, wait, observe, and allow the animals to be themselves.
Sometimes a blind or "hide" is the best way to keep animals from being nervous in your presence, and your car can easily become the perfect blind. I've used my Rav4 as a blind many, many times but most notably while observing bison during their annual rut in Teton NP. Trust me, it's far safer to use the roof of my Toyota as a photographic platform when two fully-adult male bison are battling it out than it is to try to sneak up on them on the ground and "get just a little bit closer."
Practicing patience will reward you in ways that you can't even imagine. Below are some more examples of photos and paintings that came about solely because I had the patience to wait.
And it's not just possible effects on you that you need to be concerned about - your stalking of an animal is a stressor to that animal. If its behavior changes negatively as a result of you being there, back off a bit or leave. Is it deliberately moving away from you? Is it snorting, pawing the ground, or making deliberate and agressive moves toward YOU?
Remember, if you stress the animal with your presense it's likely going into "fight or flight" mode. You know what that feels like, don't you? Do you enjoy it? I can assure you that animals don't. Their bodies release stress hormones, their heart and breathing rates skyrocket, and their behavior becomes unpredictable.
An example: I was hiking in Yellowstone's backcountry several years ago and crested a hill after only about 1/2 hour on the trail. About 150 yards off in the distance I spied a bull moose and he appeared to be following the same trail as I and going in the same direction (west). I stopped. I knew immediately that this wasn't a good situation. It was autumn and the rut, which meant his testosterone levels (and aggression) were high. The wind blew my scent to him and he smelled me...then he spotted me. I knew instantly I needed to beat feet back to my car (about 1.5 miles behind me). He turned around, put his head down, and deliberately, and surprising quickly, started walking FAST directly toward me. With not a tree in sight to climb to safety, I turned around and walked as quickly as I could back to the car, stopping every so often to see if the moose was on my trail. He was, and was swiftly closing the distance between us. I walked that 1.5+ miles quicker than any mile I'd ever walked in my life! By the time I was in my car he was only about 25 yards behind me. I didn't stick around long enough to see if he would follow me into the parking lot - I chose to go to try out a different trail that day, one closer to Old Faithful (with more people around)!
In short, keep your distance from animals and have patience - you'll be rewarded with some wonderful photo opportunities!
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