phil_johnson1

I am having a hard time trying to figure out how to stalk with a tripod. I am not talking just about walking up to a subject, but really stalking it. Do you pick up the tripod and then place it down after each small stop. I find two problems in that:

1) Raising the tripod (generally over my head) will make me look bigger and more threatening.

2) Arm movements pin point me out as a human or predator

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I thought about raising the tripod over my head and keeping it there, but then I have problem number 1 (not so much number 2 because my arms won't move so much). When approaching deer, some people reccommend (I think there was a thread on this before so I won't dwell on it) raising the tripod over my head to make me out as having antlers. I also thought about actually "walking" the tripod ahead of me by moving one foot, then the other, which the animals might think of as an extension to my body. The last thing I could think of was folding up the tripod and camera, putting it under my arm, stalking, and when I was close enough, open the tripod legs and shoot. This one has some obvious disadvantages like fiddling with a tripod when I am already fairly close the the animal.

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Any thoughts, comments, or helpful suggestions?

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- Phil

I don't know much about NC, but I do know unless you are going to be photographing birds (provided you want frame filling images) at about 5 feet, your 300 lens is just not going to cut it. If its fast (2.8), use a 2x teleconverter, if its not (4.5, 5.6, although you might just be able to use a 300/4.5 with 2x, I wouldn't do it for most bird shots) I would reccommend borrowing or renting big glass, 500/4, 600/4, 800/5.6, don't forget the big tripod if you don't already have an adequate one for those lenses.

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- Phil

As we just had a rain (maybe some snow in other parts of North-East) in the north east and are preparing for another storm sometime soon I have noticed that the birds at my feeder become swarmed with birds. Usually I get a few at a time, not much more than say 10 birds. But now, they are swarming, especially ground feeders. The dark eyed Juncos, finches, white throated sparrows, blue jays, I just recently got a family (6-8) of red winged black birds, and other ground feeding birds. Sometimes I visit a neighbor who feeds the deer and he lets me shoot them (with a camera) all I want, anyway, I also noticed more of them come and they feed more before a storm happens. I figured this would happen because they are preparing for a storm. Does anyone know of other such animals that have a peculiar behavior before a storm? Do you know other animals that become less fearful of humans to try and get their food? These all might be useful to someone trying to "stalk" these animals. Anyone notice anything else?

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- Phil

At night time I often feel like I want to take pictures, but because of the light, I can't. Is there any nature photography subject you can think of that doesn't require several hours(example during daytime: going to a local feeder and aking a few shots). Anything like that you can do but after sundown? Or, do you just clean your equipment, get ready for the next day, etc.

Thanks

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- Phil

Some time ago(couple months), I saw an ad for a Minolta Maxxum 500/5.6 lens for around $900. This gets you longer lens then 400, and faster than 7.2 This probably wouldn't be hand-holdable wothout faster speed film than 100 ASA. But, in a safari, most of the time you will be in a vehicle with the biggest tripod the vehicle can carry(i.e. the biggest tripod you have), so that won't matter much.

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- Phil

I agree with Sean ont that you should go around the area of King's Canyon. I'm not sure the exact make-up of the areas, but you should visit Sequoi(spelling) and redwood forest if you get there.

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As for the New England fall foliage, it is definately not over. In fact, in most places around NW New Jersey, there is still not enough color to bother exposing film for.

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- Phil Johnson