Glacier Mountain Goats from this weekend

[Tom Reichner]

My parents are here to visit for a few weeks - all the way from PA.  We couldn't let them drive right thru western Montana without seeing Glacier Park, so we met them in Missoula last Thursday and then went up to Glacier for the day on Friday.  The highlight was Logan Pass (no surprise there).  The Sun Road was open all the way thru, so we got to get up on Logan and spend some time with the wildlife - this time we found Goats there!  There were some young kids in the group, so I couldn't resist taking an hour or so to photograph them. Here are some of the pics:

[Tom Reichner]

Two more:

[hogsniper]

Awesome Pics Tom!!! Glad you take the time to post em cus I sure enjoy lookin at em!!! Take care  Justin

[stumprat]

Your pics. are always amazing.

[shanevg]

Awesome pics!  As everyone can probably tell, I can't get enough of mountain goats, and your pics are some of the best!  Keep up the good work!

[zackmioli]

you get some great shots! that one of the goat licking the rock/road is awesome. i wonder how that would taste 

[popeshawnpaul]

Tom, your shots of the Logan Pass goats brought back great memories for me.  I was so excited by your pictures I got a few out of the boxes and scanned them in.  I remember in high school back in 1991 driving all night to get to Glacier and shooting the goats for a few days while eating and sleeping out of my car.  It was great fun.  I only had an Olympus film camera with a 75-150mm f4 zoom back then but somehow I seemed to get the job done.  I remember thinking some day I would make it big and have a nice lens to shoot the goats.  Sadly I have only been back there once about 5 years ago with my wife and we focused on sheep while up there.  I'll need to make a trip to Logan one of these days.  Here are a few of my old film shots.  Hopefully I didn't thread jack you too bad. 

[Tom Reichner]

You get some great shots!  That one of the goat licking the rock/road is awesome.  I wonder how that would taste  

Actually, the goat was licking anti-freeze off the parking lot.  Don't think it tastes too good  

I remember in high school back in 1991 driving all night to get to Glacier and shooting the goats for a few days while eating and sleeping out of my car.

  That's basically the way I do it, Shawn!

  Here are a few of my old film shots.  Hopefully I didn't thread jack you too bad.  

Not at all, Shawn - I love seeing what you've got!  Excellent images, by the way.  I especially like #3  -  I always seem to miss out on the "subject and scenery" shots like that one.

I don't think I've ever been disappointed at Logan.  Even if sheep or goats aren't there, you can usually find something else very cool like a Hoary Marmot or Ptarmigan.  Great place - just wish it was closer.

[Jeffrey]

Awsome stuff there guys.  What a pleasure, to view your hard work.

[tlbradford]

Great photos.  Thanks you two.  It gives us rookies something to strive for.

[Timber]

First class photos as usual, from both of you.

[popeshawnpaul]

I especially like #3  -  I always seem to miss out on the "subject and scenery" shots like that one.

That brings up a good point that I always struggle with Tom.  I usually have a 400mm lens with me like you do on all my shoots.  I find myself behind it 99% of the time.  I get great close up images or even body shots but rarely anything with the scenery or habitat.  I have vowed to use my 70-200 more this year in an attempt to get more shots of the animal and the habitat.  In fact, I have thought of not bringing a big 400mm telephoto on a trip just to force me to use the smaller lens more effectively.  Tight head shots are cool but as you know they can get old. 

In areas of wild animals or at places where you need focal length this won't work.  I'll have to balance it.   

[Tom Reichner]

I especially like #3  -  I always seem to miss out on the "subject and scenery" shots like that one.

That brings up a good point that I always struggle with Tom.  I usually have a 400mm lens with me like you do on all my shoots.  I find myself behind it 99% of the time.  I get great close up images or even body shots but rarely anything with the scenery or habitat.  I have vowed to use my 70-200 more this year in an attempt to get more shots of the animal and the habitat.  In fact, I have thought of not bringing a big 400mm telephoto on a trip just to force me to use the smaller lens more effectively.  Tight head shots are cool but as you know they can get old. 

In areas of wild animals or at places where you need focal length this won't work.  I'll have to balance it.   

Of course, having two bodies with different lenses is an option.  I've tried it. But I never seem to go thru the effort of taking the backpack off, removing the camera with the zoom, making sure the big lens & body are put in the pack and well protected, and putting the backpack back on.  I guess once I start shooting I get fixated on the subject and it's easier to just stay in that groove than to go thru the effort of changing the gear over.  Nonetheless, it's something I must start doing.  Either that or, as you say, just take one outfit and force myself to be content with what I can get with it.

BTW, the 70-200 seems like a perfect focal length for these type of images - at least with habituated animals.

[boneaddict]

That lens is next on my list.  That and that macro and......

Very cool pics guys.  I'll be in goat country this weekend, but don't dare take the lens with me this time.  Looking forward to seeing some goats though.

[bowhunterforever]

First class photos as usual, from both of you.

  Awsome guys!