Tony Bynum - Mule Deer Rut Action

[Dmanmastertracker]

 Tony has a gift, so does Doug, no amount of expensive gear changes that. I could view their pics all day if I had time. Tony is using the latest Nikon stuff, not sure it's all given to him though. Believe he's shooting a lot with this one:
 http://www.nikonusa.com/Nikon-Products/Product/Camera-Lenses/2146/AF-S-VR-Zoom-NIKKOR-200-400mm-f%252F4G-IF-ED.html


 That's six to eight years worth of hunting for me .

[ser300wsm]

WOW, those are some very cool pics... 

[MuleySniper]

Wow those are some of the coolest muley pictures Ive ever seen!! I really like that little bit of extra artistic flair he adds. It really sets his pics apart from the rest.
MS

[Finalshot]

Hey fella's i'm flattered by the responses.  Thank you for taking the time to look at those muledeer photos - I was excited to finally, after all these years, get some that i like.  The snow, the deer, the action, the light, it all has to come together at the same time and you have to be there to catch it.  In more than 15 years, that's the first time i've managed to put it all together - contrary to what some of my naysayers would have you believe.

Now after that's over, I'm happy to report that Nikon's sending me, all expenses paid including the more than $50k worth of lenses and cameras that I use, to a far off land called exactly "no-where."  Yes, I'm a member of nikon professional services and I am making my living as a photographer but nothing comes easy in this business.  Every inch is hard earned and at the end of the day you make of it what you put into it.  The sacrifices are huge, just ask my 8 year daughter that i've raised since the day she was born.  

As for nikon, it gives nothing away - NOTHING. . .  I've paid cash for every piece of photo gear i own and the gear that i've replaced.  There is no sick leave and you basically eat what you kill.  It's a real bare bones, fend for yourself way to live.  Health care, what's that?  A day off, huh?  Vaction time, yea right.  Sick leave, no such thing.  I have my freedom and sanity and my desire to make my own way.  I'm self taught and believe you can be and do whatever you want, it's the guys who tear you down that must make you stronger.  

I do have a have a dozen companies that supply me with gear, from boots to camera covers, and tents, and backpacks, but guess what, they are getting their money's worth or they would not risk it on me.  In other words, go talk to a few manufacturers and see how willing they are to just give gear away.  The point is that you dont get anything for free in this business, it's all earned and some of it costs you way more than it's worth!  On the other hand I've met a lot of great people and made some lifelong friends along the way.  

Thanks again for taking an interest in my images and for those that think this is a cake walk, come join me sometime.   For those that like to see my images, please keep up the support. . .  I did have to start somewhere and guess what, i started in Ellensburg so if I can do it i'm sure any of you can too.  

Merry Christmas!  

Tony Bynum

[boneaddict]

Thats awesome Tony.  I live to see your photos.  They are nothing but inspiring.  No matter what the subject matter.  Its cool to see and hear a success story.
Damn....I was looking forward to Canon some day buying me a camera. LOL 

[Finalshot]

Thanks Bone . . .  I appreciate the support.  

Then fact is, that's why you see all the canon gear.  canon had a very robust "pro" program wherein they supplied a lot of equipment, put it in the hands of "pros" for little or in some cases nothing.  They also had a very robust pro support program all at a time when nikon had zero.  Canon is less expensive too.  So, if you want to get access to gear, you'll get it a lot faster though canon, nikon does not give gear away, not even to their top professionals.  Every Nikon user buys their own gear unless the retailer (their pro shop) supplies it to them.  Any discounts on nikon gear are though the retailer ONLY.  

Gas still is $3 bucks a gallon here in montana, and the tires on my pickup need replaced . . .

If anyone wants to see some new hunting shots, they are here:  http://bit.ly/gYoKRk


Merry Christmas!  

Tony Bynum

 

[Hornseeker]

Good to see you here Tony.... and like mentioned above multiple times, your photography is beautiful!! I have seen no better. You seem to be at the top of the game!

Your new logo is sweet, by the way!

[droptine]

Tony

   great job.  have a happy holiday

[7mag.]

Nice to see you on the site. I guess my perception of professional photographer's was a off. I enjoy your photo's, keep up the good work.

[wsucowboy]

nice to see you on the site. You do great work.

[popeshawnpaul]

I use to post on this site as many know.  Intersting topic I thought I'd add to.

7mag, your perception is way off.  I have a lot of friends who are professional photographers and your perception is not the reality.  They work as hard for their photos as anyone.  They don't get secret access to special spots like you think.  They all shoot in parks, reservations, wildlife areas, etc. no matter who you are.  They don't get free equipment unless they are shooting for some specific client that has the equipment.  Some professional services like Nikon and Canon let you rent equipment or try it out for a period of time.  They struggle with time shooting and balancing a family.  They all have kids and spend a lot of time away from home.  To contrast that, they spend 90% of their time selling their images and 10% creating them.  Getting good images is the easy part, putting them in the hands of buyers and selling them is another.  That's why they spend their time doing that, so they can make money to pay for food.  I know no professional that is rich or well off.  They love what they do and that is their life satisfaction.

Many of us hobby shooters, myself included, get to spend more time in the field shooting than do professionals.  Bone and I spend most of our vacation time shooting wildlife and our families take a back seat sometimes.  It's what we love to do.  Professionals get the call, no matter where they are at and have to send a proof or image to a client.  They don't have internet access, their images on them, etc.  You get the problems.  Not only that, but what you shoot and what sells isn't what you always feel passionate about.  You are taking someone else's photos many of the times.  It's not the romanticized profession we sometimes think it is.  My wife and child stayed at home, my mom picking up my child from daycare and my wife holding down the household for a recent trip.  She knows how much I love to get away from attorney work and do stuff like this:

[Finalshot]

Pope, that's a cool shot . . . people should realize that i was not as close to that buck as it looks.  It is highly compressed due to extremely long focal length.  I was shooting a 200-400 on a full frame body with makes it s true 200-400, pope was shooting a 500 with a 1.4 extender on a 1.6 crop body, making that all up more like a 1000 mm.   Notice that i'm still trying to get closer for the shot. . .  The next day we saw that buck again and I tried to get on him but he buggard out before i got within 300 yards of him.  It all goes to show you that you gota shootem when you see em cuz there may not be a next time . . .

Putting images in the hands of buyers is hard enough, but then try to put them in the hands of the buyers who will pay you what it takes to keep you in the business.  Everyday things get tougher and tougher.  The technology gets better, more people retire and take up full time shooting for the love of it and they dont have to make money at it so they just shoot and turn over their images to stock houses that then do the selling . . . anyhow, none of that bothers me much, I would shoot anyhow and stick it out as long as the lord will let me, or as long as i can keep the bank from taking my house and my daughter clothed and happy . . .

Tony . . .

[boneaddict]

Good post Pope.

[400out]

WOW guys this is a great post I would love to get into that but reality is that I will have to live through you  guys! Awesome pictures please keep them coming!
Bone I still look forward to seeing your new pics 
Pope that really put things into perspective 
Tony welcome to the site! are your pics copy righted or can you just post them here for us?  They are spectacular things to look at

[Finalshot]

LOL - they are for certain copyrighted, but that does not mean you cant look!  How about some monster bull samples . . .

http://bit.ly/gzYdHR