Author Topic: Photo road trip...sheep, goats, etc. (Read 7791 times)

popeshawnpaul · « **on:** May 15, 2008, 12:07:18 AM »

I got away for a spring road trip this last week and got to give the 400mm F4 DO Canon lens out for a try. My thoughts are I'm impressed and this is going to be my wildlife lens for the future. When hiking up hills and holding onto cliffs shooting goats this lens is the best, hands down. It has reach, speed, good IS for handholding, and it's the smallest/lightest lens around.

This road trip took my up through Montana to Glacier Natl. Park to visit a friend and shoot wild critters. Armed with bear spray, tick repellant, and big camera lenses we did pretty good. Here are the shots:

This ewe was running around searching for her lost baby she just dropped. She found her kid and all is well now.

We shot this osprey out the car window. It cooperated for a few moments.

We had a couple billy goats cooperate with us for a while on a steep slope.

I couldn't resist putting this glacier moose with a goofy post in. The moose were pretty bleached out and ugly. Kind of made for interesting pictures

This yearling bull just started to sprout. Probably not quite big enough for Bone yet...

The beauty of the 400 DO is it's small, light, and handholdable. This magpie was flying by the truck and I was able to grab the camera and throw it out the window and get a sharp photo. No big lens can do that.

There are really only three animals you can shoot in the spring...sheep, goats, and pronghorn. This goat cooperated just before sun set one evening.

Sometimes you can't shoot all animals and have to focus on a flower. This arrowleaf balsam was just sprouting everywhere in Montana.

My friend and I had fun with a bunch of ewes in Glacier. They either wanted to lick the salt off my truck or give it a tongue cleaning...

An unsuspecting Tony checking out his masterful ewe shots with his big Nikon lens. Not sure those will make the Eastmans cover man...lol.

Back in Washington, it was time for some turkey hunting with Joe/Outfitter.

One of Joe's many dogs. I hear this one is a certified lion killer even though he was scared of my camera lens... Hmm.

I think Joe is checking out the hunting-washington site after a long day of turkey hunting. Joe pushed it hard but the turkeys have had a hard time in that area. Due to severe winter die off, a late thaw out, and bad timing we didn't score on a turkey. It wasn't from lack of trying though. What a great hunt. We had at least 4 different gobblers sounding off each day and almost got them. Joe and Jodie are great hosts and very giving people. However, I'm glad I didn't bring my wife as the Rasmussen family is very into snakes...lol. It is kind of odd hanging out on the couch, watching tv, with a big snake laying on the couch with you. But seriously, the snakes were interesting and provided good entertainment.

And that concludes my road trip pictures for now. All in all, I think I got about 1500 pictures to sort through. Great times.

Hunting Cowboy · « **Reply #1 on:** May 15, 2008, 05:29:03 AM »

Looks like a fun trip. Great photo's!

Skyvalhunter · « **Reply #2 on:** May 15, 2008, 05:30:51 AM »

Great Pictures Shawn

boneaddict · « **Reply #3 on:** May 15, 2008, 06:14:07 AM »

Fun stuff! If you are interested in shooting Rattlesnake pics, let me know.

ICEMAN · « **Reply #4 on:** May 15, 2008, 06:27:49 AM »

Wow. What a trip! Great photos too. Here I am stuck working a bit of OT, just to pay for a measly Memorial Wknd trip, gotta feed that 5.7Liter!

Shawn, how about a link to your camera set up?

Head-shot · « **Reply #5 on:** May 15, 2008, 06:46:39 AM »

Very nice trip Pope, thanks fo sharing the pics with us.

Slider · « **Reply #6 on:** May 15, 2008, 07:45:55 AM »

VERY NICE!!! You outdid yourself. Love the Magpie shot. Any Turkeys?

popeshawnpaul · « **Reply #7 on:** May 15, 2008, 09:00:00 AM »

I got some turkey shots but they were of jakes and weren't compelling. The lens I was using was this lens:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=41&sort=7&cat=2&page=2

The lens has gotten a bad reputation over the years because of a high price and poor copies of the lens when they first were introduced. It's also not a great lens for film cameras. It's perfect for what I'm doing though.

boneaddict · « **Reply #8 on:** May 15, 2008, 09:07:05 AM »

In your words, compared to the 2.8 you feel its better because of the weight, and do you think the wieght difference is worth the Fstop. They are fairly close in price I think, with this one a hair cheaper. ??

Idabooner · « **Reply #9 on:** May 15, 2008, 09:08:02 AM »

Great photos as usual, Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

boneaddict · « **Reply #10 on:** May 15, 2008, 09:08:30 AM »

Did you shoot those all straight, or did you have the 1.4 plugged in at all? How's it work with it.....

Finalshot · « **Reply #11 on:** May 15, 2008, 09:34:51 AM »

LOL, Shawn actually had all the fun with the sheep, i just photographed them!

Here he is looken over his horn-port after the shoot, he's trying to figure out which to save and which to hide from his wife! LOL

Skyvalhunter · « **Reply #12 on:** May 15, 2008, 10:22:45 AM »

Shawn looks like he has had a long day!!!

popeshawnpaul · « **Reply #13 on:** May 15, 2008, 10:55:36 AM »

Long day...lol. I did look like crap there. What do you expect, I'm hanging on a rock cliff and I think we hit Tony's local "watering hole" the night before...

Bone - The F4 DO is much better than the F2.8 for wildlife. You see that steep hillside I'm on in Glacier Natl. Park? I would never think if dragging a 400 f2.8 up there. The 400 f2.8 is $6800, while the 400 f4 DO is about $5200. Weight wise...12lbs vs 4 lbs. You can see me holding it in the picture, it's a tiny lens and has great balance. The only guys that use the 400 f2.8 are sports shooters that have it stationary on a monopod.

I didn't use a 1.4x at all. I didn't even bring one although I should have. Some of the big rams and that pronghorn were a bit shy. The problem with a 1.4x is that I tend to keep it on the lens at all times even if I don't need it. We were so close to the goats that Tony was using a 70-200 part of the time.

I think my magpie shot may be the best of the trip. If you look close he has a snail or something in his beak. I know I know, it's just a magpie.

saylean · « **Reply #14 on:** May 15, 2008, 11:02:39 AM »

Man, some really great/cool photos Shawn. I always love looking at your pics. Great job. I like the one of the crooked necked moose!

boneaddict · « **Reply #15 on:** May 15, 2008, 11:47:00 AM »

Good to know. You know there is one in my future. Which one, I am not sure. I like the idea of the 2.8 in the 300 and if I can get that in the 400 all the better. Though I hear you about weight.
WELCOME FINALSHOT! though I think that tilts the Nikon/Canon scale a bit the other direction.

Hanging out with lawyers though...not sure that says much about the company you keep. The older I get though, I can see where knowing one might be useful sometime, at least in an arguement. J/K I suppose I have to go log into MM to see the pics you got. That is if I haven't been completely banned over there yet. Your last cover on Eastman's was AWESOME! Still doesn't beat the Grizz photo though.

Jackjr · « **Reply #16 on:** May 15, 2008, 08:51:51 PM »

Nice pics

Timber · « **Reply #17 on:** May 16, 2008, 05:38:17 PM »

Great pictures pope. They definitely are professional caliber.

Michelle_Nelson · « **Reply #18 on:** May 16, 2008, 06:23:33 PM »

Wow Pope great pic's! That Magpie shot is sweat.

Welcome to Hunting Washington Finalshot! Love the pic on the Eastmans Cover of Mr. Big. I bought that issue just because of that picture.

popeshawnpaul · « **Reply #19 on:** May 16, 2008, 06:38:20 PM »

Good point Michelle...I got my 16x20 print from Tony on the trip of that shot and it looks amazing. I think I'll frame it and put it in my office. If anyone is interested, you can go to Tony's smugmug site and purchase that print from him or message him. It's an amazing shot and a true conversation piece. It turns out great that size also. Thanks all.

chukar-ridge-quest · « **Reply #20 on:** May 16, 2008, 07:02:55 PM »

Happy birthday Pope. Hope it's a great day, looks like you and Tony had a good trip. All the best!!!

jackelope · « **Reply #21 on:** May 16, 2008, 09:09:48 PM »

great shots pope, and welcome to the site, tony. don't be shy posting some pics up here too...pope needs some competition.

Wea300mag · « **Reply #22 on:** May 19, 2008, 07:11:14 PM »

How come your camera takes pics that are sooo much better than mine?

Finalshot · « **Reply #23 on:** May 20, 2008, 06:14:00 AM »

thanks guys, sorry for the delayed response, I just got home from photographing bears in canada. It was fun. . . On the personal side, i'm originally from Walla Walla and graduated from Capitol High School in 1988. I've hunted much of your state and know some of it very very well, and i'm always willing to talk about my hunting there. Today I live in montana, it's crappy place so just tell all your friends that you know a guy live in montana and he says it sucks compared to washington and california and he warned me to tell you NOT to move there . . .

BTW, shawn thanks for the plug. . . that ram shot is one of my all time favorites!

Take care,

Tony

www.tonybynum.com

M_ray · « **Reply #24 on:** May 20, 2008, 09:05:04 AM »

Pope great pics as usual and looks like a fun trip! And Welcome Tony

nice to have you aboard!

Ray · « **Reply #25 on:** May 20, 2008, 09:27:21 AM »

Incredible photography.

PacificNWhunter · « **Reply #26 on:** May 21, 2008, 07:02:56 PM »

Great pic's Pope, looks like you had a good trip!

javman · « **Reply #27 on:** May 22, 2008, 12:34:09 AM »

Sweet shots pope! I especially like the one showing that big piece of Nikon glass

popeshawnpaul · « **Reply #28 on:** May 22, 2008, 12:49:59 AM »

I guess it's ok if you like that sort of thing Javman...

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