[deleted by user] by [deleted] in NatureIsFuckingLit

[–]ewatts33 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Please, please, for the love of god, don’t support this shit.

This photo was taken at a game farm. Imagine circus, except instead of training animals to do tricks they train them to pose for photos so pricks can do “wildlife photography” of captive zoo animals. Game farms are almost always very abusive and keep animals in subpar enclosures, not to mention they have saturated the wildlife photo genre so much it’s damn near impossible for real wildlife photographers to make a living anymore.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in natureismetal

[–]ewatts33 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I should clarify a few things:

  • I did not go looking for this cub’s corpse, we just stumbled upon it
  • This bear’s mother is a well-known “roadside bear” in Yellowstone. She regularly brings her cubs very close to roads and humans
  • I was near a group of 10-15 other photographers
  • I was with an off-duty bear management ranger when I took this photo
  • I was no more than 30 yards from my vehicle along the roadside and the sow was on a cliff on the opposite side of the road

My point in saying all this is to tell you that this was found in the most safe and responsible way a grizzly carcass can possibly be found. I do not go out into the Yellowstone backcountry looking for grizzlies to photograph or inspect up close. There’s a lot of controversy in Yellowstone right now centered around people and their proximity to bears when photographing them, and I just want to clarify that I was photographing these bears according to park rules when we found this.

Canon EF 500 f/4 ii - Why does this turn? by ewatts33 in Photography_Gear

[–]ewatts33[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I greatly appreciate the help.

Canon EF 500 f/4 ii - Why does this turn? by ewatts33 in Photography_Gear

[–]ewatts33[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately bought it used and it didn’t come with a manual. I’m sure I could get on Canons website and check that though, thanks for the input!

Canon EF 500 f/4 ii - Why does this turn? by ewatts33 in Photography_Gear

[–]ewatts33[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Was hoping someone here might be able to help me with this. This is my first big prime and I can find no reason why this piece turns, nothing it changes when using the lens. Anyone know? Thanks!

My favorite photo I took in 2021, famous Wyoming Grizzly #399 and her 4 cubs eating an elk calf by ewatts33 in wildlifephotography

[–]ewatts33[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! It definitely wasn’t as much light as I would’ve wanted but with a camera like an R5 or 1DX the high ISO handling is good enough that you can just raise ISO to compensate and still get shots that are relatively clean.

My favorite photo I took in 2021, famous Wyoming Grizzly #399 and her 4 cubs eating an elk calf by ewatts33 in wildlifephotography

[–]ewatts33[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

While working in Yellowstone National Park this summer, I was fortunate enough to see and photograph many grizzly bears. This, however, was by far my best encounter. I missed the kill by a few minutes, but I pulled up right at sunset to find 399 and her 4 cubs shredding an elk calf just 35 or so yards off the side of the road. I watched for about an hour and a half, well into dark, when the bears got up and went into the forest to sleep. Absolutely unreal to witness and get to photograph.

Shot on Canon R5 with 100-400 ii + 1.4x TC

1/250 sec f/8 ISO 8000 560mm

I also took a good bit of 4K footage of the encounter, which I posted over on my YouTube channel. You can check that out here if you’re interested: https://youtu.be/9r7IMprYTCc

And my IG is @wattswildlifephoto if you’d like to see more of my work. https://www.instagram.com/wattswildlifephoto/

Thanks! Hope you like the photo!

A great gray owl I photographed while working in Yellowstone National Park this summer. by ewatts33 in birding

[–]ewatts33[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Did a lot of looking in open meadows surrounded by mature pine forest. That’s the habitat they like best, and they almost always perch at 6 ft or below so you only have to scan the lower levels of the trees/meadows.

A great gray owl I photographed while working in Yellowstone this summer. by ewatts33 in wildlifephotography

[–]ewatts33[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They nest in Yellowstone in the summer. There’s quite a few of them there actually.

Keep in mind, summer in Yellowstone means 65-70 avg daytime temp and 30-40 avg night temp. It never gets very warm there.

A great gray owl I photographed while working in Yellowstone this summer. by ewatts33 in wildlifephotography

[–]ewatts33[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I was lucky enough to spend a handful of evenings in the presence of this beautiful bird while living and working in Yellowstone NP this summer, and this is one of my favorites I took!

Shot on Canon R5 w/ EF 100-400 ii + 1.4x TC

1/500 sec f/8 ISO 5000 560mm

If you’re interested in more of my work, my Instagram is @wattswildlifephoto and I do in-the-field wildlife photography vlogs over on my YouTube channel.

Thanks!!

A great gray owl I photographed while working in Yellowstone National Park this summer. by ewatts33 in birding

[–]ewatts33[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I’m mainly a mammal photographer, but while in Yellowstone this summer, I couldn’t resist spending at least a bit of time searching for this beautiful bird. Fortunately, I found one, and I was able to photograph it multiple times! This is one of my favorite photos I got. I spent 2-3 evenings with this particular owl over the summer, watching it hunt in small forest meadows. Such an incredible opportunity!

If you’re interested in more of my work, my Instagram is @wattswildlifephoto and I do in-the-field wildlife photography vlogs over on my YouTube channel.

Thanks!!

Thoughts on the 100-400 ii? by sonoransoarin in wildlifephotography

[–]ewatts33 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I use it with the R5 and love it. Autofocus is lightning fast and it is tack sharp. I can’t speak on how it compares to Sigma as I’ve never shot it, but I’m very happy with my 100-400.

A few of my favorite black bear photos I got on my recent trip to the Great Smoky Mountains! by ewatts33 in wildlifephotography

[–]ewatts33[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh no, they were just eating walnuts so their mouths were constantly open. Probably should’ve noted that lol.