Mallards weathering a late winter storm in Montana this morning.
Canon 1DX 70-200 2.8L IS II f5.6 1/500 ISO800
Mallards!
Mallard Drake. © Jason Savage
Thought I would post a few pics of our local Mallards here in Helena. I think if someone can photograph birds in flight, they can photograph just about anything! These guys are hard to track and always keep you on your toes, especially when they come dive bombing in for a landing. I don’t consider myself that much of a wildlife photographer, but I do enjoy photographing birds in flight as it’s not only challenging, but very exciting when there’s some action.
If you do get into bird photography, it helps to have a longer lens and something in the 400-500mm+ range. Not only that, but with today’s newer cameras incorporating some amazing auto focus tracking technology, your odds of sharp photos has never been better. But beyond the equipment, it helps to get out there, day-in and day-out, getting used to anticipating their movements, studying behavior and getting in the habit of following a fast moving subject.
Mallards on Ice. © Jason Savage
Mallards. © Jason Savage
Mallard Drake Landing. © Jason Savage
Mallard Hen. © Jason Savage
Springtime in the Mission Mountains
Mallards.© Jason Savage.
Well believe it or not Springtime is finally here. Although if you are living east of the Rockies this week, you may have a hard time believing that, as snow flurries have been forecast for most of this next week.
In any case, we had some great weather last week with temps in the 70’s and things really starting to green-up. I was up in the Mission Mountains area near Polson and the National Bison Range last weekend and the landscape is really looking great. The trees are in bloom and it won’t be long before some wildflowers arrive.
Mission Mountains.© Jason Savage.
I was lucky enough to arrive while there was still some snow left on the Missions. This area is great for not only landscape photography, but for wildlife as well. The Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge on the Flathead Indian Reservation has an amazing diversity of birds and waterfowl and just a few miles south is the National Bison Range, which as you can guess has a healthy population of Bison along with some stunning views.
Cow Elk.© Jason Savage.
Now’s the time to get out there and start enjoying our short spring, before we know it we’ll be into summer. Happy Shooting.