COYOTES: KLAMATH FALLS

Winter Wings Festival 2011

Coyotes on the hunt

Two fellow photographers and I attended the Winter Wings Festival based in Klamath Falls. As indicated by the title this is a birding event. However, the highlight of my trip was coyotes. Having no sense of distance, I cannot say how far away they were. However, I could not even see them with the naked eye and was barely able to locate them through my 300mm lens. On our tour we had access to an 800mm lens. These images were taken with that lens on my 40D.

Lying in wait

 

At the end of the day that revealed very little bird photo ops, I was still going on about the coyotes. The birders thought I was crazy. But, those who know me, know my passion for all things dog family, from the majestic wolf on down to man's best friend.

Strategizing

If you decide to attend Winter Wings nest year, dress warmly for the snowy landscape. I learned the meaning of cold. Invest in a good pair of insulated boots, gloves, hat and bring packets of hand and foot warmers.



 


For more information on saving our wild things:

Wolves:
Defenders of Wildlife,
NRDC: Natural Resources Defense Council, 
Wolves & Coyotes environmental impact,
SAVE Wolves under Congressional siege


Coyotes:
Humane Society: Help outlaw the poisoning of coyotes & wildlifeHelp 
Help Ban Compound 1080
The Case Against Poisoning Our Wildlife

Safety at the Carnival

Ring of Fire, assembled by a master mechanic.

The carnival run by family company Johnston Amusements arrives every year like clockwork the week preceding the rodeo. Like modern day gypsies, the carnies move from town to town six months out of the year, setting up and taking down enormous rides with skill. Gordon Johnston proudly asserts that his company has the safest record in California, eight years without an incident. I believe this, for I have watched and documented his workers for the past two years transform misc. parts into magnificent rides rising above the trees. To watch, you have to have a lot of time and patience. Hurry up and wait sums up the experience. Like a giant transformer emerging from a sleep, each piece is unfolded from its cramped position, workers inspect and grease every joint and movable part. Smaller parts are unpacked, inspected and attached to the ride.

I have never seen people who work as hard as the carnies do. One young man told me, I make a decent paycheck, and I have a job in this economy.

Johnston Amusements will return to Mendocino County in the fall at the Mendocino County Fair in Booneville.

Photo taken with a Canon EOS 40D.

Special Effect

Swirling lights and long exposure. I wanted all of the rides to be going at once. While waiting for a ride to get going, the first one stops to let riders on or off. It is like a juggling act. So, to combat boredom while waiting, I decided to play with the zoom ring during exposure. Emboldened by my first clumsy attempts, I kept playing with the shutter speed and degree in which I turned the zoom ring. It took many attempts. I was happy with this one. I never did get all the rides going at once.

When taking long exposure shots, make sure you have a very steady tripod.
This photo was taken with a Canon EOS 40D on a tripod. Exposure 6.0 s at f/22. ISO 100. Focal length 16mm.

Willits Frontier Days part 4, Carnival

Ferris Wheel

"Round and round and up and down" said my young friend as we slowly rose into the air on the ferris wheel. Fourth of July in Willits is not complete without a visit to the carnival. The bright lights are a photographers delight.


This photo was taken with a Canon EOS 40D on a tripod, Exposure 0.3 s at f/5. ISO 100. focal length 82mm.

Willits Frontier Days Part 2

Willits Frontier Days Rodeo was the Fourth of July weekend. The rodeo runs during the Fourth of July every year.

Rodeo. It dwells deep in psyche of the cowboy, young boys grow up watching their big brothers, fathers, uncles, cousins, neighbors, and wish to emulate them in the ring.

In small towns across the West, the rodeo is a family affair. Small boys often get their start riding sheep. They move up to calves. By the time they are old enough to join the California High School Rodeo Association (CHSRA), they will graduate to bulls.

These two adorable boys took turns being the bull between events.

For more information: CHRSA , Willits Frontier Days

These photos were taken with a Canon EOS 40D, flash. Exposure 1/60s at f/4. ISO 400. Focal length 68mm "Boys on Fence" and 28mm "Boys Playing Bull Rider."

Shasta Daisys, Guerneville

Shasta Daisys
Shastas, shastas everywhere, in gardens of friends, medical providers and family. These daisys grow in my mother's backyard. They grow along the borders of the deck, along the fence and in the front yard. Long legged Shasta Daisys propagate everywhere, deer do not eat them. They take over gardens like weeds, albeit very pretty weeds.


Photo was taken with a Canon EOS 40D with a Tamron 17-50mm lens. ISO 100. Exposure 1/200s at f/3.2. Focal length 28mm

To purchase this photo, contact me: outpost_patton@yahoo.com

White Barn

White Barn, Healdsburg.
A wide-angle lens allows a photographer to get the whole image. After driving by the white barn for the past two years, today I had my brand new wide angle zoom lens. I was eager to finally be able to cature the whole barn and vineyard setting. I arrived at six o'clock, almost too late, the shadows were starting to creep up the side of the barn. This photo was taken with a Canon EOS 40D with a Tamron 17-50mm lens. ISO 200. Exposure 1/3200s at f/4.

To purchase this photo, contact me: outpost_patton@yahoo.com