Coast Guard

Gallery: WildlifePosted October 25, 2011368 views13 comments

After getting some tips on a pack of wolves that had been seen frequently up on Vancouver Island this summer, I decided to try my luck and take a short trip up there to find them earlier this month. Patrolling the coast in a Zodiac, I was fortunate to spot them my very first day. The downside was that shooting conditions were quite difficult. We had to wait for the tide to come in, it was raining on and off, and the hardest part was dealing with very choppy waters... never fun when trying to shoot from a boat.

I still managed to come out of it with a few keepers, a pleasant surprise given that it was hard enough getting a wolf in frame, much less in focus.

This is the pack's alpha female, definitely the most "cooperative" subject of the seven wolves we saw.

I stayed for two more days, but never saw them again.

Canon 7D
Canon 500mm f/4 IS + 1.4x TC
ISO 400
1/800th
f/5.6
Hand-held from a boat

Max

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Verdon on October 25, 2011 at 1:02 PM

GREAT SHOT, congrats!!!

Registered on June 10, 2011, 147 Posts, 1444 Comments

Comment posted by Anand Narayanan on October 25, 2011 at 1:12 PM

Awesome Max ! Its such a treat to see them at all and you've come away with a great shot ! Love the look of authority on her face.

Curious though to see an alpha with her tail tucked in between her legs. Thanks for the post and would love to see more from the encounter, especially if you have the whole pack in a frame.

Registered on October 25, 2009, 110 Posts, 835 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on October 25, 2011 at 1:37 PM

Hey Max,

Good job - I can attest to how tough it is to photograph the coastal wolves. As a matter of fact, about 3 weeks ago I had about a 15 second opportunity to nab a shot of one in a spectacular setting on a remote island on the BC coast while I was in a kayak. Unfortunately, I needed about 17 seconds to get the shot (and missed it!).

In a perfect world I'd prefer slightly more detail in the foreground, but that's a trivial nit and YOU GOT THE SHOT!

Cheers...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Clinton Bauder on October 25, 2011 at 2:27 PM

Really nice shot Max. I love the expression on the wolf's face. Just the right combination of slight ears-back apprehension and scowl. Composition is great. I see Brad's point about wanting more detail in the foreground but looking at the technical details I'm not sure how you would have accomplished that. Need to keep the shutter speed high when shooting on a boat like that and you're already at f/5.6 and ISO 400.

Pretty cool when you get a shot that's both really pleasing to look and technically difficult. (Pretty sure shooting wolves from a boat in the rain counts as difficult!)

Registered on December 8, 2009, 31 Posts, 231 Comments

Comment posted by Jorne de Bruin on October 25, 2011 at 2:40 PM

Looks like your efforts paid off Max, love the shot and pose!

Registered on June 26, 2008, 178 Posts, 2136 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on October 25, 2011 at 3:36 PM

Excellent shot considering the conditions you encountered, the look from the wolf makes the shot for me, nice job in getting this difficult shot, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on October 25, 2011 at 3:42 PM

Whoa

With the rough conditions you were working in, you came away with a awesome keeper. Not only is she a beautiful wolf, the foreground and background are perfect compliments. Great Shot Max

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on October 25, 2011 at 3:55 PM

I love her attitude, especially those scowling eyes! Co0ngrats on a difficult capture.

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Runco on October 25, 2011 at 8:36 PM

Great shot Max - excellent detail, color and comp. I know how hard it is to find wild wolves outside of a National Park to photograph, not to mention shooting from a boat in choppy waters. Wonderful capture.

Registered on September 9, 2008, 77 Posts, 705 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on October 25, 2011 at 11:12 PM

Good photo nice story, thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on October 26, 2011 at 3:51 AM

Wow! Love that intense look he was giving you. Great shot Max!

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on October 27, 2011 at 10:36 AM

Thanks everyone. Brad, this was rewarding in part because I spent three days in the GBR looking for wolves back in '09 and never succeeded. It was great to come away with something!

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on November 3, 2011 at 6:47 PM

He sure looks like he means business! I like this a lot, Max...

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments