Pine Marten

Gallery: WildlifePosted October 6, 2014176 views9 comments

This species has been near the top of my list for some time. Encounters with martens are usually fleeting, as they seem to constantly be on the move. They either cross the road for a brief instant while you're driving, or run by while you're out looking for something else and have the wrong gear.

Zack Clothier and I were actually looking for owls last week in Yellowstone when this marten dashed through a nearby picnic area. We grabbed our big lenses out of the car and did our best to shoot hand-held as it worked its way up, down and through the trees. I never expected my first marten close-up to occur in such good light, but I'll take it.

Canon 1DX
Canon 500mm f/4 IS (hand-held)
ISO 800
1/1250th
f/4
(Cropped from horizontal due to some distracting sunlit foliage in the BG)

Max

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on October 6, 2014 at 5:58 PM

Nicely framed by the light and the elements here Max.
Might tone down overall brights a bit?
Congrats on ticking this one off your list!

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

Comment posted by Peter Cross on October 6, 2014 at 7:13 PM

Yeah, even seeing one is an event. Nice little portrait here Max. The pose of peeking around a tree seems to be in character. I agree with Morkel that it seems pretty bright. But it also looks like you caught him in mid-day sun. Other than that, I think you can hang it on the wall.

Registered on April 3, 2010, 271 Posts, 1342 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Reed on October 6, 2014 at 7:47 PM

Max, nice shot. They do move about. I don't have a shot this good yet. I have some video...but no stills. I would maybe try just darkening the tree he is on a touch and see what that looks like. I think the rest is fairly well exposed The face is not blown out....it is also good as posted to me. Just wouldn't mind seeing with the tree dimmed for comparison.

Registered on September 19, 2009, 198 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on October 7, 2014 at 2:33 AM

Max,
Always great to get a shot of something rarely captured in the wild.
I agree regarding toning down the brighter patches.

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on October 7, 2014 at 9:47 PM

Max, you're not kidding....as soon as I see one, they are gone. had the same luck with short and long tail weasels. Great job even getting this and the fact the light was positioned just right is a huge bonus. I like how it is peeking around the tree....very curious little critters and this really shows that.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on October 8, 2014 at 2:13 AM

I love the way this is peeping out from behind the tree, and has given you enough of its face to photograph. The bg is fantastic.

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on October 8, 2014 at 1:10 PM

Pretty darn special! I think you can make this a touch better with a slight bit less exposure, maybe globally. It feels a little hot on parts of the chest and under the chin, but I think a darker overall touch would take that away and still be true to life and dramatic. Great moment.

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

Comment posted by Max Waugh on October 8, 2014 at 7:43 PM

Thanks for the feedback, folks. I did tone this down quite a bit already, and based on your suggestions I went back and tried to burn down some of the highlights in a couple spot (and may give it another shot in the future). Technically, nothing was burned out, highlight-wise, but I can definitely see some of the "hot spots" you've mentioned.

Max

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on October 10, 2014 at 8:10 AM

Awesome find, sweet close-up Max

They are always on the move when I encounter them.

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