Valley Land Fund Photo Competition, and a few questions about birding
Discussion
1 replies
Posted by Marc Langille on March 20, 2008 at 1:31 PM
Hi Everyone,
I've been very busy, so few posts as of late...
Good news - I'll be competing in the Valley Land Fund photo competition in South Texas. I'll be coming/going 3-4 times over the next 3 months for a total of 24-32 days down there.
More details:
I'll be located on a 6,000 acre section of ranch, approx. 15 miles from South Padre Island for the photo competition. Apparently the raptors are unafraid of humans, because hunting them is forbidden on this ranch. This means you can get fairly close - especially if the vehicle is white, since all the ranch vehicles are white, so the wildlife is a little more used to them.
Looks like I'm going to get some good gear sponsorship help in the form of a Sigma 500/4.5 + 1.4x TC, and a Nikon D200/D300, so the long lens issue is hopefully taken care of!
One area that concerns me is birding - I am a relative newcomer to it! I'm burying myself in a few reference books, such as Art Morris' Birds as Art CD (book is too expensive since it's out of print), Chris Gomersall's Photographing Wild Birds, etc. and the obvious reference guides from Sibley, Peterson, NG, etc. Lots to learn, but out of the 50 subject categories, birds account for 17 of them, so I'm trying to mitigate my inexperience in this area.
I've spoken to a couple of people with some experience in this and gotten some good information. I'm getting a loaner blind from someone in Norman, OK, plus an Ameristep Doghouse Blind. Any suggestions/info is most welcome.
Regards,
Marc
Posted by Wayne Rhodus on March 22, 2008 at 5:11 PM
Congratulations on getting into this competition Marc. Sounds like a great opportunity with some tremendous upsides. Can't help you out with any birding tips but I can wish you good luck!
Don't forget to post a few for us during the competition.
Discussion
1 repliesI've been very busy, so few posts as of late...
Good news - I'll be competing in the Valley Land Fund photo competition in South Texas. I'll be coming/going 3-4 times over the next 3 months for a total of 24-32 days down there.
More details:
I'll be located on a 6,000 acre section of ranch, approx. 15 miles from South Padre Island for the photo competition. Apparently the raptors are unafraid of humans, because hunting them is forbidden on this ranch. This means you can get fairly close - especially if the vehicle is white, since all the ranch vehicles are white, so the wildlife is a little more used to them.
Details: http://www.valleylandfund.com/contest.php
Competitors: http://www.valleylandfund.com/photographers.php
Looks like I'm going to get some good gear sponsorship help in the form of a Sigma 500/4.5 + 1.4x TC, and a Nikon D200/D300, so the long lens issue is hopefully taken care of!
One area that concerns me is birding - I am a relative newcomer to it! I'm burying myself in a few reference books, such as Art Morris' Birds as Art CD (book is too expensive since it's out of print), Chris Gomersall's Photographing Wild Birds, etc. and the obvious reference guides from Sibley, Peterson, NG, etc. Lots to learn, but out of the 50 subject categories, birds account for 17 of them, so I'm trying to mitigate my inexperience in this area.
I've spoken to a couple of people with some experience in this and gotten some good information. I'm getting a loaner blind from someone in Norman, OK, plus an Ameristep Doghouse Blind. Any suggestions/info is most welcome.
Regards,
Marc
Don't forget to post a few for us during the competition.