Deere in Fog

Since I'm starting work on a new wildlife picture book I figured I would post a shot I took while driving out to get the mail a few minutes ago - I get a lot of wildlife shots from the front seat - not sure if it will make it into the book or not...

That's not a very stealthy ride to be sneeking up on wildlife in Tim. But I can see it's a functional ride with nice 270 degree views to shoot from!

Actually you bring up a good point Wayne (although my note was actually about shooting from the front seat of my car, which I do often when doing wildlife photos, and I see a lot of wildlife while driving around) - farm machinery is great to use as blinds - wildlife is used to seeing it working around them and often won't be afraid. But drive out into the very same field in your car and they will spook. But now that you mention it I do have a bright ORANGE tractor I could use to drive around in - I'll have to give that a try!

Tim,
One of the sturdiest deers I have seen lately.
opps, deeres I guess.

Tim I really like this image. I really like the idea of a "Deere" in a wildlife book. Good play on words.

For this type of image it's best to shoot in RAW and really pull out those beautiful colors! I'm surprised you didn't scare it off! You must of had the 300mm 2.8 to get this close. I'd like to try one with star trails in the background!

Ok, Tim, you got me on this one! I took your bait.

Gotta love that fog up on the mountain, no matter what kind of deere your shooting. Just saw the hoar frost post on your Journal - nice, but nothing like last week...

Nice capture! Very natural looking . . . except for the antlers!

Tim, I've actually shot out of one of these "blinds" before. I was lifted up in the front loader to full extension to shoot some "high perspective" shots at the local vineyard during harvest last year.

I'm sure the volunteer harvestors that day thought I was a few grapes short of a bunch!

I did kind of the same thing for a car dealer advertisement once back in 1985 - only it was a cherry picker they lifted me up in to get a high perspective (and they KNEW I was a few grapes short, hence the reason they hired me for the job). I had all of the new cars lined up at the close end of a golf course green with the fairway stretching out far into the background and up a green hillside. The famous Don Nelms, car king of Arkansas, stood in front of all the cars with his hands outstretched. It was a great ad photo - one of the best I ever did. Unfortunately it led to Don hiring me to sell cars, which turned out to be four of the darkest months of my entire life (I made a lot of money, but found out how horrible the car business is). Cherry pickers and front end loaders make great photo platforms, although a small hot air balloon teathered to the ground would be the very best! I wish I could find a small one to use for this sort of thing...

Nice Deere shot Tim. I like the effects of the fog and the way it softens the shot. I've never sold cars - but, our youngest son has and my fishing partner does now. He and I get together on Thursday evenings and he tells me how rotten the car business is and I tell him how great retirement is - then we drink cheap wine and tell more stories...