Wildlife Photography_ From Snapshots to Great Shots - Laurie Excell [47]
• AF 16mm 2.8 Fisheye for whimsical and fun compositions.
• Two D3S Bodies. The performance of my D3S at 9 frames per second allows me to stop action; the low noise allows me to shoot in low light or make long exposures; and the rugged construction gives me peace of mind that my camera can take the adverse conditions that I often find myself in.
• Two batteries per camera.
• Two 32-GB and ten 16-GB Compact Flash cards. Memory is cheap; I never want to run out of card space on a shoot of a lifetime.
• Gitzo GT3541LS with Wimberley gimbal head. The lighter 500mm allows me to carry a lighter tripod, reducing the amount of weight for travel.
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Note
Don’t forget quick-release plates for all bodies, lens mounts, and so on.
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• Nikon 1.4X, 1.7X, and 2X teleconverters. I can use the 1.4X with full speed and functionality on my 500mm and the 1.7X and 2X with reduced focus speed but with a gain of increased magnification for detail work; it’s worth the compromise.
• Small point-and-shoot camera that shoots in RAW and offers video.
• Wimberley Flash Bracket with small ballhead to attach the point-and-shoot to the camera setup.
• Really Right Stuff BH-55 ballhead with QR adapter to mount it to Wimberley to avoid removing the Wimberley head.
• Nikon MC-36 Remote Release for star trails and other night photography.
• Protective UV filters on each lens that has a filter thread to protect the optics from the elements.
• Polarizing filter to remove reflections and enhance overall color.
• Neutral density filter to slow down the shutter speed in bright light to capture the blur-motion effect.
• Shutter Hat and ThinkTank rain gear to protect my equipment from the most severe weather.
• Moose MP-1 Photopack.
• Moose MP-7 Photopack stuffed with assorted gear and accessories in my checked bag to get to the location. I then use this as my day bag in the field.
• Power strip to use as a charging station in my cabin to keep my equipment fully powered.
• Cleaning and tools kits.
• Two hand towels for in the field.
• Binoculars.
• MacBook Pro 15″ laptop computer with Lightroom, Photoshop CS5, OnOne, and NIK plugins installed for editing and postprocessing of images each day.
• Two Buffalo 1-terabyte external hard drives—one for my images and the other for backup. (You do back up your images, don’t you?)
• Wacom Intuos IV tablet. I can’t live without my tablet for postprocessing my images.
• Lexar USB 3 card reader.
What Clothing and Outdoor Gear
My comfort is essential for keeping my mind on the subject at hand. Part of my research includes learning about the local climate so I can dress appropriately. Alaska has different requirements than many of my other wildlife adventures. The No. 1, must-have, essential piece of clothing is an excellent pair of waders and boots with good traction. I live in my waders, wearing them from the time I prepare to leave the lodge for the day to the time I return. Because my photography group and I travel to and from our locations by boat, and depending on the tides, we are often walking in water. The areas we work are tidal flats that are submerged at high tide and exposed but wet and mucky during low tide. So, having the right gear to keep me warm and dry helps me to focus all my attention on my subject.
Figure 9.2 shows me geared up for a day in the field. My telephoto is mounted to my tripod, a second body with lens is draped over my shoulder, and my waders and waterproof jacket finish out the ensemble.
Figure 9.2 Proper clothing is critical to be successful at wildlife photography. Waders are a must-have item.
Here’s what else is in my clothing bag:
• Lightweight thermal underwear to wear under my waders to ward off a chill on cool days.
• Comfortable pants to wear around the lodge.
• Long-sleeved T-shirts and fleece tops because the temps can vary from balmy to downright chilly.
• Lightweight