Bosque del Apache New Mexico Report 2014

December 16, 2014 in Bosque del Apache, Bosque del Apache NWR, Tour, Travel, Travel report, Workshops

After nine years of leading tours at Bosque I have seen more than my share of unforgettable moments that keep me coming back. This year the conditions were not all time but Bosque still delivered really great moments for all my tour participants. Be sure to click on any image below if you would like to launch the viewer and see a larger version on the image.

Early morning crane display. Sigma 150-600 Sports lens and Nikon D810, 1/1250 s, f/6.3, 600mm ISO 640, EV + .3, Manual mode with Auto-ISO, Jobu MK3 gimbal head and Jobu Algonquin Carbon Tripod.

The weather at Bosque this year was different (this seems to be common theme with all of my tour reports this year). The weather was so warm we no snow and only a couple of mornings with temps below freezing. The upside to the warm temps were some unusual bird behavior. The cranes would display and dance in large groups in the mornings, not as much as other crane species but for sandhills it was pretty special. One afternoon my group watched a large group of cranes bath for about an our. This might not seem like anything special but in my nine years of spending lots and lots of time on the reserve I have seen a sandhill bathe there once before. Unfortunately the bathing was too far away to shoot but it was interesting to observe.

Early Late evening fly in speed blur. Sigma 150-600 Sports lens and Nikon D810, 1/20 s, f/6.3, 600mm ISO 72, EV + .7, Manual mode with Auto-ISO, Jobu MK3 gimbal head and Jobu Algonquin Carbon Tripod.

The cranes pools have always been reliable at Bosque and one of my favorite spots of all time. This year was different, the pools really were the place to be since they were the only reliable location to shoot on the reserve! My favorite spot, the north crane pool was overgrown this year, really limiting the spot's opportunities but management has promised me the north crane pool will be trimmed and back to normal in 2015!

All of the images in this post were made with the new Sigma 150-600 sports lens. This year I decided not to bring a big prime lens for the first time. How did the lens perform at Bosque? Superb, even wide open at 600mm. This trip to New Mexico was my first chance to shoot with this lens so I will post a field report on the lens performance once I am done my current trip in Hawaii. I am looking forward to sharing more images and my experiences on this new lens! Sigma really did an amazing job with the lens.

Pintails bathing in morning light and mist at the flight deck pool. Sigma 150-600 Sports lens and Nikon D810, 1/1250 s, f/6.3, 280mm ISO 900, Manual mode with Auto-ISO, Jobu MK3 gimbal head and Jobu Algonquin Carbon Tripod.

The main or flight deck pool is past its prime by the time my groups were there since it is flooded in October but still the pool was had lots to offer in December with ducks and great light most mornings like in the image above.

Lots more coming in part two of this report coming as soon as I can finish up editing images.

If you would like to join us next year my 2015 tour dates will be available really soon, you can email me anytime to be placed on the interested list.

Any questions or comments? Leave a question below or send me an email.

Bosque del Apache 2013

December 04, 2013 in Bosque del Apache, Bosque del Apache NWR, Travel report, Workshops

Backlit crane landing at the north crane pool, Bosque del Apache NWR. Nikon D800E, AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4G ED VR and AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E II, 1/1250th s, f/5.6 at ISO 6400! Manual mode, +.7 EV. Jobu Jr3 Gimbal head. Image copyright 2013 Robert OToole Photography.

Shooting in backlit conditions is a favorite of mine when the light is just right as long as you are careful to avoid too much side light which will ruin the pleasing soft light. The D800E continues to impress me to the point that I find myself making excuses to keep my D4.

Bosque Bosque Bosque

This place never fails to amaze and surprise. This was my tenth year photographing and leading tours at the refuge and it was my favorite year yet. Take a look at some of my favorite images below to get an idea of what this year was like.

3 Crane sunset, north crane pool, Bosque del Apache NWR. Nikon D800E, AF-S NIKKOR 14-24G ED VR @ 19mm, 1/125th s, f/8 at ISO 900. Manual mode, Auto-ISO Jobu Jr3 Gimbal head. Image copyright 2013 Robert OToole Photography. Bosque is the place to go for unforgettable skies filled with unbelievable colors.

Every year is different at Bosque and while the conditions this year were not the best ever, the new refugee staff and management are very open to improving the photographic opportunities so I am sure that the shooting there will improve a lot over the next few years.

This year the intermittent road is open again, this time in a clockwise direction. The road will also be open this weekend so be sure to check it out if you are in town as there were lots of opportunities on the road this year.

Sandhill crane coming in to roost at the north crane pool, Bosque del Apache NWR. Nikon D800E, AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4G ED VR and AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E II, 1/30th s, f/5.6 at ISO 800. Manual mode, +.3 EV. Jobu Jr3 Gimbal head. Image copyright 2013 Robert OToole Photography. I cannot deny I love to make speed blur images and this is my favorite from this year. The out of focus blurred cranes filling the bottom of the frame are an interesting element.

We were lucky to experience a couple of days of snow this year which is always a lot of fun. We also had a few cloudy days with south winds that are the magic ingredients for great opportunities for birds in flight.

Even though not all of the traditional go to spots were good this year there were plenty of opportunities for blast offs, close ups, flight photography and plenty of action overall including some chances for coyotes taking birds and cranes taking rodents. We were also lucky to have a few days of excellent colorful skies that Bosque is known for.

South wind landing, farm fields, Bosque del Apache NWR. Nikon D4, AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4G ED VR and AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E II, 1/30th s, f/5.6 at ISO 800. Manual mode, +.3 EV. Jobu Jr3 Gimbal head. Image copyright 2013 Robert OToole Photography. With south wind and soft light the farm loop can be a gold mind for cranes in flight.

Crane with new mud boots, Bosque del Apache NWR. Nikon D4, AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4G ED VR and AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E II, 1/1250th s, f/5.6 at ISO 640. Manual mode, +.3 EV. Jobu Jr3 Gimbal head. Image copyright 2013 Robert OToole Photography. This crane was definitely heavier on take off with what looks like 5 pounds of mud stuck to its feet.

Thanks

Thanks to generous support by Sigma USA I was able to donate time to this year at the Festival of the Cranes to give two talks and lead four workshops for the Friends of the Bosque during the festival. This was an opportunity for me to give something back for all the hard work and time the Friends of the Bosque have done over the years with education and volunteering and more.

Thank you to everyone that attended a show or workshop this year . I feel lucky to have been able to meet so many nice new people and share amazing experiences on the reserve with my friends and tour participants.

Sandhill crane painting with light at 1/20th of a sec, Bosque del Apache NWR. Nikon D800E, AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4G ED VR and AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E II, 1/20th s, f/5.6 at ISO 450. Manual mode, +.3 EV. Jobu Jr3 Gimbal head. Image copyright 2013 Robert OToole Photography. This crane made the image possible by painting with its wings while my shutter was open, I just pointed my camera and squeezed the trigger, the crane did all the work.

South crane pool take off in early morning light, Bosque del Apache NWR. Nikon D800E, AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4G ED VR and AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E II, 1/1250th s, f/5.6 at ISO 720, Auto -ISO. Jobu Jr3 Gimbal head. Image copyright 2013 Robert OToole Photography. All alone at the crane pool, just my tour group and a few cranes. When most of the photographers and cranes leave the crane pool the real magic and fun can start.

Late afternoon arrival at the north crane pool, Bosque del Apache NWR. Nikon D800E, AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4G ED VR and AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E II, 1/500th s, f/5.6 at ISO 2800, Auto-ISO. Manual mode. Jobu Jr3 Gimbal head. Image copyright 2013 Robert OToole Photography. When the light is too low to continue to make stop action images I switch to doing speed blurs. Then when the light level is even too low for blurs I prefer to shoot crane silhouettes against the last areas of color left in the sky before darkness.

I will be leading multiple tours next year at Bosque and will post more information here as soon as it is available. If you would like to join me in 2014 at Bosque please email me.

I will be posting more images from Bosque this year made with Sigma lenses on the Sigma website soon.

Be sure to share a comment or question below.

Bosque del Apache Update

December 06, 2011 in Bosque del Apache, Travel, Workshops

The photography at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico this year was definitely unlike any other in the last seven that I have been leading groups there. The conditions were severely handicapped from the start this year due to mismanagement of the reserve but at the same time the same management were able to rescue what could have been a dismal year for photographers. The total crop failure this year would have been a disaster but the refuge opened up a new loop road temporarily for the crane festival and at the same time the staff started feeding barley, brought in especially to feed the birds, sometimes very close to the road. This made for some very good opportunities for photographers on the farm field road and new loop road. Even though the conditions were far below the normal standard due to the crop failure there were still some good to great photographic opportunities at times thanks to the barley feeding and the opening of the new loop route. Although I did not lead a group of my own this year at Bosque I did co-lead a Birds As Art group for Arthur Morris. Our group was blessed with some great weather and more than a few quality opportunities. These are some of my favorite images made in the last couple of weeks at Bosque.

If you have ever thought about photographing at Bosque you should consider an instructional tour or workshop to make the most of your time there. I will be leading a photo tour there in 2012, look for more details posted here soon.

Sandhill crane landing in the early morning light, west farm field, Bosque del Apache NWR, New Mexico. NIKON D300s and AF-S Nikkor 500mm f/4G ED VR lens + TC-14E 1.4x II, 1/1600 sec at F5.6, manual metering on zero, ISO 320. Image Copyright 2011 Robert OToole Photography.

The cranes would congregate each morning in the farm fields but finding a single bird to photograph was almost impossible. Arriving very early with the right conditions did make it possible to get a the first groups of cranes landing with a clean green background before the field completely filled up with cranes.

Sandhill crane displaying in the early morning light, northern crane pool, Bosque del Apache NWR, New Mexico. NIKON D700 and AF-S Nikkor 500mm f/4G ED VR lens + TC-14E 1.4x II, 1/1250 sec at F5.6, manual metering on zero, ISO 320. Image Copyright 2011 Robert OToole Photography.

The cranes pools are always reliable and can be superb once the cranes groups thin out. As the opportunities get better with less and less cranes the photographer groups also thin out making it easier to move around and reposition, something I do here frequently. Once this group of cranes started displaying and I immediately called out to our group and rushed into position right in front of them. Only one person followed me but we were both rewarded with some great action in clean open water.

Sandhill crane pair taking off in early morning light, northern crane pool, Bosque del Apache NWR, New Mexico. NIKON D700 and AF-S Nikkor 500mm f/4G ED VR lens + TC-14E 1.4x II, 1/1250 sec at F5.6, manual metering on zero, ISO 320. Image Copyright 2011 Robert OToole Photography.

With any wind direction other than a west or northwest the cranes pools can be very good for images of cranes in flight. They roost overnight in the crane pools and take off in small groups once the sun rises. I always try to make images with the multi-colored bands of mountains in the background and always prefer images of synchronized pairs or groups since they are more challenging to capture.

Sandhill crane juvenile against storm clouds, farm field loop, Bosque del Apache NWR, New Mexico. NIKON D300S and AF-S Nikkor 500mm f/4G ED VR lens + TC-14E 1.4x II, 1/1250 sec at F5.6, manual metering on zero, ISO 500. Image Copyright 2011 Robert OToole Photography.

A huge band of dark, almost black storm clouds was headed our way and made some unforgettable backgrounds. Here an immature crane is calling out before landing close by. Manual mode was the only reliable way to make this image, any auto mode would have been overexposed the image due to the dark background.

Sandhill crane blasting off against distant cotton woods, farm field loop, Bosque del Apache NWR, New Mexico. NIKON D300S and AF-S Nikkor 500mm f/4G ED VR lens + TC-14E 1.4x II, 1/1250 sec at F5.6, manual metering on zero, ISO 400. Image Copyright 2011 Robert OToole Photography.

What an afternoon this was, the afternoon light angle and a southwest wind meant that the the cranes were blasting off right at us and only a handful of photographers were around to capture the action.