Lynx along a grassy field, Katmai National Park, Alaska Canon 1Ds Mark II, 500mm f4.0L, w/1.4x, (700mm) 1/160 sec @ f6.3, ISO 200
One of the most elusive animals that travels the Alaska landscape is the lynx. In my experience, the only other animal that I’ve encountered less is the wolverine. So, any opportunity to photograph one of these cats in the wild, in a natural settings, is a delight. This summer, I had one chance, although fleeting. I did not have time to alter the camera settings to make a technically perfect image (focus issues) but it is not bad, and usable. I shot 8 frames before the cat slid into the grasses never to been seen again.
Hi Patrick,
I’m enjoying your photos and reading the blog about how you got the shot and what settings you used on your shots. I’m learning alot!
Thanks.
Debbie,
Glad you are enjoying the blog, it is young and will develop further, with hopeful regular updates.
Patrick
hello Patrick,
this is Buck from http://www.buckswildlifephotography.com you mean now I get to see that image that you took at Katmai of the Lynx, great image. Hope your enjoying the New Year and also that new camera.
Love the new work you have done to your site,keep it up.
Buck Shreck
http://www.buckswildlifephotography.com
Hey Buck,
Yes, finally getting around to working with those images. Its a tiny bit soft, but holds up well with a little sharpening. It is a blunt minus 40 below zero today, with clear skies born for a winter photo–which I’ll pursue later in the day. Perhaps I’ll see you in the field again one of these days.
All the best in 08
Patrick
Hey Patrick
Awesome photo – so many folks have no idea how hard it can be to even see these guys, never mind photograph one. I heard there had been a lynx spotted around Brooks, but I never found one. I did see one swim across the Teklanika River one evening in Denali, and another walk across a riverbed with a snowshoe hare in its mouth, but both times it was near dark, and the lynx was aways off. I got a few shots of one in Wrangell – St. Elias NP this winter, which was cool.
Your site is awesome man.
Cheers
Carl
Patrick,
I feel your pain when it comes to lynx opportunities. Forty one years an Alaskan and I think I’ve seen…I dunno, maybe 4 or five lynx and only once now have I had to chance to photograph one of these way cool animals. Back in late October I drove up to 101 mile Steese, spent the day up there and drove home in late afternoon. All the way up there, and all the way back, strangely enough I was daydreaming about seeing a lynx. More accurately, I was whining to myself about never having a photo op. With the low angled sun obscuring some of my vision…there was a lynx walking down the road! It jumpe up over the embankment and was gone. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I grabbed the 7D with 100-400 lying next to me and followed into the thick woods. I’ll be darned if I didn’t get 6 or 7 quick shots of this lynx, and a couple are pretty nice, although, hand held and wide aperture. A guy has got to be ready at all times!
Jim
Jim,
I’ve had only a few fleeting chances with these guys, but my day is coming. My colleagues, sometimes minutes ahead, or behind me, have had great opportunities, so I’m just biding my time 🙂
Patrick,
I’ve had the same bad luck with wolves. When in the park I was always in the wrong place at the wrong time. I remember once sitting around a campfire with some other photogs and Michio Hoshino was complaining how a couple of wolves kept sneaking in on him and trying to grab his extra camera and other gear on the ground around him. What I wouldn’t have given for that photo op!
Best of luck.
Jim