How I Got the Shot
After years of annual winter visits to Yellowstone, this rare opportunity to photograph wolves near the road occurred. The large Wapiti Lake wolf pack had been taking down bison in the general area. Late one afternoon we saw an injured bison along the Madison River. Overnight the bison was taken by the wolves and early the next morning we saw the mostly eaten carcass near the road with wolves nearby. I stood on the road for hours and had the chance to see the wolves’ behavior and hear them howling, a thrilling experience.
What I Used
I used a Canon 1Dx MKII camera with Canon 600mm f/4 MKII lens + 1.4x III extender at 840mm focal length. I chose camera settings of 1/1600 sec at f/8, ISO 2500, +2 EV. Using a sturdy tripod with a gimbal I was relying on this steady support in low light to get crisp images from a great distance away. The bison carcass was close but the wolves were coming and going at various distances away.
About Me
I am an enthusiastic hobbyist and been photographing nature and wildlife for 15 years. My favorite location to go for wildlife would have to be Africa where there are just so many locations with opportunities to observe and photograph animal behavior. All of my trips to Africa included photography on the Chobe River, Botswana, a very productive location.
My Photographic Journey
I started out photographing landscapes, then became interested in wildlife and birds in flight. What keeps me interested is watching animal behavior, photographing them in their habitat, and learning about the ability of animals to adapt and survive; I could watch them all day. One winter we stood on the road in Yellowstone watching a red fox sleep for 5 hours waiting for it to move! CNP Safaris in Africa has been critical to improving my photography and training me how to get the best images possible. With expert guidance I would say you just don’t stop learning and improving.
NANPA and Me
I have been a member for 11 years now. I’d never heard of NANPA until I saw NANPA’s Road Shows advertised in Outdoor Photographer magazine. I attended a one in Sacramento, California, and was impressed and inspired. I have entered the Showcase since 2015 and have had numerous top 250 images over that time. In 2017 I was honored to have my image of Snow Monkeys awarded Best in Show, Mammals.
Learn More About Me
I have been slow to join in on the social media side. Recently, however, I created a web page jointly with my gal: PatrickPeveyPhotography.com and see my NANPA Showcase portfolio.
