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Photographer's Wildlife Field Notes,
Tomales Point
Tomales Point
Copyright © Peter Neibert
Click on photos to enlarge view.
Click on photos to enlarge view.
To figure out how to photograph elk, you need to understand how they behave. The 700 page book "Elk of North
America: Ecology and Management" (1982, rev 1993) by Thomas and Toweill is the acknowledged authority on North
American elk and their behavior. Happily, a 62-page abstract is available for free download on the internet; help
yourself to a copy, click here:
America: Ecology and Management" (1982, rev 1993) by Thomas and Toweill is the acknowledged authority on North
American elk and their behavior. Happily, a 62-page abstract is available for free download on the internet; help
yourself to a copy, click here:
Pierce Ranch (est. 1852), historic habitat of tule
elk was settled as a dairy ranch for about a
century; then, in 1978, a small elk herd was
reintroduced here. Click here to view other
landscape photos of Tomales Point.
elk was settled as a dairy ranch for about a
century; then, in 1978, a small elk herd was
reintroduced here. Click here to view other
landscape photos of Tomales Point.
Click on photos to enlarge view.
Bachelor bulls spar.
Spike bulls (yearlings) spar.
polarizer -- longer lenses typically have larger diameters (perhaps 86mm or
even higher), so you may need to get a larger polarizer to fit. A new one is
expensive and a used one is difficult to source.
even higher), so you may need to get a larger polarizer to fit. A new one is
expensive and a used one is difficult to source.
2. Work backwards from the elk. Stay on the Tomales Point trail, move slowly and
quietly, and you can get within 300 mm range of the elk very often, sometimes within 200
mm range. If you want to take-in the behavioral action of larger groups, such as a harem
or a bachelor herd, you need to give the elk more space and that means a longer lens, at
least 400-600 mm.
quietly, and you can get within 300 mm range of the elk very often, sometimes within 200
mm range. If you want to take-in the behavioral action of larger groups, such as a harem
or a bachelor herd, you need to give the elk more space and that means a longer lens, at
least 400-600 mm.
For closeups or portrait shots there are
opportunities elsewhere on Tomales Point.
These plains dwelling tule elk are dark brown
around the head, neck and mane (very dark) as
well as in the legs and underbelly; flanks range
from light brown to very light blond, and the rear
is almost pure white. This dynamic range in an
individual wild animal is challenging, especially on
sunny days when the highlights tend to blow out.
Overcast lighting is a help, head shots in the sun
work, too. However, for general use a polarizer is
essential; moreover, in most lighting
circumstances, polarizers bring out more subtle
colors and detail in mammal pelts, as well as in
white birds' feathers.
Mature bulls with big racks have the problem of
antler shadows on the face. One remedy is to take
lots of shots in rapid sequence as his face moves in
and out of the light and shadows.
opportunities elsewhere on Tomales Point.
These plains dwelling tule elk are dark brown
around the head, neck and mane (very dark) as
well as in the legs and underbelly; flanks range
from light brown to very light blond, and the rear
is almost pure white. This dynamic range in an
individual wild animal is challenging, especially on
sunny days when the highlights tend to blow out.
Overcast lighting is a help, head shots in the sun
work, too. However, for general use a polarizer is
essential; moreover, in most lighting
circumstances, polarizers bring out more subtle
colors and detail in mammal pelts, as well as in
white birds' feathers.
Mature bulls with big racks have the problem of
antler shadows on the face. One remedy is to take
lots of shots in rapid sequence as his face moves in
and out of the light and shadows.
Challenger and Harem Bull spar in the midst
of the rut. Click here to view combat sequence.
of the rut. Click here to view combat sequence.
3. Hardware: you need to carry long lens -- 400 to 600 mm lens is required here; if you
can afford to buy a fixed aperture f2.8 lens, then do it, and if you can get your spouse to
carry it 7 to 10 miles on the Tomales Point trail, then do that. For the rest of us,
200-500mm zoom is affordable, relatively light weight and serviceable for most purposes.
Tamron and Sigma offer technically competitive zooms (f5-6.3) upto 500mm with street
prices under $1,000.
can afford to buy a fixed aperture f2.8 lens, then do it, and if you can get your spouse to
carry it 7 to 10 miles on the Tomales Point trail, then do that. For the rest of us,
200-500mm zoom is affordable, relatively light weight and serviceable for most purposes.
Tamron and Sigma offer technically competitive zooms (f5-6.3) upto 500mm with street
prices under $1,000.
Photographer's Field Notes of the Tule Elk at White Gulch:
- Native California elk rut at Tomales Point in Point Reyes, California --
- Wildlife photos with photographer's notes.