Montana Photo

Mallard Drake. © Jason Savage

Thought I would post a few pics of our local Mallards here in Helena. I think if someone can photograph birds in flight, they can photograph just about anything! These guys are hard to track and always keep you on your toes, especially when they come dive bombing in for a landing. I don’t consider myself that much of a wildlife photographer, but I do enjoy photographing birds in flight as it’s not only challenging, but very exciting when there’s some action.

If you do get into bird photography, it helps to have a longer lens and something in the 400-500mm+ range. Not only that, but with today’s newer cameras incorporating some amazing auto focus tracking technology, your odds of sharp photos has never been better. But beyond the equipment, it helps to get out there, day-in and day-out, getting used to anticipating their movements, studying behavior and getting in the habit of following a fast moving subject.

Mallards on Ice. © Jason Savage

Mallards. © Jason Savage

Mallard Drake Landing. © Jason Savage

Mallard Hen. © Jason Savage

Mule Deer. © Jason Savage

Thought I would post a few pics from Canyon Ferry a couple weeks back and other spots nearby. Lately I’ve been spending more time  scouting around the north side of the lake and surprisingly, there is always something to photograph if you look hard enough. The wildlife around the lake includes Mule Deer, Mountain Goats, Big Horn Sheep, Pronghorns and an array of waterfowl.

This time of year it can be tough to be inspired when things get gray and cold, but if you get out there and really start exploring you will usually run across something worthwhile to photograph.

But it does help to go where the action is and planning your photography accordingly can deliver more exciting and dramatic images. I usually find that bodies of water during the winter are good places to check out as not only do they provide interesting subjects for landscape photos,  but being a source of survival for wildlife, you will find them congregating nearby.

Canada Goose. © Jason Savage

Mallards. © Jason Savage

In case you missed my first installment of Subaru vs. Deer a couple months back, I thought I would post the follow-up, Subaru vs. Truck!

I was hoping to have some awesome winter Yellowstone Photos for everyone this weekend, but we had a slight change of plans yesterday afternoon. A guy driving a pickup truck decided he needed to turn at coincidentally the same time we happened to be driving by.

My friend John and I were heading to Yellowstone for a few days of photography and instead we’re at home popping Ibuprofen. Thankfully everyone was OK.

Unfortunately(fortunately) this will conclude the Subaru collision series.

In case you didn’t notice, for the last couple months there has been a cool little icon on the sidebar of my blog titled “Blogging for Hunger”. The World Food Programme has initiated new tools for us bloggers to get in on spreading the word for the Hunger crisis going on around the world. “A Billion for a Billion” is a new campaign designed to harness the social network of the internet to spread the word about what’s really happening, and how we can help. If everyone donates a $1.50 a week, there can be tremendous changes made. Seriously, $1.50 a week.

Check out the link.

http://www.wfp.org/1billion

Thompson Lake. © Jason Savage

Happy New Year to everyone-Hope 2010 brings you the best and many new adventures!

Bitterroot Valley. © Jason Savage

I was up in Hamilton over Christmas and went out for a brief shoot on Saturday. Of course the gorgeous light we had on Christmas day was nowhere to be found. But you make the best of it.

I’ve been on a black & white kick lately and given that we actually have no color this time of year, it sometimes works best. Will have some more pics soon. Hopefully with some snow.

Blodgett Canyon. © Jason Savage

Curious Deer. © Jason Savage

Country Road. © Jason Savage

I’ve just realized that’s it’s been a few weeks since my last post(hand-slap to forehead) and thought I should at least make an effort to get some new images up. I’ve been busy with a lot of projects lately so I apologize for falling down on my blog duties.

These images were from a trip I took a couple weeks back up in the Smith River area, east of Cascade. And fortunately my bumper and I managed to escape anymore encounters with the local deer.

The country out in this neck of the woods is awesome and reminds me of what someone would envision if they pictured Montana and were not from here. It’s still vast and open, with rolling hills, mountains in the distance rising up from the plains, with a real wildness about it. Lots of ranchland and wildlife.

Hopefully I will be spending some more time here in the future, especially next spring and summer.

Enjoy.

Square Butte. © Jason Savage

Shot Sign. © Jason Savage

Old Homestead. © Jason Savage

Cow. © Jason Savage

Mailboxes. © Jason Savage

Sheep. © Jason Savage

© Jason Savage

Was in town this weekend for the Helena Fall Art Walk. I was hosting potter, Joe Crowley, who in my opinion is one of the best around and who is currently making his mark in the art world. We had a good turnout at the Gallery and a fun night. Lots of folks looking to warm up out from the cold as it was a frigid night in town. Thanks to everyone who showed up.

If you’re in Helena, you can view Joe’s work at Al Swanson’s Gallery or the Holter Museum of Art.

Hay Bales. © Jason Savage

Here’s a few pics from up near the Smith River yesterday. There is some amazing country up here and lot’s of ranch land. This is one place that really says Montana.

Cows. © Jason Savage

Ranch Hand. © Jason Savage

Well after driving thousands upon thousands of miles on Montana’s backroads, my luck finally ran out. Yesterday just as I was heading home after a long day of photography, a whitetail deer caught me off guard near the Smith River area on a small two lane road.

I was caught totally by surprise as it lunged out in front of me and I barely had time to hit the brakes. After gathering myself and everything(including cameras!) in my car I went to look for the deer to see if it was still alive and whether or not it needed to be put down. It wasn’t on the side of the road, so I followed into the trees. After searching for a while, I saw a whitetail go bounding up over the hill. Hopefully this one was the same one I was looking for, as it looked in fairly good shape and all it may have suffered was a good bruising.

I hope my deer quota has been met and will not have to repeat for another dozen years. Fortunately both of my Canon cameras I had on the front seat survived.