Creating photographs, especially those of wildlife, requires patience and
discipline. Just the same, it also helps to have a “wild side” to oneself.

Not only does it help to understand your subjects, both intellectually and
instinctively, it helps to identify with their behavior. You know, a little wild but
cautiously disciplined. Like I am wild and free but, there’s always something
waiting to harm me. Maybe even have me for dinner. Get inside their minds.

The lone bird is a special subject. Just you, him or her, your camera, and nature.
Well, maybe a road sign that your subject obviously will ignore.  Shoot a lot,
but look for that perfect pose. Such as mid courtship song, or trying to catch a
frog.

In order below, a male Eastern Meadowlark, Belted Kingfisher, and a Common
Snipe.

Wild Turkeys have become plentiful in numbers over much of America. I have
succeeded to make images of such on only a few occasions. One was in
North Dakota, the others in my home state of Wisconsin.

I made the images below on a winter’s afternoon following a day of Bald
Eagle photography along the Wisconsin River. The photography was fair to
midland, but the day with a friend was great. I was never the less happy to grab
a couple of shots of these wild game birds in a snowy field while on my way
home.

If one bird is good, how about two. Caught these two White Egrets fishing in
central Missouri a million or so years ago. Or so it seems.

Flocks of birds have their own special feeling to them. Around here, gulls are the
main flock bird. Ring billed Gulls and Herring Gulls, can be found anywhere
round here from the shores of Lake Michigan (below), to farm fields and on to
the parking lots of McDonalds, Taco Bell and on.

From birds to mammals.

There’s nothing like a little Cottontail Bunny to add a some cuteness to your
files. A few flowers in the scene, and my day was a good one.

This image was made from my car window and this fellow was “seemingly”
oblivious to me and my lens.  While the image is to some extent a downward
view, a 500mm lens helps flatten out the perspective.

This is the first Raccoon I ever photographed. In later years I got  a series of
much more evenly sharp images. I was able to garner more depth of field that
time, via the use of better f stop.

Still, you always remember your first. This was also in central Missouri.

I love Red Foxes when they are in that “teenage” part of their life. Really, they
are well less than a year old but life moves fast when you are a fox.

The world of wildlife is not confined to birds and mammals.

 Below we have a Buckeye Butterfly. Not much to say about this except that
every experience with wild animals is a worthwhile learning experience.

Amphibious reptiles are cool too.

There are six, count them six, Eastern Painted Turtles on that log. This picture
was captured in the same central Missouri Location as the Raccoon and the
Egrets.

There you are. While I have often shared with you more spectacular or more
perfect wildlife images than these, it is nice to get them all out into the public
domain.

I appreciate your stopping by and have a great day.  Go a little wild.

God Bless,
Wayne