Household Items in my Camera Bag

When I head out for a day of nature photography, I like to be ready for any of the myriad of mini disasters that routinely plague my trips.  Making sure that my batteries are charged, lenses are clean, and SD cards are loaded are all important details. However, it is some of the non photographic “household items” that I bring that I want to share with you today.

Rubber Bands –  I prefer the thicker ones that come wrapped around asparagus or broccoli . Rubber bands are fantastic for removing a stuck circle polarizer or other filter from the front of your lens. Simply place the rubber band around the non rotating part of the filter and turn. They can also be used to wrap hand warmers around your lens if shooting long exposures in cold weather. I always have several in my bag.
Hand Warmers – As mentioned above, hand warmers are great to help reduce or eliminate, fogging of the lens when shooting long exposures. They are also come in handy keeping spare batteries (and hands) warm in cold weather.
Shower Cap – I’m talking the disposable hotel variety. These are great for protecting your camera body when shooting in the rain or snow. It fits around the body, and is see through so you can see the screen, and adjust your settings. They may not work as well as the “professional grade” models, but they are free. I have used the same one for over three years.
Paint Brush – I use this to clean snow, dirt, dust or anything else that has accumulated around the lens / body connection before changing lenses. I find it works better than a rocket blower which tends to push the debris deeper into the crevices.  This is especially important when photographing down along the beach where blowing sand can get everywhere.
Fluorescent Surveyor Tape – I actually use this quite often when hiking in areas I am unfamiliar with (especially without cell service). When bush whacking, I will mark my trail so that I can find my way back to the car (removing it as I backtrack). There is nothing more unnerving than being in a large field and not being able to find where you came in. A piece of bright tape along the edge makes it easier.
Knee Pads – Many of my photography friends laugh when they see me wear them, but often I’m the one laughing while kneeling pain-free on sharp rocks and sticks. A good heavy-duty pair with hard plastic kneecaps will last for years. Trust me, you will be thanking me for this tip!
Lint Roller – A must have if you spend any amount of time in the woods or fields in warm weather. As soon as I get back to the car, I use it to remove any ticks which have hitched a ride.
Photo Mat – Ok, maybe it’s not a household item, but this helps me decide on how I might compose my image. Having mainly pursued wildlife photography, it has been a steep learning curve training me brain to “see” landscape compositions. Holding the mat up to the scene, frames it in a way that allows me to see all the elements in the scene, and select how to best compose it.
These are just a few of the items I carry that you won’t see for sale on the B&H website. If you have household items that have found a spot in your camera bag, list them in the comments below.
I hope to see you in the field!
John Vose
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Chasing the Aurora Borealis

Here's a link to an article I wrote for the New England Photography Guild.....

http://www.nephotographyguild.com/2015/07/chasing-the-aurora-borealis/

The Eagle Has Landed In Vermont

Once driven to the brink of extinction in the 1970’s due to the pesticide DDT, the Bald Eagle has made a remarkable comeback. In August 2007, the Department of Interior took the Bald Eagle off of the Endangered and Threatened Species list. Today there are an estimated 9,800 breeding pairs of eagles nationwide.

The Bald Eagle in Vermont

Despite their comeback, it wasn’t that long ago that the sight of a Bald Eagle in Vermont was a rare occasion. In fact, just ten short years ago, Vermont was the ONLY state in the nation without a nesting pair of eagles. For years, eagles have nested in several spots along the Connecticut River’s NH shoreline. With hunting areas of up to 10,000 acres, eagles seen on the VT side of the river were simply “visiting.” But oh how the times have changed! In a recent 2012 press release from the VT Fish and Wildlife Agency, they reported 15 documented nests in Vermont, with 23 new eaglets successfully fledged. The successful introduction of the Bald Eagle to Vermont is all part of a comprehensive program called the Vermont Bald Eagle Recovery Plan.

Bald Eagle Facts

• They are not really bald. It refers to the white feathered head they attain once reaching maturity.
• Juveniles are mostly brown with white mottling. They reach sexual maturity at 5 years of age at which time their head and tail become completely white.
• They will mate with the same partner for life.
• They weigh between 8 and 14 pounds with females being the larger gender.
• They typically have two chicks who will leave the nest in approximately 12 weeks.
• They favor fish, but will eat ducks, birds, mammals and carrion (road kill), and will steal food killed by other animals.
• The Bald Eagle is our national bird, and appears on the official seal.

Where to See Them

Bald Eagles can be seen anywhere, but are more likely to be found near large bodies of water such as lakes and rivers. During the winter, eagles will congregate near open water. Well known sites to view them in Vermont include: below the Wilder Dam in Hartford Vermont, along the edge of ice flows on Lake Champlain, specifically near Chimney Point Bridge, and Fort Cassin Point near Ferrisburgh VT, where as many as 14 bald eagles have been seen at the same time. Outside of Vermont, Deer Island at the mouth of the Merrimack River in Amesbury MA produces outstanding views every winter. Nesting locations are not identified. Remember, it is a federal crime to harass a Bald Eagle. Harassment can be as simple as disturbing a nesting pair by being too close.

The Future in Vermont

While the progress made in the recovery of the Bald Eagle in Vermont is impressive, there is still work to be done. Despite it being removed from the federal endangered and threatened list, it remains an endangered species in Vermont. I encourage you to read the Vermont Bald Eagle Recovery Plan. It is an informative well-thought-out path to the goal of delisting the Bald Eagle from the endangered species list in Vermont, and offers guidance for how we as citizens can help the process along.
Just this past week, as cold weather settled in and the Connecticut River froze over, I have seen at least 4 Bald Eagles every day soaring over the remaining open waters below the Wilder Dam, and perching above bob houses on frozen ponds throughout the area seeking out ice fisherman’s cast off’s.
I look forward to the day when the Bald Eagle can be removed from the Vermont Endangered and Threatened list. A few more successful breeding years like 2012 and that day will be here much sooner than anyone could have hoped.
Please check out my website for more Bald Eagle images.

Always Be Prepared

The Boy Scouts motto “Always be Prepared,” applies to many facets of our lives. For me, it is the mantra for what I carry with me when it comes to wildlife photography. When I head into the field, I try to have everything I would possibly need for the conditions I expect to encounter, or the subject I hope to photograph. However, should I forget something, I only have to return to my car.
Below is a list of the items I carry with me at all times, either in my camera bag, the rubber storage bin, or the back of the vehicle.
Camera Bag

• Lenses
• Extra Batteries
• Extra Memory Cards
• Filters
• Flash unit
• Head Lamp or flash light
• Lens cleaning equipment (rocket blower, paint brush)

Rubber Storage Bin (some items change with the seasons)

• Camo shirt, pants, face cover
• Warm gloves
• Extra jacket
• Hunter orange vest
• Bug spray
• Hat with mosquito netting
• Bear spray
• Knee pads
• Hand and feet warmers
• Towel
• Fold-up umbrella
• Duct tape
• Bungee Cords
• Fluorescent surveyors tape
• Bottled water
• Trail mix
• Extra hiking boots

Back of Vehicle (Subaru wagon)

• Sleeping bag
• Chest waders
• Rubber Boots
• Binoculars
• Lowepro backpack
• Camo blind chair
• Camo netting
• Tripods

This list of items I carry are specific for wildlife photography, and varies slightly by season. Certainly, if you are a landscape or portrait photographer, the items you’d require would be much different. The goal is to never miss a shot because you didn’t have the right equipment (camera or otherwise) available to you.
There are benefits to keeping items in a rubber storage bin.

• Items are protected from dirt, debris, and weather (especially if located in trunk of car, or bed of pickup)
• Items stay dry
• Everything is in one place and not strewn throughout the vehicle

Wildlife photography can involve many hours of walking and waiting for one fleeting opportunity. Missing it because you were not prepared for what you might encounter is an awful feeling. I have learned my lesson, so now whether I’m five minutes or five hours from home, I am always prepared.
I look forward to seeing you out in the field, and if you need something just ask, chances are I have it with me !

John Vose

Cold Encounters of the Snowy Owl Kind

Please check out my recent article about my encounter with a Snowy Owl at:

http://www.nephotographyguild.com/blog/ 

2011 Fall Foliage snapshot

The 2011 New England foliage season has been a real conundrum.  Color has been late in arriving, and has been spotty at best. Areas that are typically  awash in color in late September, were either still green, or brown. The heavy rains and high winds of October have also taken a toll.
BUT......,

If you were willing to spend the time looking, there were pockets of breathtaking color. As the month of October runs its course, the yellows and oranges here in the Upper Valley continue to hold on.

To see more New England foliage photos: http://jerichohillsphotography.com/foliage

At the Beach with a Least Tern Chick

  I stopped by Parker Wildlife Refuge in Newburyport Mass on Saturday, hoping to photograph the Endangered Least Tern and Piping Plover juveniles.While there were plenty of juveniles around, I was somewhat surprised at the number of scrapes still containing eggs. It is pretty late in the season, although a biologist I spoke with said the same scenario occurred last year.

 I don't want to think of the number of eggs or hatched chicks that are killed by unsuspecting beach goers. These birds are on the Endangered Species list, so the refuge ropes off a large area of known nesting sites, but the birds don't know that, and typically lay their eggs in a scrape in the sand most anywhere.

Least Tern Nest Scrape outside the ropes

Least Tern Nest with Chick and Egg

This is a photo of a Least Tern scrape with a newly hatched chick, and an unhatched egg, outside of the roped off nesting area. If you were walking along the beach not paying attention, it would be very easy to step right on them without even noticing. Hopefully, if the parents are near by, you will know you are near a nest by the reaction of the parents who will dive at you, or spread their wings and "look menacing".

While there are certain disadvantages to "blending into your surroundings" ie getting stepped on, there also distinct advantages. The chicks and eggs are prone to predation from hawks, eagles, dogs, herons and egrets to name a few, so looking like your surroundings makes it more difficult for predators to find you.

Great Egret with a Plover Chick

 This is a photo of a Great Egret who has plundered a Plover nest killing one of the chicks.(photo taken at Fort Desoto in Florida)

Least Tern Chick being fed by parent

Once a chick has hatched, the Least Tern parents spend most of their time feeding their young.

Least Tern Chick being fed by Parent

Least Tern chick with a fish