I took this photo about a month ago at Point Reyes. I can’t remember the exact location, but it was shot around sunset. I usually miss sunrise at Point Reyes, but I try to always be there for sunset. It’s the best of times — for light and wildlife. When the sun starts getting low my senses heighten. It’s a feeling of anticipation. Something is going to happen. Something better happen. I need a good photo. I also know that many of the animals I like to photograph, such as coyotes and bobcats, are up and beginning to hunt. It’s time to crank up the ISO. Time to be steady. 1/30th of a second time. It’s make or break time. If I get a good photo of an animal at that time the day is a success. If I don’t, the day is usually a failure. I try not to let it get to me. But it does. Some. To purchase a print of this image click here.
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I know what you mean. I spent hours hiking in the rain yesterday and didn’t take out my camera even once. I saw a fair amount of wildlife, but I wasn’t going to risk the rain for anything but a bobcat at close range. No dice. At least it was a fun hike. By the way, the highlight was seeing a coyote chase a deer. The deer got away, and when the coyote realized he was out in the open where people might be around, he turned and ran back into cover.
Hi John. Yep, we all have days like that.
Fantastic image. I have coyote where I live but have not been able to get a good photo.
Thanks Susan. Keep at it and you’ll get that photo.
Really beautiful image, Jim. There’s a real emotion to the glance of the coyote, and somehow for me, a sense of the urgency and fleetingness of time. The coyote seems poised to disappear into the landscape at a moment’s notice, but instead chose to give you that glance over it’s shoulder.
My favorite time is sunrise in Point Reyes — there’s just something special for me about being out on the trail when the first rays of the day are touching a fresh landscape with the morning chill still in the air. Nothing else makes me feel alive in quite the same way. Of course, that feeling can dissipate as I’m frantically trying to locate a subject while the golden light is still around. But like you said, when it doesn’t work out, you can’t let it get to you — and when you’re spending time in the magic of that landscape, it’s easy to let the frustration slip away.
Thanks Pat. I like sunrise as well. Maybe with Daylight Savings Time I’ll get out there for more of them.