Little Tuna Meets Gorgeous

Phocal · Feb 29, 2020

I decided that the Little Tuna needed to meet Gorgeous so before going to work last night I stopped for a visit. She likes to use these small drainage pipes that run under the trail as a place to hide and to get across the trail without being seen. When I arrived she was hanging out in one of them and when she emerged I was able to capture this photo.

She didn’t stick around long and disappeared into the woods. I moved into the woods and was sitting against a tree when I spotted her in the distance coming my way. I think she was shocked to find me sitting there.

After stopping to make sure I wasn’t a threat she went around me and back towards the main trail. After I got back to the main trail she popped out of the thicker brush and posed for me.

It wasn’t long before the sun dipped behind the trees and for her to disappear into the woods again. I decided to head back to the car since the light was gone and on my way back she made one more appearance. So I grabbed one last shot of her and was surprised how much light the Little Tuna captured, it seemed a lot darker when I took the photograph.

It wasn’t long before the sun dipped behind the trees and for her to disappear into the woods again. I decided to head back to the car since the light was gone and on my way back she made one more appearance. So I grabbed one last shot of her and was surprised how much light the Little Tuna captured, it seemed a lot darker when I took the photograph.

Phocal · Feb 29, 2020

I want to start off by saying when she is walking through the woods and moving in/out of the sun you really notice how much she glows when that sun hits her. The light today was absolutely amazing, it was so clear and that gave the light this amazing golden glow. I got there right at 4pm (got off early) and it was an hour before I saw her on the other side of the river and heading my way. It seemed like I was photographing her for an hour but in reality it was a total of 9 minutes from the first photo until the last. When she popped out onto the main trail she was in the light and I was able to capture this photo.

She moved to other side of the trail where she hung out for awhile interested in something in the woods. I later learned from a lady walking down the trail that there was another fox down there, which is what she was probably interested in.

She started back down the trail towards me and I captured this.

She ran into the woods but showed back up a minute or so later. Guess I could look at the exif and see just how long, looked it up, just over 2 minutes. I like how the light was just on her face in this shot. I have some others where her head and chest is in the light but she had moved forward and those branches in front of her are now right at her head and it’s really distracting.

She started heading back to the main trail when she turned and started sniffing behind her, I am guessing it was that other fox.

After a brief stop to sniff, she made it back to the main trail.

When she got to the other side of the trail she went down the bank by the pipe she likes to use. When I saw her pop up and look my direction I dropped into the snow to capture this image.

While I was laying there she came farther up the bank, which is what I was hoping for.

She crossed to the far side of the trail and then walked by me. These are not the best composed images but I love how I nailed the DoF. If you click through to Flickr you can zoom in and I have nose to back of eye in focus.

Phocal · Feb 29, 2020

With that she walked off into the woods as the sun dipped below the tree line. She was still around but with the light gone I decided to head home rather than stay and get photos without that beautiful light.

It was great to shoot her with the Little Tuna, something I had been wanting to do for a few weeks now. She gets so close that getting full body shots with the 300/4 is almost impossible. So it was nice being able to capture full shots as well as some good environmental portraits. Plus it is always fun getting close enough to use the 150/2. Not just because it is such an amazing lens but also for the thrill of being so up close and personal with my subject. I will be going back tomorrow after work but it’s going to be one of those days where I am thankful for the fast aperture. We have a 70% chance of snow tomorrow, so it will be overcast and I am so hoping for a good heavy snow fall while I am out there. I love the images from the 300/4 on that snowy day and would love to see how the 150/2 performs.

Hope you enjoyed the story along with the photos. As always, any and all comments are welcomed.

Phocal

I should add that these photos have little to no crop. None are cropped shorter than 4000px on the long side, so no more than a 600px crop.

Edit - I was also lucky that I was able to keep myself between her and the sun. But now I want to shoot her with the 150/2 into the sun, I love shooting this lens into the sun because it can create some amazing images when I do that.

To view the full resolution images you can jump over to my Flickr

MEDISN · Feb 29, 2020

Yeah I still blame you for convincing me to buy this lens years ago

You always make it sing as evidenced by that first photo. Ridiculously good shot.

Caseylou · Feb 29, 2020

These are all stunning. The last is my favorite.

Gary from Seattle · Feb 29, 2020

Phocal said:
I want to start off by saying when she is walking through the woods and moving in/out of the sun you really notice how much she glows when that sun hits her. The light today was absolutely amazing, it was so clear and that gave the light this amazing golden glow. I got there right at 4pm (got off early) and it was an hour before I saw her on the other side of the river and heading my way. It seemed like I was photographing her for an hour but in reality it was a total of 9 minutes from the first photo until the last. When she popped out onto the main trail she was in the light and I was able to capture this photo.

She moved to other side of the trail where she hung out for awhile interested in something in the woods. I later learned from a lady walking down the trail that there was another fox down there, which is what she was probably interested in.

She started back down the trail towards me and I captured this.

She ran into the woods but showed back up a minute or so later. Guess I could look at the exif and see just how long, looked it up, just over 2 minutes. I like how the light was just on her face in this shot. I have some others where her head and chest is in the light but she had moved forward and those branches in front of her are now right at her head and it’s really distracting.

She started heading back to the main trail when she turned and started sniffing behind her, I am guessing it was that other fox.

After a brief stop to sniff, she made it back to the main trail.

When she got to the other side of the trail she went down the bank by the pipe she likes to use. When I saw her pop up and look my direction I dropped into the snow to capture this image.

While I was laying there she came farther up the bank, which is what I was hoping for.

She crossed to the far side of the trail and then walked by me. These are not the best composed images but I love how I nailed the DoF. If you click through to Flickr you can zoom in and I have nose to back of eye in focus.

The 9th and tenth shots in this second sequence really do it for me. It doesn't get more beautiful than that.

111jackny44 · Feb 29, 2020

Outstanding!!!!

Isabel Cutler · Feb 29, 2020

[No message]

wdh1974 · Feb 29, 2020

Didn't you hear, micro 4/3 is dead.............love it man, great photo.

s_grins · Feb 29, 2020

I've never managed to take nicely exposed photos with snow on front & back ground

Mark Ransom · Feb 29, 2020

I've seen a few references to this lens, but this is the first time there's been enough clues to figure out it's the 150 F/2. Why is it called "Little Tuna"?

Absolutely stunning sequence by the way. You're very lucky and talented.

jennajenna · Feb 29, 2020

she looks like melania.

19andrew47 · Feb 29, 2020

I think the 300 mm f/2.8 was the 'big tuna'.

Andrew

19andrew47 · Feb 29, 2020

Those are all great Art!

Andrew

Phocal · Feb 29, 2020

MEDISN said:
Yeah I still blame you for convincing me to buy this lens years ago

LOL, oops

MEDISN said:
You always make it sing as evidenced by that first photo. Ridiculously good shot.

Thank you, appreciate the comment and hope you have enjoyed your 150/2

Phocal · Feb 29, 2020

Caseylou said:
These are all stunning. The last is my favorite.

Thank you and it just made explore on Flickr.

Phocal · Feb 29, 2020

Gary from Seattle said:
The 9th and tenth shots in this second sequence really do it for me. It doesn't get more beautiful than that.

Thanks and both of those came out pretty good.

Phocal · Feb 29, 2020

111jackny44 said:
Outstanding!!!!

Thank you

Phocal · Feb 29, 2020

thank you

Phocal · Feb 29, 2020

wdh1974 said:
Didn't you hear, micro 4/3 is dead

I think that email went to my spam folder

wdh1974 said:
.............love it man, great photo.

Thanks, appreciate the comment

Little Tuna Meets Gorgeous

Veteran Member

Attachments

Veteran Member

Attachments

Veteran Member

Attachments

Veteran Member

Leading Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Active member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Keyboard shortcuts