Friendly Faces of North America

I should have read the National Geographic photo tips before going on this trip. Well, next time perhaps. Regardless, let me share with you 5 tips I have learned and found useful for myself.

Tip #5 - Do bring along at least one very good zoom lens. You don't want to be attacked by a mother or hungry bear, or risk swimming with the whale. It is definitely not worth losing the camera in the process of getting the best shot! It is also respectful to these local creatures, of course. It is their home after all.

Tip #4 - Wear quiet clothing. You know, clothes with materials which do not make noises when you walk. I do not think brightly coloured clothing matter. Do bear in mind the animals always see you. Well, except for this red squirrel we came across in Lake Annette in Jasper, Alberta, Canada. It was engrossed in relocating its hidden nuts from last summer that it was unaware of us observing a couple of feet away. 

Tip #3 - Go out at dusk and dawn. That is when they are out and about. If there is none, you can get some really nice sky/scenery shots in exchange.

Tip #2 - Pay attention. It is really easy to be distracted by the beautiful scenery around and missed a quietly grazing animal behind a tree, etc. Or to be having a stimulating conversation with your travel companion, or just sleeping because you have been travelling the last 10 hours.  

The top tip in nature photography is patience. Wait long enough and the animals will do something for your shot. Except for when you are in Banff. The animals there are very much used to the noise of passing traffic, and they will carry on grazing through anything. To solve this problem, you may ask your travel companion to open and close the car door with some strength (but not to slam), and then keeping very still and quiet again. This noise will startle the animals to look up for a little, before going back to grazing. Slamming or talking too loudly may risk startling them too much. It is not recommended for their mental health.

Hm.. Disregard some advice that are just too silly, but do enjoy some of these friendly faces in North America: 

Squirrel @ Vancouver

Canadian Geese, @Lake Medicine, Jasper, AB, Canada

Heron @ Victoria, BC, Canada

Black-billed Magpie @ Banff, AB, Canada

Bald Eagle @ Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island, Seattle, WA, USA

Ospreys and its young @ Banff, AB, Canada

Seal @ Fisherman's Wharf, Victoria, BC, Canada

Whale @ Tracy Arm, Alaska, USA

Mama and Baby Brown Bears @ Tracy Arm, Alaska, USA

Ground Squirrel @ Banff, AB, Canada

Golden Mantle Squirrel @ Johnson's Canyon, AB, Canada

Red Squirrel @ Lake Annette, Jasper, AB, Canada

Elk @ Bear Hill Lodge, Jasper, AB, Canada

Deer @ Banff, AB, Canada

Doe @ Banff, AB, Canada

Bighorn sheep @ Icefield Parkway, AB, Canada

Bashful Female Bighorn sheep

Brown Bear @ Icefield Parkway, AB, Canada

Black Bear @ Klondike Highway, Yukon, Canada