The Goats of Mount Evans

Last Saturday I was able to break away and get to something I've been thinking of for a while. I set the alarm for 2am, which came pretty quick after getting to bed only 3 hours earlier. Left the house around 2:40 and was at Idaho Springs by 4. I was heading for Mount Evans, specifically, the mountain goats of Mount Evans. I'd been up there years before on a couple different occassions-once on my bicycle to the summit (a very long day in the saddle), and a couple times driving. It's spectacular Colorado front range scenery at its very best.

Since my first visit, I've wanted to return with my gear to get the shots I've had in my head for so long. After spending the day there with the goats, I came away with a few that were keepers, but I have to say my vision is as yet unfulfilled. This is a good start, though-better than anything I'd had before last Saturday.

The babys were out and provided wonderful entertainment. Watching them interact with the adults reminded me of my interactions with my son sometimes. The babys would gradually drift off from the comfort and protection of moma, pair up and jostle for top spot on a rock, jump, butt heads, bump, push each other and just laze in the sun. Every so often moma would come check up on them, then go back to grazing as she kept one eye on me, and one eye on her babys. It was very sweet to watch. While I couldn't quite get in the position I wanted for some of the compositions I was so close to, I felt fortunate to have been essentially surrounded by these animals, tucked down behind a rock-visible, but slow moving and trying very hard to be just a part of the landscape. The animals would come within 15 feet of me, then gradually veer off, finding something more interesting to explore.

It was a great experience, but only a teaser for me. The shots I have in my mind's eye will require many trips and better glass, I'm sure. What a blessing to spend time with these creatures.

To view the whole gallery, please visit the mountain goat gallery at zenfolio.

My Review of Adorama Professional Verical Grip / Battery Holder for the Nikon D-200 Digital SLR Camera, Batteries Not Included.

Originally submitted at Adorama

Adorama Professional Verical Grip / Battery Holder for the Nikon D-200 Digital SLR Camera, Batteries Not Included.

Adorama Professional Verical Grip / Battery Holder for the Nikon D-200 Digital SLR Camera, Batteries Not Included.

Suitable alternative to nikon, maybe

By Titus from Colorado on 7/4/2008

 

3out of 5

Pros: The LCD addition on back, Diff battery arrangement, Easy to Install

Cons: Doesn't Fit Camera Well, Spongy vertical release, Deciphering LCD instructs, Covers L-bracket, Extra piece bat tray, Battery door at end, Additional pwr switch

Best Uses: Mobility, Digital Photography, Power Equipment

Describe Yourself: Professional

I purchased this unit when the white plastic tab on my MB-D200 was broken thinking the addition of the LCD on the back, and the fact that it saved me $20 from buying a new MBD200. I would have kept it, but the way the battery door opens (on the end, like the D300) forces me to remove my L-Bracket every time I want to access the battery doors. Even though this camera is relegated to Studio shooting & a backup to my other cam's now, I didn't want to monkey around with this. I took a peak at the directions to set up the LCD and actually use it, but wasn't impressed. The unit went right back in the box and was returned. Quality was OK, fit & finish was OK, and usability was OK, though the shutter release on the grip felt a bit spongy. Also didn't care for the power management: with the On-Off switch, there were essentially 2 switches you need to turn on to use the camera, making it slower to fire on and use quickly. Other than that, it was a decent product worth the price.

(legalese)

Opening Post

This is the opening post to my photography blog, johncranephotography. Not sure at all what I'll be doing with it, but it seems like a good idea to finally get it going.

My name is John Crane, and I'm a professional photographer in Colorado. I won't go into a list of professional accomplishments and accolades because honestly there aren't many-I just love to shoot photographs and have since I was young.

It all started with a Christmas gift from my mom and dad back in the early 70's, my first "real" camera, a Canon AT-1.

I walked around Wheaton, Illinois-my home town, and shot roll after roll of film. When I got the photos back they were never what I had in mind. It took years of practice to start being able to capture what my eyes were seeing when I shot a photograph.

I studied art in College at University of Iowa, then at Colorado State University, and went through a photojournalism period at Iowa. I intended to work for National Geographic. Why not, I figured. I loved to travel and loved to shoot-it only seemed natural. I wrote the Geographic back in the late 70's and announced to them my intention. They wrote back and said basically get in line. Most photogs come to them after 10 years with a good photo-oriented newspaper. I tried to picture myself shooting car crashes, political rallies and obituaries for the next 10 years and opted to go another route. With the present state of the newspaper industry it turns out it may have been a good decision.

Today my main focus is nature, landscape, wildlife, outdoor activities, and people. I'm a Christian man, having accepted Jesus Christ as my redeemer & Savior nearly 30 years ago during my freshman year at University of Iowa. That's another story entirely, but it is the core of who I am today, and drives everything I do.

I started my graphics career in 1984 in Chicago going to work for a photo studio in the warehouse district. There I learned the basics of layout, design, studio shooting and whatever else needed to be done. The real story though isn't work. It's where I've had the good fortune to be able to travel to. Since setting foot in Colorado in the mid 70's for the first time-until present day-my love affair with the Rocky Mountain West has grown with each passing year. My back yard has been New Mexico north through the Canadian Rockies, with a few trips to Alaska sprinkled in between.

Before I met my wife I would journal. I guess I had a lot of thoughts bouncing around the cloud in my mind that needed an outlet. Today the blog world has exploded, but I've sat on the sidelines, unsure of things like security, personal privacy, accessability, and all the other things that go along with putting yourself "out there" for others to see. I've finally decided that if one is smart about it, one can mitigate risk and enter a new communication space. So that's what I've done.

What triggered actually taking the step of setting up the blog was when I left feedback at adorama.com about a piece of gear I purchased, then returned. Once submitted they asked if I wanted to add my review to my blog. "Hmmm..." I thought-good idea. So I fired up this space, added the link, and presto-my blog has content.

Being a photographer, this blog will have plenty of pictures, but at the moment I don't have the energy to sort through the details of re-sizing, uploading and layout... so I won't. If you've read this far, congratulations-because I know this hasn't exactly been a riveting opening statement. Just wanted to say hello.