White-Tailed Deer Buck in Velvet & Spider Holster Review

Eastern White-tailed Deer Buck in velvet (Odocoileus virginianus, Cerf de Virginie) Amherst Island, Ontario, Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, 500mm F4, 1.4X II Tele-converter Tripod and Wimberley Head II. ISO 400, F5.6 1/40s Manual mode. BUY A PRINT OR LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION HERE.

Eastern White-tailed Deer Buck in velvet (Odocoileus virginianus, Cerf de Virginie) Amherst Island, Ontario, Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, 500mm F4, 1.4X II Tele-converter Tripod and Wimberley Head II. ISO 400, F5.6 1/60s Manual mode. BUY A PRINT OR LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION HERE.

Eastern White-tailed Deer Buck in velvet (Odocoileus virginianus, Cerf de Virginie) Amherst Island, Ontario, Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, 500mm F4, 1.4X II Tele-converter Tripod and Wimberley Head II. ISO 400, F5.6 1/640s Manual mode. BUY A PRINT OR LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION HERE.

SpiderPro Holster Review

I've been hanging my heavy 1D Mark IV with 70-200F2.8 IS II lens over my shoulder, or around my neck for years, and with a bad neck and back; I've had enough. I set out on a quest; find a simple, but efficient way to hold my second camera while working with a tripod mounted primary long lens. Let’s face it; we all spend a lot of time waiting for the right “moment”, and don’t want anything in our way when it presents itself.

Shai Eynav just sent me a review sample of the SpiderPro System, and I love it; in fact, this may be my favorite new photography accessory. The SpiderPro System is a remarkable new way to carry your camera. I got the whole kit and caboodle; a nylon belt (Spider Holster Belt) with a holster shaped flap  (Spider pad) to protect your camera from any metal studs in your jeans, and provide a little comfort cushion between your hip and your camera. The belt buckle even requires two hands to release, making it impossible to accidentally come undone. When secured around your waist, with the holster shaped flap (Spider pad) on your side, there's an ingenious cast aluminum/stainless steel slotted holder (SpiderPro) which receives the metal pin (Spider pin) that attaches to the Spider plate, which, in turn, is securely fastened to your camera. There’s even a safety latch, which you decide weather to engage, or not. The unique design ensures the camera and lens stay in the horizontal position; this keeps the lens from touching the ground when crouching or kneeling, as it would if the lens was pointing down. Shai has thought of everything; he's even placed four threaded holes in the Spider plate for easy quick-release plate attachment.

With the Spider Holster, my camera now hangs comfortably by my side ready for action. There’s no better way to get the weight of my neck, shoulders and back than this! When the “moment” presents, I’m ready; thanks to Shai Eynav and his marvelous invention, the Spider Holster. In the wilds of Alaska or Tanzania, at a press event in the city, or in the home studio, the Spider Holster will prove invaluable to any photographer. Find out more, or order yours at www.spiderholster.com

White-tailed Deer of Baxter State Park. Trip Report Part I

Eastern White-tailed Deer Fawn Portrait (Odocoileus virginianus, Cerf de Virginie) Sandy Stream Pond (Roaring Brook Campground), Baxter State Park, Maine, USA ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III, 500mm F4, 2X II Tele-converter Gitzo 1325 Tripod and Wimberley Head II. ISO 400, F8 1/500s Manual mode.

This years trip to Baxter State Park in Maine was, without doubt, my most productive. We had a great time photographing two Black Bear Cubs, an Eastern White-tailed Deer doe and her twin fawns, Common Goldeneyes, Common Mergansers, amazing fall foliage and did I mention the 13 Moose? I thought I would make my first post about the Eastern White-tailed Deer that live in the park, but until this visit I had never seen there. Shortly after setting-up for Moose one afternoon, we watched as a doe brought her twin fawns out to the water's edge across the lake from us. She slowly made her way around the lake until they were about forty feet from us.

White-tailed Deer Doe & twin fawns at Sandy Stream Pond (Odocoileus virginianus, Cerf de Virginie) Sandy Stream Pond (Roaring Brook Campground), Baxter State Park, Maine, USA ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 24-70mm F2.8 @ 70mm, ISO 400, F14 1/200s Manual mode.

White-tailed Deer facts

Our only animals with antlers, North America's deer include three giants; Moose, caribou , and wapiti, or elk. The most widespread and abundant members of the family, however, are the alert, elegant bucks, graceful does, and dappled fawns of the white-tailed and mule deer.
Especially common throughout the East, the delicate white-tailed, or Virginia, deer prefers woodland edges but can also be found in many suburban areas. Up to 3 1/2 feet tall and weighing as much as 250 pounds, it is a fast, elusive creature that, when frightened, flashes the white underside of its tail like a banner. White-tailed deer can run at speed up to 36 mph (58 km/h), it can make vertical leaps of 8.5 feet (2.6m) and horizontal leaps of 30 feet (9m). The stockier, long-eared mule deer lives in the west on forested mountain slopes and deserts. The black-tailed deer of the North-West is a subspecies of the mule deer.
Both white-tails and mule deer browse by day and on moonlit nights on the buds and twigs of trees, feeding on tender grass, berries, and acorns when they are available. During hard winters they barely subsist on the meager food that is available, and starvation is common.
Male deer, or "bucks", are easily recognizable in the summer and fall by their prominent set of antlers, which bear a number of tines, or sharp points. In the fall, the antlered males battle other bucks  for mates. About seven months later, first-time mothers generally give birth to a single fawn, while older does commonly bear twins. The young have spotted coats that provide much needed camouflage when they crouch motionless on the forest floor or in tall grass. And they are scentless, which further protects them from predators.

Kudos

from multiple workshop participant Eleanor Kee Wellman (thanks, Eleanor):

Since I first met Chris he has been telling me I should go with him and photograph the Northern Gannets on Bonaventure Island.  He knows I love to capture behavior and there, you are surrounded by the many behaviors of the gannets as they go about their daily lives.
Chris is super organized and extremely well prepared!  He knows what lenses and flash combinations are needed to maximize your opportunities.  He genuinely wants his participants to go home with the best and most varied images possible. His early morning zodiac trips aren’t available through anyone else.
Lots of people, me included, dislike bad weather but Chris relishes it!  The more dramatic the better for photography!  Gannets in rain, fog, drizzle and sun, too.  Eagles at Homer in the rain!  Snowy Owls in white snowy haze!  Hey, there’s going to be a big snowstorm!  Why don’t you leave now and meet us for some great photo ops!  He is ever enthusiastic and helpful.
He inspires everyone to do their best and he knows the greatest places to eat, too!
Thanks, Chris!!!!!
Eleanor Kee Wellman - Balla, Ontario (www.eleanorkeewellman.com)