Pigargo the evening
Pigargo with his fish
Pigargo "fishing"
catching fish Pigargo
Pigargo with fish
Pigargo posed
Pigargo starting Flight 1
Pigargo starting flight 2
Jay
Gull at sunset
Another Gaviota
few days ago did a year trip I made to Norway, with great friends, to photograph ospreys released, and musk oxen (although these will be the subject of another article when I have time).
Photographing birds of prey in the wild is always a dream for any nature photographer, and not a few birds of prey that have worked in Extremadura, but a journey of over 3,500 kms to try to get a new species, and travel as much less than Norway, which is undoubtedly the most expensive country in Europe and can be considered one of the most expensive in the world (eg a "brewery" costs there between 12 and 15 Euros and nobody thinks that is larger) can be like a real fancy. Anyway, I knew the opportunity to photograph ospreys in Norwegian territory in some degree of success, thanks to information received from some photographers mostly Germans, and for years I turned to the matter, until I finally decided, and took the opportunity and the special price supposed to go with a small group. Well, as I said earlier, not only was a handful, but all were known (and some great friends), but they lacked depth know-that can only be achieved when one lives for a few days intensively. And everyone was pleasantly surprised by the great education that demonstrated at all times, and something I personally value very much, "knowing how to be on the sites." And all showed that they knew, and to spare.
The site chosen was the small town of Flatanger, the typical fishing village located in a Norwegian fjord, in this case more or less half of the country. Once we reached the airport of Trondheim, Mr. Ole Martin Dahle (which would be our guide for a week) picked us up and took us to our accommodation in that town. The property in question is a beautiful house (as houses Nordic) that Ole has built for its clients, with four rooms on the top and up to six people. Below are two bathrooms, kitchen, dining area and a relaxation area with hundreds of books on nature. Let a blast for times of rest any photographer.
Ole Martin Dahle is a great guy (with high I mean that is enormous, but so I tried him as a person not far behind) who for years collaborated on a conservation project ospreys, and then reconverted its activity as a fisherman in the guide for birdwatchers and nature photographers. For three days we went to browse through different fjords discovering incredible scenery, and being amazed by the closeness of the sea eagles, which were close to 25-30 meters to collect the fish that they threw Ole. To make matters worse, for all routes were followed by different species of gulls in large numbers fought over the crumbs of bread which our guide will throw. Even one morning, on our return from the meeting with the ospreys, share hide the five pending a Goshawk that was not presented, but instead came a jay (at least did something.) Although the team had, for almost all of the photos I made during the trip I used a 70-200, and at most one converter 1.4, but I also was useful for landscapes 18-70 and 500 for some ospreys perched, and to hide the said session. Also used it with the musk, but that's another story.
Some may think that this way of photographing wildlife is not entirely genuine, by the fact take a guide who not only knows the perfect place, but also is responsible for providing food for birds. I personally like a laudable activity, worthy to admire and imitate in other places, since it supports the conservation of wild species with their conservation, encourages a kind of quality tourism that provides significant income in rural areas without any intermediaries, and as a whole is a clear example of sustainable development that is so much talk today and so little practice.
In other seasons, Ole offers hides for photographing Grouse, Black Grouse, Golden Eagle, Goshawk, Tawny Lapp, Elk, Beef Musk (discussed another day) ...
Those interested can visit their website (totally recommended):
http://www.norway-nature.com/
