SEALS DONNA NOOK ON INFRASTRUCTURE During days 26 to 29 of November made a trip to Donna Nook photo in the company of two great photographers and best mates: Juan Carlos Muñoz (but beware, the South) and Daniel Jimenez. Expectations were high, both for the opportunity to photograph seals in such an environment, for the carrying out of their own travel and stay in the company of great friends, with whom in the past so I had laughed, and generally had had such good times. Still today I can say that those expectations were happily overcome.
are many items that can be seen on the net about Donna Nook and seals, and is therefore I had not planned to devote a blog post on this subject (especially as I have in mind other things that show a long time), however calls and emails received in the days after the return, by different partners who had or intend to make the same trip this month, coupled with the selection of images I did for part of the bridge, when the rain (and air traffic controllers) gave no quarter, encouraged me to write this text in order to publish this entry.
I'm not talking here, considering that it is sufficiently documented such things as the history of Donna Nook, beginning with the very name and ending with the creation of the range of the RAF, nor the importance of the enclave for seals, or the spectacular concentration of animals in the place, even the tortuous road to be traveled to access it .
As I focus is what I was worried before the trip, and in light of the questions I have other photographers in the general concerns of those who at one point we decided to go to this particular site, for shooting seals. These issues are basically the photographer control over (access to the beach), the best time to shoot, how to combat the cold, equipment necessary and the protection of this, plus a series of personal assessments. Foca
playing with your puppy. Images taken from the fence. 
Mother and son enjoying as dwarfs, a few meters. 
For me, the puppy is laughing. 
Starting
access control to photographers, for years has been speculating on the possibility of closing the photographers access to the beach, either in whole or restricting the number of people, and special authorization is required. For the moment that there are some reports that they explain that it is not advisable to go to the beach, and the reasons presented for this is that there is a high degree of mortality of baby seals because of the inconvenience, and at the same time it is possible photograph the animals from the fence without causing inconvenience. When you tell them you want to go to the beach to take pictures different, who come from far away for it, and you'll always respect the animals and making sure an appropriate distance using long telephoto lenses, they just smile and say agree, but that you consider going to watch you with binoculars and if you look bad behavior go to expel.
begins to snow. 
We are in the eternal struggle of nature photographer, have to demonstrate at all times a deep respect for nature, and the total safety of their actions, or at least very weak condition the environment. We split.
Everyone talks of a possible restriction of access. But is it no longer exists? If beach access is allowed only during the weekends, ie, two days out of seven, is not that a major constraint?
The strong prevailing wind carries a lot of sand. 
Reporters , "it is possible to photograph the seals from the fence" and are right. In fact some of the images I most appreciate how many did on this trip, are taken from the fence, but it is also true that others of equal value were taken in the breaking waves. We also speak of "a high degree of mortality of baby seals due to discomfort."
When you arrive on a Saturday early morning and discover some of the bodies that will look more or less recent, but with some sand over it, what makes you think you have safely there one or two days at most, you become aware that should die when there were no photographers on the beach. The final confirmation you have it the next day, When did you realize that the sand now covers more bodies, confirming the earlier dating is correct. Some might think that the dead pups were abandoned the previous weekend (when there were photographers), but this should have been abandoned and dying at least 4 or 5 days, which in an age so young and climatic conditions such adverse conditions seems unlikely. But let the most important question: is it really the deaths of seal pups are due to the inconvenience of photographers? As informants express it, seems to be so, but asking questions and searching the net I found no study in the area to endorse such a claim. Take this opportunity to ask here if anyone knows anything about it, please say so. Nor have I found studies on the effects of pollution in the area, which would be essential to trap animals and take samples. However, to determine the incidence of photographers would be easy to mark out a part of the beach and prohibit access to it, and then check in that space the pup mortality is lower, or go even further, checking seals prefer a greater or lesser extent that shrine, o por el contrario no les importa compartir espacio con los fotógrafos. Pero un estudio tan simple quizá no se realice, no vaya a ser que ofrezca unos resultados que no interesen.
No se puede negar que la fotografía de naturaleza tiene el lastre de cierta leyenda negra, en mi opinión más por imaginación que por realidad, pues muchas de las opiniones negativas que hay por ahí son de oídas y las transmite gente que ni se ha molestado en ver cómo se hacen las cosas (lo digo con conocimiento de causa, por haberlo sufrido en relación a los hides de Avutarda de ANSER) pero también is true that as in all groups, everywhere, there are undesirable elements, and one of these can do great harm to the majority. In the particular case at hand, it is true that some images are circulating where you can clearly see an approach to an exaggerated and excessive interaction with the seals. But I insist that you must first think to do. And at least this trip we did together in no time we did not see negative behaviors by the photographers who came together there, and do not think it was for the monitoring of warned us, because from where we were the informants could not do with either binoculars or a telescope or anything. On the contrary if we live truly curious experience, which remain at a fixed point, seals approached us out of curiosity, coming to be at least a meter, and forced to retreat in order to be at a minimum focusing distance . At the same time some people were apprehensive that far away. What does this mean? Quite simply that, as people in the animal world there are so many temperaments and characters as people, from the most daring to the more fearful, more curious and from the most modest. And who believes that all animals are equal, think again.
At this point, I throw this question: Those who have not lived through what kind of comments could do if someone has, intentionally or not, a photograph of that moment when the seal on its own initiative moved to stand a few inches our tele? For sure most would not say anything good. Chase
males. 
Fights between males and not often last long. 
Spotlight male after a fight. 
But about the second point raised, the referral to the best time to photograph the area. All the articles I read before the trip, and I got direct information indicating the same thing: better to be on the site as soon as possible early, within the time course at low tide. This may make us think that the early start is essential to get the best light or increased activity of the seals, or the best place to locate. But I can say is that in the early hours do not have to give better light, as usual in this area is that the sky is covered, and if there is a subdued light, in my humble opinion is better to be high and not low (matter of taste perhaps). What we do is certain is that occurs early in the great flood of photographers on the beach, and the breaking waves is almost a backlight (when there is some sun, of course) and around noon people will removing (possibly local photographers are going to eat), which during the afternoon on the beach only the seals and the occasional isolated photographer. The first day after 14:00 we were 4 people and only an hour later my friend Dani and I, while the second day, the same fellow sufferer and myself were lucky enough to be alone with a lot of seals from 12:00 until late afternoon, it was snowing and it was expected worsening, but in the end the weather improved and even had moments of sunshine (British meteorologists are also wrong). In short: everyone will experience as he lived, but apparently seen, in my opinion does not need early, and instead, I do believe very convenient to take the day to end the loneliness and the evening light influencing directly above the breaking waves can be rewarding.
The warmth of the sun lights shining directly into the breaking waves. 
Sunset on the beach. 
Continuing with the questions raised initially, it's the turn of the way to combat the cold. I say we hit a foul weather, with temperatures always below freezing (the test is the big snowfall we had on the beach), and the access road completely frozen, but I can assure that I never went too intense cold, and of course no guarantee extreme as some. I have spent more cold in La Serena with the Cranes, and no say in Gallocanta. The equipment may have much to do. The same was the one who routinely use for skiing, thermal underwear, ski pants, shirt, fleece, jacket and ski gloves, hat, and I forgot at the hotel the goggle (which I have been very useful at some point). Well, I added also a padded jacket and a raincoat. With the clothes I was always comfortable, and the only problems were detected from the use of gloves, which made me lose a good number of frames of interest, but instead kept me warm hands all the time. As for footwear, I wore rubber boots, using an additional trick provided by a friend of the army, two pairs of socks, and over (between them and the boot) newspaper to absorb moisture and keep your feet warm. I never tried and worked like a wonders.
photograph not only seals on the beach at Donna Nook. 
As regards the necessary equipment and the protection of this little that I can add to how much is published about it. The conditions are extreme: intense cold, rain, snow, wind carries sand ... a true test for our equipment. Starting with the optics, almost always use a lesser extent 200-400 70-200 + 1.4 (I took two bodies to avoid having to change hard at work). The use of shorter optical require approximations to be avoided if we ensure the welfare of the subjects.
The use of a sheath that covers our telephoto lens and the front of the body is essential (despite reducing the maneuverability of the zoom), but in any case always is to expose the lens and the back of the camera . The lens is essential, and therefore requires occasional cleaning, sometimes in a way that would normally regard as reckless, but it is what it is. As for the back of the camera, my friend Dani was invented a trick home worth mentioning: it used a shower cap (the kind that you get in hotels) that fit perfectly into the camera with the strap, and making small hole in the viewfinder all resolved. Finally advise carrying a stool, because while many images are obtained at ground level, tumbándote in the sand, many others are achieved at a height slightly greater: just the one achieved by squatting or kneeling (suffering in short) ... or sitting. And the truth, to endure hours and hours, the stool is very helpful.
And finally I will describe, as I said, some personal assessments. As I have argued many times, the times in which we live, nature must be understood as a set of natural resources that we cherish and maintain, and best way is to get to produce an economic return on local populations. Donna Nook is the use of seals, and I've had the chance to see during my short stay, as well as the information I have provided many other photographers who visited the area, is being devastated and ravaged by photographers like to impose more restrictions on existing ones. I speak of the photographers, not what you can do the RAF, or the beach tours of the Coast Guard vehicles. Therefore, the controversy surrounding the photographers in my opinion there is more than ever, which bring out some. And I repeat that there is nothing worse than talking and opinions without know.
plastic seal around the neck. 
In this case the plastic is embedded in the skin. 
Guard vehicle along the beach. Needless to say that all seals fled in a scandal. 
conservationists
A seemingly much care about the welfare of the seals of Donna Nook, I would say that instead of questioning the presence of photographers may well worry about the seals themselves, conducting studies on the degree health of the population, or control over the incidence of people on the beach, or just as simple as doing work release seals nets, ropes, plastics and all types of waste that will strangle the neck and end up embedded in your skin causing serious injury.
I do not have mattered even pay an economic level access paya if I knew that this money is used in the protection and welfare of seals, with the implementation of the measures described above or any other that will secure the future of this colony. And I think this would always be a better choice than the constraints of how it is spoken.
Juan Carlos and Dani. Dear fellow travelers. Continue to be as you are. And can do many trips together, near or far. A hug, folks.
Vamos! I soon get a good coat and ask my husband to take me running to buy it. Unfortunately, it is a magazine in my town is not for sale. It is a small town and beyond de las revistas del corazón, no venden ninguna más. 
Vamos! I soon get a good coat and ask my husband to take me running to buy it. Unfortunately, it is a magazine in my town is not for sale. It is a small town and beyond de las revistas del corazón, no venden ninguna más. 
Well, I admit that this December I am not having time. So I give up and return in Ninja January 2011 (OK, almost around the corner lol) 
These days I can hardly find time to cook and pick up the recipe with pictures, or to sit quietly and write. 
Ingredients: 
½ -2 cups flour 