by FM_NorCal in the field Reporter, Suprada
Early morning on Saturday, Jan 13th, seven stalwart
photographers had the courage to get out of their
warm beds and drive all the way to meet their
fearless leader on yet another photo trip.
The mission this time was to photograph
the elephant seals at Ano Nuevo.
Shiva, Ed N., Steve, Allen, Scott F., Carrie and I
met Susan our fellow FM_NorCaler,
photographer and docent, at the visitor
center and by 8:45AM we were on our way
to visit with the elephant seals.
We were the first group of the day, and so we motored
on to the walk. We decided to hear about the
Elephant Seals while walking as opposed to scheduled stops
which one makes on a “regular walk”.
We went straight to the “(named by the locals) "Loser’"s Beach”"
where we got some very nice environmental shots and close ups
of the males hanging out there. Those elephant seals
are just such amazing creatures!
Its amazing to see them flop around,
and then sudden movements.
point out opportunities for us to shoot, would alert us
when some other seal became active and kept an eye out
for our general safety. We spent quite a bit of time
with these loser seals and were treated to some half-hearted chases.
From there it was off to the “"Harem Overlook”" point.
On the way, we were treated to a very nice image of
an elephant seal with the path he made on the clean dunes.
Susan got a very nice shot of this!
the general goings-on in an harem, alpha males trying to mate
with harassed females of his harem, some losers hanging out
in the fringes trying to mate with the females when the
alpha male wasn’'t looking, the chase when the alpha male
found out, females feeding their pups and general barking.
We were treated to a rare sight of one female
with pup trying to steal another female’s pup.
These girls went at each other, biting and barking.
Luckily, the mother was able to defend her pup
from the pup-thief and all was well.
met Susan our fellow FM_NorCaler,
photographer and docent, at the visitor
center and by 8:45AM we were on our way
to visit with the elephant seals.
We were the first group of the day, and so we motored
on to the walk. We decided to hear about the
Elephant Seals while walking as opposed to scheduled stops
which one makes on a “regular walk”.
We went straight to the “(named by the locals) "Loser’"s Beach”"
where we got some very nice environmental shots and close ups
of the males hanging out there. Those elephant seals
are just such amazing creatures!
Its amazing to see them flop around,
and then sudden movements.
point out opportunities for us to shoot, would alert us
when some other seal became active and kept an eye out
for our general safety. We spent quite a bit of time
with these loser seals and were treated to some half-hearted chases.
From there it was off to the “"Harem Overlook”" point.
On the way, we were treated to a very nice image of
an elephant seal with the path he made on the clean dunes.
Susan got a very nice shot of this!
the general goings-on in an harem, alpha males trying to mate
with harassed females of his harem, some losers hanging out
in the fringes trying to mate with the females when the
alpha male wasn’'t looking, the chase when the alpha male
found out, females feeding their pups and general barking.
We were treated to a rare sight of one female
with pup trying to steal another female’s pup.
These girls went at each other, biting and barking.
Luckily, the mother was able to defend her pup
from the pup-thief and all was well.
After many clicks, our allotted time for the walk was over
and we had to make way for groups behind us.
It was a very satisfying morning. We headed back
to the visitor center, and Steve, Allen, Ed and I headed
to Pescadero for an amiable lunch at Duane’s Tavern,
thanks to Nelcha'’s reservations.
Ed, Allen and I joined Susan for the after hours walk.
We went back to “Loser's Beach” and spent much time
taking photos there. As the sky darkened
and shadows lengthened, the atmosphere was special,
mystical. A thin mist made everything hazy.
The air smelled of salt and the elephant seals
around us started bellowing and barking.
It was a very special experience.
and we had to make way for groups behind us.
It was a very satisfying morning. We headed back
to the visitor center, and Steve, Allen, Ed and I headed
to Pescadero for an amiable lunch at Duane’s Tavern,
thanks to Nelcha'’s reservations.
Ed, Allen and I joined Susan for the after hours walk.
We went back to “Loser's Beach” and spent much time
taking photos there. As the sky darkened
and shadows lengthened, the atmosphere was special,
mystical. A thin mist made everything hazy.
The air smelled of salt and the elephant seals
around us started bellowing and barking.
It was a very special experience.
As the sun set, we walked back to our cars
and bid each other good-bye,
to meet on another photo excursion.
Thanks to everybody who came for their good company,
thanks to Susan for being the docent
and leading our walk and the after hours walk,
and thanks to Nelcha for setting this trip up!
and bid each other good-bye,
to meet on another photo excursion.
Thanks to everybody who came for their good company,
thanks to Susan for being the docent
and leading our walk and the after hours walk,
and thanks to Nelcha for setting this trip up!
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