When it comes to photographing birds in flight, our equipment has to find the right balance between weight, autofocus speed and accuracy, and image quality. While many lenses offer some variation of this, there is one particular family of lenses made by all camera manufacturers that are the perfect combination of all three.

Just as heavy snow or deep negative temperatures impact wildlife behavior, so too does a lack of winter. When temperatures fail to get cold, when the snow does’t come, when winter just isn’t winter, wildlife is impacted in myriad ways.

By understanding how mountain sheep such as Dall, Stone, and Bighorns utilize microclimates in the mountain haunts, we can learn how to predict where and when to find animals to photograph, from birds to mammals, no matter where we are this winter.

When winter comes, it’s best to throw out all of your old assumptions about the animals you photograph. Cold adapted species have any number of ways in which they shift their behavior to survive. And understanding this will make you a better wildlife photographer

Wildlife photographers face many challenges in the winter that are unique to the season. Above all, however, the impact that cold ambient temperatures have on our camera’s ability to focus is one that if not understood will completely ruin your photography.

While everything about the way our cameras meter light and handle auto-exposure modes like aperture priority and auto-ISO is based on the concept of 18% gray, is it still relevant in wildlife photography today?

Changing weather can be a matter of life or death for animals - especially in the winter. Every species on Earth has ways of responding to and coping with these events. When it comes to wildlife photography, understanding how animals respond to changes in the weather can give you the ability to find, photograph, and predict the behavior of wildlife this winter.

More often than not, the first composition we setup with our subject is not the best. Especially when we are working with an animal that is rare or unique, it’s easy to forget the importance of experimentation and especially story telling with our photographs.

Known by many as the mountain monarchs, the bighorn sheep rut is a sight every wildlife photographer should behold

The iconic deer of the West, mule deer are one of North America’s best kept wildlife photography secrets

The whitetail deer rut offers wildlife photographers all over North America the chance to experience action packed photography close to home.

Moose are the kings of the Northwoods, and should be at the top of every wildlife photographers list to experience.