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December 3, 2001

We began class with a brief review of some of the the highlights of the semester. We looked at some slides of our field trips.

Our major topic was mammal photography. Mammals can be found in many places. You can attract small mammals to your backyard with the photographers secret weapon - peanut butter. Smear a little on the same spot on a regular basis and small critters will begin to show up. Use a window as a blind and take photos from the comfort of your home

Zoos are a great place to learn mammal photography. Use long lenses and be careful of the background to make your photos look more natural.  Big mammals in the wild are best photographed at our major national parks. Rocky Mountain in Colorado and Yellowstone in Wyoming are very good for deer and elk. If you get a chance, take a trip of a lifetme and go to Denali in Alaska.

Animals in the wild need a careful approach. Move slowly and freeze when they get nervous. Don't move again until they relax. Don't walk directly toward them. Move back and forth in a zig zag fashion as you slowly get closer. Avoid to much direct eye contact. Let them slowly get used to your presence.

Mammals are unique. Some will allow a closer approach than others.

For some excellent ideas on mammals photography, check out Leonard Lee Rue's book elsewhere at this site.

We put student slides in a tray, played music and had a slide show.

We closed by going to Alaska via videotape with Art Wolfe. You can check ON LOCATION WITH ART WOLFE out of the Portage library.

December 3, 2001

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