Unexpected wildlife photography adventure

Some of the greatest photos come from some of the most unexpected adventures. Though you have in mind some of the qualities you are wanting to capture in your photos. Like the right lighting, intriguing subjects, composition and interesting clouds. You just never know what you will discover on your photography path.

Sand Hollow with Mollies Nipple in the background

These images are of one of those Awesome Unexpected Wildlife Adventures!

I was asked by a client if I had any pictures of a well known mountain peek in Southern Utah named Mollies Nipple. She wanted to add it to her real-estate blog post she was working on. I thought I had the perfect one, and couldn’t find it. So I went off to capture a new one for her a few hours before the golden glow hours.

When I got to Sand Hollow I pulled off the road to capture this picture of a red sandstone formation right in-front of Pine Valley Mountain in the distance.

Sand Hollow sandstone formation in-front of Pine Valley Mountain

On my way back to my vehicle my loyal dog Merc surprised this Gopher snake out of the sage brushes.

Loyal Dog Merc

Gopher snake

After putting Merc back in my SUV so she didn't continue to scare this snake. I grabbed my camera and took a few more pictures of this friendly slithering creature.

Gopher snake

Gopher snake

Merc and I continued on our way, past Sand Hollow lake and drove up the hill towards Mollies Nipple. Stopping a few miles away below our destination. Where I thought I could get the best picture for my client.

Mollies Nipple

A half hour before the golden hour, Merc and I, where enjoying taking a break for lunch. When a flock of birds surprised us with a visit landing right in the marshy area in front of us. I slowly and quietly got out my camera and took a few pictures of some of them wading in the marshy wetlands where they had landed.

White Faced Ibis

This was a perfect time to change to my telephoto lens and practice close-ups of these beautiful birds. I had never seen these in the wild before, and didn’t even know what they were called. Later on, I posted them on Facebook, where my mother told me that they looked like ‘White-faced Ibis’. Sure enough that is what they are.

White-faced Ibis

(This was also the first time I had my Canon 30D settings to RAW. When I looked through my view finder, my camera picture viewing really looked like it lost all it's color. I was so surprised later to find out that in editing it in Photoshop, I could bring back all the vibrant colors I saw. Much better than using jpg. I have learned a lot more about shooting my camera in RAW and editing in Photoshop since then. I wish I had used my RAW settings earlier. I have some old photos I would have loved to be able to edit more to what I saw then, now.)

A couple, in a truck stopped to see what I was taking pictures of, and that startled the whole flock and they start flying. WOW! What a magnificent experience. I wasn't sure if I had my setting right but I was so excited to see this shot when I got back home to my computer. This just added to this day.

White-faced Ibis In Flight

I was able to get a lot of photos with these guys. Just by taking extra time to get a shot from an area where someone was wanting a picture from. That happen to turn into an Awesome Unexpected Wildlife Photography Adventure story too!

Mollies Nipples with White-face Ibis in Flight