A Photographer’s Travels

By Allan Olson

Most days I feel truly lucky to live in the area that I do, in good old Northern Minnesota. Now, where I reside is nowhere near the Canadian border – that’s where I grew up. However, family ties often take me back home, and I take advantage of as many photo opportunities as I can.

My occupation has provided me with many opportunities to photograph the majestic animals that make their appearances in this special place we call home, along with shimmering sunrises or sunsets that glow over the area’s many lakes. My recent move back to a rural setting has only added to those opportunities.

Many times during the day when I’m at home, I look out the windows overlooking my backyard, watching for any animals that might make an appearance around my yard. In the year that we’ve lived at our new home, I’ve been able to capture many images of geese and deer that have come to visit. But one day last year, I had another critter cross my yard. I honestly wasn’t certain what it was until I saw one mounted in a store. Since the animal had crossed my yard at a very quick pace and I was not prepared for a quick shot with my camera, I was unable to capture an image of a bobcat making its way to a new location. Every day I hope it makes a return appearance; perhaps then I will be ready.

Earlier this month, I saw a fox in my backyard foraging through some food scraps. I hustled downstairs and snuck out the back door, hoping for a special shot. Thankfully, I had the settings on my camera pre-determined and was able to get five frames of that quick critter before it disappeared back into the woods.

That same afternoon, I was returning home from work when a timber wolf crossed my path; this animal, too, caught me completely off guard, and I was unable to retrieve my camera from its bag fast enough. Lobo didn’t stick around for any photo shoot. During that same 25-minute drive home, I came across a pair of wild turkeys. This time I was ready. I slowed down, rolled down the window, pulled over and got my shot. Less than a mile later, a pair of geese had just landed in a field. Again, I was ready and shot several frames before moving on toward home. A couple miles further, a trio of eagles was feasting on a fresh road-killed deer. Ideally, it would’ve been nice to have a photo of all three of them together on the carcass, but I settled for a solo shot of one eagle that stayed close in a large pine tree. I had the camera on my lap for the short remainder of that trip home.

While that was the last of that day’s journey, I felt like I should have stayed in the vehicle and kept driving to see what else I might encounter. When you’re hot, you’re hot – right?

The photography bug has also bitten all of my kids. They all like to take pictures. I think my oldest Nikolai, and youngest, Alivia, enjoy it the most.

Nikolai is trying his hand at taking some nature shots, and has come up with some unique photos perhaps by accident, but then most good photos are. The day after my big photo shoot described above, we drove to a spot where I figured he would have a chance to get a shot at some ducks (with the camera). I had the settings ready for him, so all he would need to do is get out of the vehicle and shoot. Of course, it wasn’t quite that simple for him. He got a little flustered and rushed himself, and so did not let the camera focus, and got confused with the zoom lens a bit, and ultimately did not come away with the shot he wanted.

He was disappointed and mad at himself, but I reassured him it was okay, and that there would be plenty more opportunities.

Alivia has also been known to carry a camera around with her a time or two. I’ve come home more than once and found our extra camera in an odd spot where she had left it. While many of her photos are taken at awkward angles due to her height, she has come up with some very funny photos. She once captured her brother Marcus in a rather interesting shot – one that won’t likely be published anywhere.

One thing is certain; it’s interesting to look at the photos after the kids have had the camera. Most of the time, a majority are deleted, but some are way better than a person would expect from a child of any age.

As for me, I continue to hope that one day I will capture that timber wolf, or bobcat, or another elusive animal of the northwoods. As for the kids, I hope all of them will learn to enjoy photography and continue to grow with it, whether for fun or professional use.

Thanks for reading, and have a great week. Remember – watch out for school buses on the road. For more of my columns visit: http://allan-crazykids.blogspot.com.