This is the time of the year when I, and maybe other outdoor photographers, slow down a bit. By slow down I mean regroup and figure out a plan for the upcoming winter months. With no colorful spring birds around, and the slowdown of wildlife movements in general, many outdoor photo buffs will plan the next phase of photographic adventures in the warmth of home.

This isn’t all bad, because a great wintertime photo opportunity is your backyard bird feeders. I’ve had many unexpected birds and wildlife visit my feeders during the winter, with some very nice images to show for it. Living in town, I sometime wonder if the country would be a better place to have a birdfeeder.

I decided to try that theory by putting a feeder at my camp deep in the wilderness. I filled it with seed and used my truck as a blind and waited. Visiting the feeder over several days I really had no unusual sightings, actually not many sightings at all. I decided to give it a few days before my next photo try.

When I arrived back at the feeder I found it in pieces, scattered all over the yard. You guessed it; a bear had found the feeder and made quick work of it. So much for that idea! I went back to my home feeder with the hope that a rare bird might appear and make my whole year. This never happened, but I did get some really nice winter shots without leaving the house.

My 2018 November was such a non-stop rush that I couldn’t wait for December to get here so I could get some rest. In the second week of November I spent a few days at Seneca White Deer near Seneca Lake, N.Y. This area is home to one of the largest herds of white whitetail deer in the country. These were wild, free roaming deer that were fenced in when the U.S. Army built a munitions depot during World War II. After a long battle, it is now a park where you can see not only free roaming white deer, but also learn about the depot’s history. Great photographic trip!

I had a chance to visit New York City for a few days in November, where the wildlife was also very interesting to say the least; a great photographic location for any photographer. I also got the chance to hunt in New York State for the first time just before Thanksgiving, with no luck but a learning experience. The day before Thanksgiving I made the trip to the lower Susquehanna River to photograph Bald Eagles fishing below Maryland’s Conowingo power plant before it empties into Chesapeake Bay. Very cold temperatures and high water kept many of the Eagles away, but the photo opportunities did present themselves.

I returned home after Thanksgiving only to leave for Pennsylvania’s deer season. I’m now home with nothing in the works for December. This will give me time to plan some winter photography adventures plus plan for spring. This lull will give me time to see what’s new in the world of photography. Things are changing fast with more specialized equipment (cameras and lenses) coming out every week. My current cameras have a lot of hours on them, but are in good working order. I’ll stick with them as long as they do the job, and continue to perform.

I’m currently thinking about selling my 600mm lens. It is in mint condition, but getting to be too much for me to haul around. There are many new lenses out there for us old guys that are much lighter and easier to handle.

In a nutshell, 2018 was a busy year in photography, with much left to photograph. Remember this; when you look at that photograph you took, no one else in the entire world saw it as you did. Keep taking pictures, and plan for 2019. It might be the year of your best photography. Until my next adventure…

Have questions or wildlife sightings, email me at rocky.holland1@verizon.net. Also, photographs prints (framed & unframed) are available for Christmas.