We took a trip over to the Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park while visiting the the family in Nebraska last weekend. This conservation area is part of the Henry Doorly Zoo. It is a pretty neat idea, you remain in your vehicle as you drive around a conservation area filled with Elk, Bison, Cranes, Pelicans, Bears, Wolves, and Bald Eagles. The animals are sometimes arms reach from your vehicle. Of course I took the opportunity to shoot some wildlife in HDR. I was glad to finally shoot a Bald Eagle in the wild, well the contained wild. I have seen them throughout Nebraska with my Mother in law but was never lucky enough to get the shot.
At times like these it is great having a 70-300mm lens. It may not be the best 70-300 out there, but it allows me the ability to get the shot I need, I can work in post later. Don’t get me wrong, in the right conditions this lens is tack sharp, but it is rather poor in low light with a maximum aperture of 3.5 I am kind of limited indoors. Outdoors with ample sunlight, this lens shoots like a charm. I was able to get nice and close on these behemoth Elk, such a huge animal.
I used my Dreamscape technique on the image below to give it a more vintage look.