Moose morning
A summer morning in the moose fields means an early wake-up call. The previous evening had been spent watching the European Championship final in football, so I hadn’t had much sleep. The same was true for my client, who had booked a guided tour for this beautiful morning.
We arrived at the observation and photography area at 3:30 AM, when the first photo in the blog was taken. The sun rose at 4:19 AM, offering a brief but beautiful blue hour. This summer, there was an abundance of moose, and they gathered in a very small area.
Mist drifted across the fields, and the moose began leaving the fields before the sunlight reached the area. This was a recurring theme on several mornings: the moose would retreat into the forest before the rising sun could bathe the fields in golden light with its magical backlighting.
You can’t capture everything in a single morning, though. My client and I reviewed the morning’s situation and discussed my assessment of the moose’s likely movements and where they might head.
I let the client make the decision, and they chose to wait by the edge of the field, in a scenic spot, hoping to catch the moose walking by on their way into the forest. This is often my go-to strategy in summer, and it works quite well. It provides an opportunity for truly spectacular photos, but there’s always the chance that the moose will head in an entirely different direction. After all, they are wild animals and chart their own paths.
Close-up shots are easiest to capture from a vehicle, but I also enjoy photographing from a well-positioned hide. We were lucky enough to spot one moose up close.
