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NaturePhotographers > Dennis Fast  > Animals of Montana > Animals of Montana
Recently I had the privilege of photographing wildlife at Animals of Montana which is a game farm run by Troy Hyde & Tracy Krueger.

Troy trains animals to "perform" in movies and for professional photographers.

Up to this point, all my animals had been photographed in the wild, so I was a little apprehensive about how a shoot with captive animals would go.

I need not have worried, because Troy's animals are well kept and amazingly responsive to his control.

Almost all published photos of wolves and mountain lions and other shy creatures of the wild have been photographed in places like Animals of Montana. What worried me most was that my photos would all look posed, but Troy's animals are allowed to run free in wild settings or in huge temporary enclosures. At the same time, they are repeatedly brought back into camera range by Troy and his excellent staff.

The result of all this is, that, although you have animals in camera range, it is still up to you to react to animals behaving naturally and to be ready to capture the definitive moments. It is definitely a challenge, but also very rewarding, because many of the photos I got could not be duplicated in the wild even with years of effort.

If you are a professional wildlife photographer, or someone who simply enjoys photographing animals for the sheer wonder of them, I couldn't recommend any place more highly than Animals of Montana. Check out their website when you have time at: http://www.animalsofmontana.com/about_us.html
Gallery pages:  <  1  2  3  4  >  
< 19 of 33 >
Dennis Fast > BOBCAT

Although the bobcat and lynx closely resemble each other, the bobcat is more adaptable to a variety of habitats. The lynx prefers the deeper north woods while bobcats can be found in desert and marshy areas just as readily.
Dennis Fast > GRIZZLY BEAR

I have photographed grizzly bears in Alaska, but never quite this close! It was amazing to see such a large predator pay so little attention to the humans around him.
Dennis Fast > GRAY WOLF.

Perhaps a wolf like this is what greeted Little Red Riding Hood in the infamous story from our childhood. At any rate, we learned to fear the wolf early in our lives instead of appreciating its beauty and intelligence.
Dennis Fast > THE STALKER

All cats have the ability to stalk on silent feet under almost any conditions. When snow covers the ground the silence of their stalk is deafening.
Dennis Fast > THE SMILE

If tigers can smile then I guess this qualifies. Even at rest, however, the tiger's intense stare creates a feeling of unease. I like him to look at the camera, but I don't want him licking his chops.
Dennis Fast > THE HUNTER

Lynx, like most cats, are solitary creatures. Although they are extremely quick and adept at chasing down smaller prey, they also are known to jump on their victims from an elevated position.
Dennis Fast > GRIZZLY BEAR

I take a lot of out of focus pictures but usually not deliberately! When I was focusing my lens for this shot, however, I felt that blurring the main subject added an aura of mystery to the scene. The focus shifts to the falling snow while the details are left to the imagination.
Dennis Fast > BOBCAT

The bobcat is a member of the lynx family and can be easily confused with the latter. The barring on the legs and shorter ear tufts of the bobcat are not always immediately apparent when only briefly glimpsed.
Dennis Fast > GRAY WOLVES

Although wolves seem to love to show their teeth and snap them a lot, they seldom really  bite and hurt each other. Most of it is posturing for superiority or some annoyance of the moment. With all the close body contact they indulge in, it's not surprising that tense moments arise.
BOBCAT

Although the bobcat and lynx closely resemble each other, the bobcat is more adaptable to a variety of habitats. The lynx prefers the deeper north woods while bobcats can be found in desert and marshy areas just as readily.
 > BOBCAT

Although the bobcat and lynx closely resemble each other, the bobcat is more adaptable to a variety of habitats. The lynx prefers the deeper north woods while bobcats can be found in desert and marshy areas just as readily.
BOBCAT

Although the bobcat and lynx closely resemble each other, the bobcat is more adaptable to a variety of habitats. The lynx prefers the deeper north woods while bobcats can be found in desert and marshy areas just as readily.
Camera: Nikon Corporation (Nikon D3) |
More details: exif |
Original size: 2098px x 3154px |
Current: 200px x 300px |
Other sizes: Small • M • L |
filename: _DRF6789 |
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Keywords: cats animals usa animal hunters montana bobcat lynx mammal felines mammals predators united states
Gallery pages:  <  1  2  3  4  >  
< 19 of 33 >

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