Otters on Ice (more 2013 forgotten files)

[NorthernFocus]

These images are from the same trip as the ducks I posted a couple of days ago.

Northern Sea Otters rarely leave the water. They spend so much time swimming/floating on their backs that their anatomy has evolved accordingly. The hind feet still have toes and nails but are functionally flippers. They can't run upright like river otters but more or less slither along when out of the water. And their rib cages are strangely flattened. Being nearly helpless when out of the water, one of the only places they feel comfortable is on floating ice chunks (or sometimes rocks) far from land. But being as vulnerable as they are, they typically dive back in as soon as there is a hint of danger. So getting photos of them out of water is not very easy.

Shot with D7100 and 500mm VR, handheld

Momma otter. You can tell this is a female otter that has mated before due to the scar on her nose. During mating the male otter bites and holds the female otter by the nose often leaving such scars. She is sitting in a very strange position for a sea otter. They are basically horizontal all the time. She was curled around grooming herself and when she noticed us drifting by (engine shut off) she froze in that position to evaluate us.



Friends. These guys actually climbed up on the ice while we were there watching. Very unusual in their lack of caution. Likely youngsters who don't know any better yet. Though we were effectively in a blind inside the cabin of the boat and shooting out a window.

[jprzybyla]

Nice, not easy white snow/ice and dark otters.

[Wavelength]

Very nice images with bundled information; thank you very much

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Dan,

Great shots, as we'd expect from you

Out of idle curiosity; I was wondering whether you used the D7100 1.3 x crop mode when you shoot distant subjects?

The only* benefit (over cropping the 24MP image harder in PP) is reduced file raw size (15MP), hence more fit in a given card size.

FWIW I do use it, although I find it is easy to accidentally clip wing tips if the action gets closer

PS * actually that isn't the only benefit, downloading and opening files to edit is a bit quicker too, thinking about it

Cheers,

[Manfred M]

Dan - great shots! Love the fact that the ice and snow are a wonderful light modifier which brings out the details in the otter's faces.

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for the comments, guys. The exposure actually wasn't so difficult. Flat lighting and the dark brown is still a world of difference from black when it comes to contrast.

Out of idle curiosity; I was wondering whether you used the D7100 1.3 x crop mode when you shoot distant subjects?
...

I do indeed when it fits. I have the Fn button configured to allow me to switch crop mode without taking the camera from my eye. The one complaint I have is that the cropped area isn't greyed out like it is on the D800. Too many times I forget that I'm in crop mode and clip the wings on a BIF opportunity. I know that little outline is there but when I'm concentrating on the subject that box turns invisible.

[Donald]

Glorious pictures. Nothing more to say, really!

[Digital]

Dan, you have, per usual, captured some beautiful images.


Bruce

[Shadowman]

Very nice.

[Brownbear]

Truly precious, the images and the story. I adore all of your images but I think your otters are my absolute favourites.

[Dave Humphries]

I do indeed when it fits. I have the Fn button configured to allow me to switch crop mode without taking the camera from my eye. The one complaint I have is that the cropped area isn't greyed out like it is on the D800. Too many times I forget that I'm in crop mode and clip the wings on a BIF opportunity. I know that little outline is there but when I'm concentrating on the subject that box turns invisible.

I agree - never seen 'through' a D800, so I wasn't aware 'better' was possible! That does sound more sensible.

So in D800 (FF) terms, your "500mm" lens gives you the angle of view equivalent to 750mm (when in native DX mode on D7100) and in 1.3x 'DX' mode, the equivalent of 1000mm?

I use the AF-L/AE-L button for it, with me, the Fn button is used for AF-ON aka "BBF", or perhaps that should be FBF

Thanks for the info,

[Sergio M.]

Absolutely Fabulous photos.

Sergio

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks, everyone. Glad you like the otters. They are probably my favorite subject because they are so much fun to watch while photographing. Definitely low stress photography.

...So in D800 (FF) terms, your "500mm" lens gives you the angle of view equivalent to 750mm (when in native DX mode on D7100) and in 1.3x 'DX' mode, the equivalent of 1000mm?...

That's correct, Dave. The only reason I bought the 7100 was for the pixel count for wildlife. My only beef with it is the buffer size when shooting BIF. I never shoot BIF in crop mode because of the previously mentioned issue with the framing box.

Another cool thing about the D800 is that in DX crop mode you are basically shooting a D7000 with better AF. The 800 is IMO the best camera body that Nikon has built to date.

[ShaneS]

I love the first one Dan! The look on her face and her position is quite endearing.

[Mike Buckley]

Considering the joy of viewing these two photos, I sure do hope you find more forgotten photos.

Though both are great, I like the second one best because of the companionship of the two otters and the interesting background and foreground.

[Marie Hass]

#2 is my fave. For both, excellent processing, focus and composition is right on.

Marie

[Dave Humphries]

The only reason I bought the 7100 was for the pixel count for wildlife. My only beef with it is the buffer size when shooting BIF. I never shoot BIF in crop mode because of the previously mentioned issue with the framing box.

I agree Dan, the buffer could usefully be bigger on the D7100, it is a bit bigger than the D5000's though (my previous experience), so I still saw an improvement when I got it.

Yeah, I have lost a few wing tips in crop mode
I should do the same as you

Cheers,

[Bobobird]

Superb shots Dan, love both. Post, details, exposure - all great.

[FlyingSquirrel]

Love these. Cute subjects.