cold environment, don’t blast the heat
too much just before you shoot.
Vibrations from a running engine
will compromise the sharpness of any
shot, so turn it off. If your lens has
some kind of image stabilization or
vibration reduction feature, make sure
it’s turned on. If you’re using a bean-
bag, push down gently on the top of
your lens to stabilize it.
A sharp, noisy shot will always be
better than a clean, blurry shot. Raise
your ISO so that you have enough shut-
ter speed for the kind of action you
seek to capture.
Finding Subjects
I’m constantly scouting for places
to return to for photography from
my car, even when my camera isn’t
with me. Look for locations that spe-
cies will likely return to. Maybe it’s
a fruiting tree attracting songbirds or
a farm field rich with raptors hunting
for voles. One time when I went to
my local grocery, I noticed that robins
and cedar waxwings were flying into
trees in the parking lot, gobbling up
berries. I returned the next day with
my camera and got some great images
of them eating.
Fortuitous times to find wildlife any-
where are more likely to be at dawn
and dusk when many animals become
active. That’s also often when the light
is best, if the sun is out, as it’s low and
warmer in tone. Keep a list in your car
of good spots to return to when you
have time and the light is right.
Be ready at all times, even on your
way to a destination. So many times,
I’ve come upon something wonderful
and had only a few seconds to grab a
shot before the animal flew or ran away.
It’s crucial to be prepared. Your camera
should be within reach, turned on and
with basic settings dialed in that you
can work from. Keep your teleconvert-
ers accessible too, in case you suddenly
find you need more reach.
As a caution, if you drive around, as I
do, with your camera and lens attached,keep in mind that all that jostling can
loosen the screws on your camera plate.
It’s worth checking them from time to
time, especially if you find your focus
seems to be suddenly problematic.
Don’t overlook using your car as a
blind right at your own home. Have
you ever noticed that the birds in your
yard will continue about their business
when you’re in your car, but once you
step out, they take off? Take advantage
of that. Position your car with a view
of a favored perch when the light hits
it just right. Sit in the back seat so you
have ready access to both windows. You
might be surprised at what you can get
right at home.Keeping Company With Wildlife
When I’m prowling a road or area, I
may be targeting a particular species,A bobcat kitten nuzzles her mother
in central New York. Photographed
from a car.outdoorphotographer.com September 2019 35