Coastal Brown Bear and Gray Wolf Unlikely FISHIN' BUDDIES (Ursus arctos or Grizzly Bear and Canis lupus) Hallo Bay, Katmai National Park, AK. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DMKIV, 500mm F4 L IS, 2X II Tele-converter, Tripod & Wimberley Head II. ISO 800, F8 @1/125s Manual mode. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

WH-200 Wimberley Head II review

If there is a single piece of photography equipment that I own and can't live without, but often abuse and take for granted, it's my Wimberley head. If it could tell a story, it would have many stories to tell; we've shared many adventures. From watching these unlikely fishin' buddies in Alaska, to the rainforest in Panama to photographing over the edge of a 5,000 foot cliff in Iceland, it's been my constant travel companion. I owned and loved my first version of the Wimberley Head for years, and now rely on my Version II to support my equipment while in the field. Simply put: The Wimberley Head II (WH-200) is the sum of a great idea, brilliant design & engineering, stellar customer service & support, product evolution and a small company that cares about their customers, their product; They care and they consistently prove that they care.

"The Wimberley Head is a specialized tripod head for telephoto lenses. Its gimbal-type design allows you to rotate your lens around its center of gravity and thus easily manipulate very large lenses. Since its introduction in 1991, the Wimberley Head has become the industry standard for serious nature photographers.

The Wimberley Head Version II offers the same stiffness, capacity, and fluid movement of the old version in a more compact and lightweight package (it is one pound lighter and about two inches shorter). The head’s redesigned panning base has zero play, and the pan locking knob has been moved to the side of the head, thus allowing the user to easily operate both knobs with the same hand. New lobed “soft-touch” knobs provide a more comfortable grip and perform better when using gloves.

In addition to the above improvements, Wimberley has examined all aspects of the head, tightening tolerances, improving friction materials and so forth. Our goal has been to make this head functionally and aesthetically better in every way than the old version and competing products." - Wimberley website

Speaking of competing products, there is a growing number of copies and knock-offs appearing on the market; some cheaper than, and others comparable in price to, the original Wimberley Head (and the new Wimberley Head II). Before saving a couple of bucks, simply ask yourself if your expensive camera equipment deserves anything less than a Wimberley brand product, and all that the Wimberley name stands for. Knock-offs are being mass produced with second rate, low grade, un-tested materials, and try speaking to a "customer care" agent in the Orient where they are made - these companies are more interested in producing profit than quality and are best avoided.

See more from Wimberley HERE.

I like my Wimberley Head so much that I'm giving one away on December 15th, 2011. Thanks to the fine folks at Wimberley, we are giving away a brand new Wimberley Head II (WH-200); simply sign-up for my newsletter in the column to the right of this post and your name will automatically be entered to win.

Coastal Brown Bear and Gray Wolf Waiting for leftovers (Ursus arctos or Grizzly Bear and Canis lupus) Hallo Bay, Katmai National Park, AK. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DMKIV, 500mm F4 L IS, Tripod & Wimberley Head II. ISO 1600, F4 @1/320s Manual mode. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Daylight Savings Time Ends

Whether it's the start, or end, of daylight savings time, I always use the occasion to change out the batteries in my smoke detectors and to make sure all of my clocks, watches and cameras are set to the right time. I typically set everything to match THIS SITE.

Great FREE Gear Giveaway Continues

Sign-up for my newsletter before Dec. 15th, 2010 and you will automatically be entered to win an amazing prize. Simply fill-in your name and email address in the form in the column to the right of this post and you are entered automatically (only sign-up once please). Tweet, Like or Share this blog entry on Facebook or Twitter, or leave a meaningful comment here for additional chances to win. Don't forget to tell your friends or fellow camera club members about the prizes.

WH-200 Wimberley Head version II (retail value of US$595.00)
Think-Tank Photo Urban Disguise 50 (retail value US$169.00)
Nik Software Viveza 2 (retail value US$199.95)
Digimarc for Images Professional Edition 1 year subscription (US$99.00)
One of eight Canon Long Lens Rain Covers (US$125.00 each)
More to come

Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai Photo Safari / Photography Workshop

Both of the images in this blog entry were from my July 2010 Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai Workshop / Safari. Do consider joining me from July 24 to July 30, 2011 for the adventure of a lifetime. Only three spots remain. MORE INFORMATION HERE.

Timber Wolves Alpha Pair in Fog (Grey Wolves, Canis lupus, Loup Gris) Quebec (C) ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DsMKII, 70-200mm F2.8 IS @ 200mm ISO 500, F5.6 1/200s Manual Mode. Hand Held. Full Frame. CLICK HERE TO BUY A PRINT OR LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Hearing Timber Wolves (Grey Wolves, Canis lupus, Loup Gris) howl while photographing them on a foggy January mourning was a hair raising experience; their reputation as ferocious enemies of man owes more to fiction and folklore than reality, in fact, they go out of their way to avoid contact with humans. Grey Wolves vary in colour from white on the arctic tundra (Arctic Wolves) to grey (Timber Wolves) or black in the forested regions of Northern wilderness regions. They travel in packs, working co-operatively to bring down their prey; big game like deer, caribou and moose. Most regard wolves as unbeatable hunters, but they often fail to catch their intended prey.

If I had to name a single way for anyone to improve their skill at wildlife photography, it would be to know your subject inside and out. I love to read, and I love books, so I was recently thrilled to get my hands on two simply outstanding books. I've caught myself getting lost in the pages of these marvels of the wild world far too often. Essential for the library of any nature photographer (or nature lover), The Princeton Encyclopedia of Birds and The Princeton Encyclopedia of Mammals have become the go to resource when I'm researching a specific species; or simply sitting here daydreaming of my next big adventure to some far corner of the world. Of all the natural history books in my collection, these two stand out amongst the best! ... and they are a bargain!

The Princeton Encyclopedia of Mammals

(David W. Macdonald ISBN13: 978-0-691-14069-8) is the most comprehensive and accessible reference book on mammals available. Unsurpassed in scope and stunningly illustrated, this book covers every known living species, from aardvarks to zorros. The informative and lively text is written by acclaimed researchers from around the world and features a concise general introduction to mammals followed by detailed accounts of species and groups that systematically describe form, distribution, behavior, status, conservation, and more. There are superb full-color photos and illustrations on virtually every page that show the animals in their natural settings and highlight their typical behaviors. And throughout the book, numerous "Factfile" panels with color distribution maps and scale drawings provide at-a-glance overviews of key data. The Princeton Encyclopedia of Mammals is the definitive one-volume resource--a must-have reference book for naturalists and a delight for general readers.

Covers every living mammal

Describes form, distribution, behavior, status, conservation, and more

Features spectacular full-color photos and illustrations on virtually every page

Includes "Factfile" panels with color distribution maps and scale drawings for at-a-glance reference

Written by an international team of experts

David W. Macdonald is director of the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit and a fellow of Lady Margaret Hall at the University of Oxford. He is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and the author of several books, including Mammals of Europe (Princeton).

The Princeton Encyclopedia of Birds

(Christopher Perrins ISBN13: 978-0-691-14070-4) is a comprehensive and lavishly illustrated reference to the world's birds. Accessibly written by renowned biologists and conservationists, and illustrated in color throughout, the book provides authoritative and systematic accounts of every bird family, covering form and function, distribution, diet, social behavior, breeding biology, and conservation and status. More than 1,000 superb color photos reveal the enormous diversity of birds in their natural habitats, from arctic tundra to tropical rain forest, and a wealth of beautifully detailed color and line illustrations depict representative species from each family and highlight characteristic behaviors. The main articles are complemented by detailed coverage of special topics, such as how ibises and spoonbills feed by touch, how pigeons find their way home, and how crows store food. And throughout the book, numerous "Factfile" panels with color distribution maps and scale drawings provide at-a-glance overviews of key data. The Princeton Encyclopedia of Birds is the definitive one-volume reference--an essential guide for amateur bird enthusiasts and professional ornithologists alike.

Covers all the bird families of the world

Describes form and function, distribution, diet, social behavior, breeding biology, and conservation and status

Features more than 1,000 spectacular color photos and illustrations

Includes "Factfile" panels with color distribution maps and scale drawings for at-a-glance reference

Explores special topics in depth

Written by leading biologists and conservationists

Christopher Perrins is a distinguished ornithologist, the author of many popular and scholarly books on birds, and a fellow of the Royal Society. A former professor of ornithology at the University of Oxford and former director of the Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, he is currently a fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford.

Wimberley Head II & Coastal Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) with Grey Wolf (Canis lupus) - Unlikely fishin' buddies