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Here is how we got to get all these pictures: Triple D Game Farm Stephen Oachs (link), Scott Bourne, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, they all know about Triple D Game Farm. Scott Bourne wrote in his book that he discovered Triple D Game Farm in the mid-80s! Part 1 and part 2 showed you some of the animals and the great pictures you can take at Triple D, but this post will explain how it works. Each day starts the same way, you meet at the Triple D ranch, you have coffee and pastry and look at the board. Depending of the weather, lights and the animals, Triple D lists what species you will be able to photograph that day. They choose the location, based on the size of the animals (a mountain lion needs a bigger space than a fox). Triple D rents sites...

The second part of the series is going to focus on the “big cats” (and some horses) [link to part 1]. We were lucky and we got to photograph a mountain lion, a snow leopard and my favorite: the amur leopard. The mountain lion (a.k.a. cougar or puma) is a big cat. Its thinner profile makes it a very dangerous predator. The snow leopard (Panthera uncia or Uncia uncia) is a beautiful animal. The total estimated population is 4,080–6,590. It  is classified as globally Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) is extremely rare, the last data I could find states that only 14–20 adults and 5–6 cubs were counted in a census in 2007 [link]. It is classified as Critically...

My wife and I went to Kalispell, MT in the middle of the Winter. The only reason I could convince my wife to spend about a week in Montana in Winter  where highs never really got over 22F/-6C, was a chance to watch and take pictures of “winter cats” (lynx, bobcat). But in addition to the cats, we had the opportunity to see a coyote, a few wolves, and a few foxes. Let’s focus on the “smaller cats” first. We got to watch a Canadian Lynx and a Canadian Lynx kitten. They were  really cute with their furry tufts on their ears, their long legs and wide paws. The kitten’s paws were white, as if it was wearing mittens to walk in the snow. It was really hard not to try to take it home with us. Then we saw a feisty bobcat....

I shoot mostly landscapes and food. The closest thing to a live moving subject usually purrs or roars but seldom speaks English (or any other human language). But once in a while I like to challenge myself by taking pictures of models, you know a person, with feelings and moods and one who can speak back to me and more importantly judge my pictures (as I usually don’t get close enough to a lion to show it the pictures I took of it). When I do work with people, I generally have a concept image in mind and I’m trying to make it happen. This is far out of my comfort zone so I use every opportunity I get to take pictures of models. Recently Laura, a friend of mine, got engaged and I offered to take her engagement pictures in San Francisco. We did the...

Today I went to shoot the Mavericks surf contest. If you don’t know Mavericks, it’s a surfing competition with big waves (30 feet and bigger) in Half Moon Bay, CA that happens only when the conditions are right. It’s an invitation-only contest and the best surfers are coming. The weather conditions were exceptional (warm and sunny) but the waves were not as big as predicted (around 24 ft, 8 meters). Mavericks is now almost impossible to photograph from the shore as the bluff and the beach are closed to the public for safety reason. Only a few photographers with very long lenses can hope to get some images. The best and probably only way to get nice images of Mavericks is to get on a boat. There are plenty of choices at Pillar Point Harbor,...

For the New Year, San Francisco always has fireworks at midnight on December 31st. The fireworks are launched from barges located 1,000 feet out in the bay just South of the Ferry Building near Pier 14 (Mission Street and The Embarcadero). One of the best places to take pictures of these fireworks is Yerba Buena Island. Yerba Buena is a natural island (versus the connected Treasure Island which is man-made). You will not be alone, this is a very popular spot but if you come early, it’s fine. The place I like is a private residence, so as always be aware of any noise you could make, where you park and try not to disturb the neighbors. It only takes one problem to get this area closed off for everybody. View New Year Fireworks photo location in a larger map...