Photographer Chad Davis, blog

I finally made it there.

Chad Davis — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:53:36 +0000

Well, for weeks I have been trying to get up to Squaw Creek with little success. Finally I made up there this last Monday. I planned on arriving before sunrises. I looked on the internet to find out what time the sun would be showing itself in the morning and I set my alarm clock. I managed to wake up in plenty of time. I actually woke up before the alarm even went off. I’m not much for morning person, but when it comes to photographing. It doesn’t take much and I’m out the door. I looked at the weather the night before and I new a storm was going to be rolling in. I just hoped that it would arrive later rather then sooner. So with that in mind I was set to go. I drove the 100 miles to arrive just before sunrise.

When I stopped inside the sanctuary and looked up, I wasn’t at all impressed. There was plenty of birds to photograph. That wasn’t much of problem. The problem lied with the overcast sky. A little to much for me, and I was afraid the storm was moving little faster then anticipated. I sweated it out and looked for a few beautiful scenes to photograph. After all I drove a 100 miles and I was intent on taking a picture of something. I didn’t happen to see much of interest. It just wasn’t my day I guess. Of what little I did manage to capture, I thought these two were the best of what I got. With a little warmer morning I think the potential for some beautiful shots would have been there. These photographs look more impressive if enlarged. Fortunately, having to make these files small doesn’t do them justices.

Just a short note.

Chad Davis — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:03:03 +0000

For those of you who have subscribed to my blog. First let me say, welcome. Glad to have you hear. I often invite and continue to encourage individuals who wish to respond to what I have written or would like to write something of there own to do so. Questions, opinions, places to see or to photograph. It’s all welcomed as long as it’s not mean spirited or pertains to porn, spam etc. If we can get something going that would benefit whoever would visit the site. Who knows, expanding the blog into a forum could be the next step. Any takers?

So, if you want to write something, feel free. If you want to respond to something I have written please do. If your not sure how. Just click on the “Title” of the writing to respond. There will be a place to write something at the end of the page to write to your hearts content. Please understand that your post will not automatically be posted. I have to deal with spam on occasion, so I like to see the post before being approved to keep the spammers from posting stuff that obviously doesn’t have anything to do with what I or you would like to say.

Everyone hates spam. It’s bad enough that we have to deal with it in the snail mail along with email, plus the obnoxious pop up adds on websites. Yes, I know. They have browser that have popup blockers. The crazy addvertising people always find a way to circumvent the technology though. It’s only a matter of time. So, welcome and I look forward to reading what you have to say.

Take care.

A Holiday note.

Chad — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:16:24 +0000

With Thanksgiving out of the way. Everyone is in the Christmas mode it seems. I personally am not sure that I am ready for Christmas. Of course it’s a wonderful holiday and I enjoy it every year. However it is rough on some. I think this holiday season will be rougher this year then in the past for many. I can’t imagine what the days would be like if you didn’t have family around to toss a few cookies at, perhaps a hug or two. That being said, I hope everyone who has the means will visit with family and have a wonderful Christmas.

On with a little news…I have a few plans for this holiday. I’m heading to Florida, not for a vacation, but for work. I have a wedding to shoot on the beach. This wedding happens to be on December 31, New Years eve no less. Should be interesting. I will have to post a few shots from the wedding when I get back. I’m sure by that time everyone would like a little warmth to get them threw the cold spells. I will have little time to take care of business and that comes first of course. In late January my plans shift to the West Coast for some winter shots. I hoping to fulfill a few lucky shot of some winter scenes to post and for stock. The mountains are gorgeous this time of year. Perhaps a pretty cold in parts, but beautiful pictures don’t come without a little work. Keeping the photo stock up can be pretty time consuming. In fact I have been trying to get up to Squaw Creek, hear in Missouri for the last few weeks. I have been pretty busy with other things and have been unable to get up that way. You do what you can. Sometimes you come up short. Again I have made plans for sometime next week to go. I’m just not sure which day yet, so with a little hope and planning I will make it there. If you have interest and would like to tag along. Give me a ring or shoot me an email. Maybe we can make a day of it.

Here are a couple images taken last year to get you in the mood for Christmas.

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

Chad — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:05:12 +0000

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to post something short here. Much has changed on the website. A complete redesign of the back end. The cart itself has changed the most. If you click on the “Online Store“, you will notice the change there. Take a look around. Slide shows and different options are available to everyone.

Leaving you with that tid bit of info. I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving. I’m sure most of us are wishing the retail stores and business were not in such a rush to get to Christmas. It’s seems they want to skip Thanksgiving all together. It’s a bit sad really. Anyways, have a good one. Here is a little something to look at.

Leafs of Fall

That time of Year.

Chad — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:54:43 +0000

Well, it’s that time of year again. The leafs are falling, changing colors from green to colors of red, yellow and brown. I love this time of year. I planned on photographing this seasons colors at Squaw Creek. Somehow I just didn’t get the time. To many projects going and not enough time in the day to accomplish them all. As I have mention before in earlier post I have been working on a book. It’s finally done and currently being printed. I also have plans to have it available for purchase in book form and in Portable Document Form (PDF). The pdf will hopefully be available next month for download. Currently in the works is a Calendar for the 2009 year. That will be available for purchase as well.

Now I did manage to take a few beautiful shots this season. So be sure to check those out in the Studio Section http://www.crphotocare.com/photocart/index.php?category=101. For this Christmas season order anything over $100 and shipping is free. Take a look around there might be something you would love to have. Limited signed editions, framing with select designs are available.

For now, enjoy a recent image from this years shoots.

Leafy colors

Halloween Special

Chad — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:11:41 +0000

It’s that time of year all the little trick or treaters will be dressed as ghost, goblins, and all sorts of comic heros. Have your children photographed in their outfits or have a family portrait done for the month of October.

Halloween Special, only $80 and receive
1 -8×10
2 - 5×7
24 - wallets
Receive a 10% discount on additional prints.
Contact us today to book your Halloween portrait.

Upgrading some equipment.

Chad — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:19:32 +0000

I’m making this quick because I have lot’s of work to do and not enough time in the day to get it all done. So let’s get to it. I have decided to upgrade some equipment so I’m selling off some of the tools of my trade. If your interested, I’m auctioning off a Nikon D200 and a 70-300mm ED, D Nikon lens. I’m auctioning off a battery grip as well for the D200. If you have interest you can find them on ebay at these links with more detailed information. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have about these items so feel free to contact me.

For camera and lens:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=230294383832

For the battery grip.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=230294412057

That’s all I have for now. Should be posting once again in the near future. Take care!

Back from the trip.

Chad — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 17:29:02 +0000

Hey, I’m back! The trip was fun, but at times it sure did try me. I guess sometimes your lucky an other’s your not. I had high expectations of capturing some photographs of wolves and Moose. Too no avail, I didn’t succeed in that department. Of course there were other if not most impressive scenery and nature to photograph.

I spent a lot time searching and waiting where I thought for sure I would find them critters. Many stories were told of seeing them, sometimes not far away from where I had been. I learned my lesson in that if you move often, those animals you were searching for travel threw the exact same area you happened to be only a few hours earlier. It wasn’t for lack of trying because in fact I spent more then a fare amount of time just waiting in one place alone in several different area’s. Photographing nature does take patients. Anyone too tell you otherwise is just dead wrong. Like I said, there was plenty of opportunities to photograph scenery and that’s exactly what I did.

Troubles are always to be expected when in the field, but sometimes you just wish things would go right. On the way from one location of Yellowstone to another that I had planned. Driving down the road, I didn’t have plans to deal with a small creature not on the list to photograph. That happened to be a big bumble bee. Packing my gear, getting in the car rolling up the windows somehow he slipped threw and thought he would hitch a ride causing me to panic somewhat. Not knowing whether I had inadvertently took on board a honey bee that would not be so happy once I started slapping insects on my legs, you can see my dilemma. Now, I’m sure he had no intention of inflicting any harm. It was the fact he wanted to use me as a landing pad of sorts. I’m all for mother nature, but I can’t handle being used as a perch for a large bumble bee. They belong outside with the flowers. So, I quickly rolled down the window and with a little humility tried to gently push him outside. That didn’t work so well. I thought it should have obviously. He decided to fly around my head and the car a little more before finely leaving once close enough to the window. He and I parted ways with a wave from me and a flyby for him.

The photograph below is from the next stop I had in mind. Here is a colorful shot from the West Thumb area. One of many photographs taken from the area.

If you would like to see more or purchase any photograph from this trip you can find them at this address http://www.crphotocare.com/photocart/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=1005 Please write or call if you have any questions. I would be happy to hear from you.

Here we go…

Chad — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 02:27:47 +0000

So, hear I am sitting here and listening to music stored on my trusty Mac computer finishing plans for a exploring the wilderness of the West. Plans have been made, dates set and travel routes plotted on the map. With time running short before I leave I contemplate the travels ahead, the wildlife I will see, crossing all the T’s dotting the i’s. I can only hope everything goes off without a hiccup. If you follow any of my writings or work you know that I have been planning another trip to Yellowstone. Well, nothing is for sure, except when it’s set in stone as they would say. So, I’m now planning a couple nights at Devil’s Tower as well as Yellowstone and the Teton’s and it’s set in stone. I’m a avid nature lover and look forward to experiencing the wildlife, and the scenery in these areas. The calm that overcomes me when I’m photographing brings out the best in me, and I’m looking forward to another visit, including visiting a few new places to explore.

On another note, I always enjoy hearing from readers, so if you do see me, say hello and if you don’t send me a note or two. Although I will not be in the office from August 18th, to the 28th, I will still take phone calls when I can while on the road. So, please feel free to call or leave a message. In the coming weeks be sure to visit the site. New work will be posted. Plans have been made to revamp the site, but with everything going on it’s going to be awhile before I’m able to get around to it. Finishing some other projects that have been put on the back burner for a while have to come first.

Deeply saddened, now relieved.

Chad — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:38:10 +0000

I have always found wolves to have a mysterious nature about them. Perhaps that’s what makes me want to learn more about them, plus photograph them. Of course I have always loved nature, never being afraid of it but embracing it. That being said, the nature of the human race to kill everything they see has disturbed me. From reading the history of the west and how many wolves were slaughtered for their fur coats and just killing indiscriminately has saddened me. When I began photographing the nature around me, I’m always pleased to be in the presence of the animals around me. Some with curiosities, other’s quite skittish.

You could imagine the excitement I had when I heard back around in 1995 - 96 that officials would reintroduce wolves to central Idaho and Yellowstone National Park. The plan was to reintroduce 66 wolves to the area. Well, the plan worked well. In fact it’s estimated that the population of wolves has reached 2,000 individuals. When they were released in Idaho and Washington they quickly wandered into Oregon. There is strong evidence of the first wolf pack in Oregon, the first in many years since the eradication from the West. With the wolves recovering in bigger numbers each year there seemed to be hope for them. Obviously, I was to quick to judge. The Bush administration felt differently. They delisted the Greater Yellowstone area wolves in March of 2008 since being listed on the endangered list in 1974. I cannot understand how anyone can honestly say that a species be taken off the endangered species list when there is only a population of around 2,000 wolves in those areas, is beyond me. I was truly upset with this decision by the Bush administration. Since their removal from the endangered species list there has been over 100 wolves killed in the short time since they had been removed from the list.

I’m excited to say that the tables have turned once again for wolves of the West. The reason for this, since then a judge has restored the wolves in Greater Yellowstone and the Northern Rockies to the endangered species list making it illegal once again to kill wolves. The judges decision was based on the fact that the the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service did not prove that they had genetically linked the wolves. This meant that the wolves throughout Idaho and Montana must be interbreed with wolves from Yellowstone - before delisting, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had to do a better job of explaining why that didn’t matter anymore.

While the battle isn’t over. My opinion, is that the wolves were illegally removed from the endangered species list because the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service did not prove they had genetically linked the wolves bowing under the pressure of the Bush administration to remove them from the endangered species list. For now, I hold hopes that things will work out for the wolves.