As a wildlife photographer, I often find myself in the midst of nature’s wonders. On one of my recent trips to the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma, I had a particularly fascinating encounter with a coyote.
On several occasions, I had noticed this particular coyote making its way across the auto tour road, near the same area and in the mornings. Despite my presence, it would cautiously go around my pickup from a distance. However, yesterday morning, it mustered up enough courage to slink in front of my vehicle, giving me the opportunity to capture a close-up shot.
What caught my eye about this coyote was its skinny frame compared to the others I have photographed at the refuge. I suspect it might be a young coyote, which would explain its slight frame.
To capture this moment, I parked my vehicle where I anticipated the coyote would cross the road. I waited patiently as it cautiously approached, finally settling down when it noticed me. Undeterred, I remained still and was eventually rewarded with this stunning shot. Luckily, no other vehicles disturbed our moment, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the experience.
I captured this moment using my trusted Fujifilm X-T3 camera paired with a Canon EF 500 mm f/4L IS USM lens. The setup was rested on a bean bag draped over the open window of my pickup, providing a stable platform for capturing the shot.
I hope these photos inspire you to venture out into the great outdoors and capture your own wildlife encounters. Happy snapping!
Here are a few more photos from my time at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, showcasing the beauty and grace of these fascinating creatures:
- Coyote Searching For Meal At Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge
- Coyote At Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge
- Glance From A Coyote
Camera Settings
- AV Mode
- Aperture f5.6
- ISO 2500
- Shutter speed – 1/220 sec.
- Exposure Bias – +0.33 EV
- Focal Length – 500 mm