forestgnome
New member
One of our posters(can't remember who) advocates attaching their camera case to the sturnum strap for quick access. I've planned on trying it, realizing the advantage if some cool wildlife sighting happens. Well, I just learned the value of this idea.
I was walking out on Rob Brook Road after hiking to Owl's Cliff(on the way in I saw fresh deer tracks). Then I heard three rifle shots (usually indicating a miss ) from the SW. Ten minutes later I saw a beautiful, huge buck walking through the woods from the SW, about to step onto the road just 20 feet in front of me. I crouched down and quietly pulled off my backback, opened it up and got my hands on my camera case while watching him walk and chew.
Then he stopped before I could open the case. There was no way I could continue to remove the camera due to noise. I had to remain completely still; he was way too close to not hear any noise from me. So I just watched him walk out into a perfect setting for a photograph, unable to shoot. The light on him was gorgeous and soft, no shadows. The backdrop was solid spruce with a dusting of snow. It was such a beautiful moment. Then he turned and looked at me, flared his nostrils and snorted, stomped the ground and took flight. What a moment!!! All the while I have my hands in my pack, where I have a 6.3 mp camera with a 300mm Antivibe zoom. D'OH!!!
Immediately afterward, I attached the camera case to my sternum strap with carabiners, as has been suggested here. It is quite comfortable and it distributes the weight a bit more evenly.
I was walking out on Rob Brook Road after hiking to Owl's Cliff(on the way in I saw fresh deer tracks). Then I heard three rifle shots (usually indicating a miss ) from the SW. Ten minutes later I saw a beautiful, huge buck walking through the woods from the SW, about to step onto the road just 20 feet in front of me. I crouched down and quietly pulled off my backback, opened it up and got my hands on my camera case while watching him walk and chew.
Then he stopped before I could open the case. There was no way I could continue to remove the camera due to noise. I had to remain completely still; he was way too close to not hear any noise from me. So I just watched him walk out into a perfect setting for a photograph, unable to shoot. The light on him was gorgeous and soft, no shadows. The backdrop was solid spruce with a dusting of snow. It was such a beautiful moment. Then he turned and looked at me, flared his nostrils and snorted, stomped the ground and took flight. What a moment!!! All the while I have my hands in my pack, where I have a 6.3 mp camera with a 300mm Antivibe zoom. D'OH!!!
Immediately afterward, I attached the camera case to my sternum strap with carabiners, as has been suggested here. It is quite comfortable and it distributes the weight a bit more evenly.