HIGH ISO WOLVERINES

D3s, 200-400 4,0 / 220 mm, f4,0, 1/80, ISO 12 800

Although I have tried hard over several years I have never had much luck with wolverines. I`ve seen them a couple of times at Lassi Rautiainens place "No Mans Land" in eastern Finland, but never had good shots on them and I also spent a whole week at Äre Eero in eastern Finland last winter to document mid winter wolverines .... also with little results. 

I went to Mid Finland again in the end of June this year, basicly to "shoot" redthroated and blackthroated divers (smålom & storlom), but they had an exceptionally late spring and summer this year, the divers were still on eggs and accordingly I would not approach them. I tried to improvise other stuff, and among other things I was given the chance with some local wolverines. This was interesting because this was Mid Finland (not "mainstream eastern Finland") and it was a "new & unexperienced" place with "new & unexperienced" wolverines. Equipped with a local roadkill hare as "bait" I optimistily sat in at about 8 o`clock in the evening and by 10 - 10.30 the light was soft, yellow and simply wonderful !! A short eared owl (jordugle) passed by at very close range , I knew I was "invisible", expected wolverines to show up any moment .... and I felt that incredible happy thrill !!!  

However, no wolverines ..... until 30 min past midnight. By then I had "total darkness" and had to push the ISO all the way up to 12 800 !! I had 3 wolverines for about an hour.

D3s, 600 4,0, f4,0, 1/80, ISO 12 800

D3s, 200-400 4,0, / 400 mm, f4,0, 1/100, ISO 12 800

D3s, 200-400 4,0, / 400 mm, f4,0, 1/80, ISO 12 800

D3s, 200-400 4,0 / 310 mm, 4,0, 1/80, ISO 12 800 

D3s, 600 4,0, f4,0, 1/50, ISO 12 800

D3s, 200-400 4,0, / 250 mm, 1/80, ISO 12800

Roadkill hare for wolverine bait

D3s, 70-200 2,8 /102 mm, f6,3, 1/2000, +0,33, ISO 1250 

We stumbled across a blackthroated divers nest (storlom), and luckily saw the adult bird return to the nest after our accident encounter. Beautiful, isn`t it ???

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